Moving to Australia from Montana

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Montana to Australia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Montana to Australia, you would find that Australia is 4.3% more expensive than Montana. A $75,000 salary in Montana would need to be roughly A$107,978 in Australia to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Canberra averages 67°F vs 58°F in Helena, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Montana to Australia.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 A$107,978

To maintain the same standard of living in Australia

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 4.2% less

Groceries

pay 7.8% less

Transportation

pay 37.4% more

Housing

pay 21.5% less

Childcare

pay 13.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 39.2% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate:1 USD = 1.45 AUD(June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Australia cost about 10% less than cities in Montana.

Montana

Australia

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Montana to Australia, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
2,863 ↓ 10% vs 2022

people moved from United States to Australia · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Australia?

Top countries of origin for Australia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Montana to Australia.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rateCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

MT
31.8%
AU
29.0%

Australia performs significantly better than Montana across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet accessUS Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

MT
88.7%
AU
96.0%

Australia performs significantly better than Montana across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rateBureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MT
3.7%
AU
3.7%
GDP per capitaBureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MT
$52,945
AU
$59,500

Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Montana leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancyOECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MT
76.8 yrs
AU
83.1 yrs

Australia performs significantly better than Montana across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

HelenaRain: 11.2 in/yr (285 mm)
58°/33°F

Avg. annual high / low

CanberraRain: 24.8 in/yr (629 mm)
67°/44°F

Avg. annual high / low

MonthsHelenaCanberra
Jan–Mar40°/18°F (4°/-8°C)80°/54°F (26°/12°C)
Apr–Jun67°/41°F (19°/5°C)61°/39°F (16°/4°C)
Jul–Sep81°/50°F (27°/10°C)56°/35°F (13°/1°C)
Oct–Dec45°/22°F (7°/-6°C)73°/47°F (23°/9°C)
View all months
MonthHelenaCanberra
Jan33°/13°F (0.7°/-10.6°C)82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C)
Feb39°/17°F (3.7°/-8.4°C)81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C)
Mar48°/24°F (9.0°/-4.3°C)76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C)
Apr58°/32°F (14.3°/0.1°C)68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C)
May67°/41°F (19.5°/4.9°C)60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C)
Jun76°/49°F (24.3°/9.2°C)54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C)
Jul86°/54°F (29.8°/12.4°C)52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C)
Aug85°/52°F (29.2°/11.2°C)55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C)
Sep73°/43°F (22.6°/6.2°C)61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C)
Oct59°/33°F (14.8°/0.3°C)67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C)
Nov43°/22°F (6.2°/-5.6°C)72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C)
Dec32°/12°F (-0.2°/-11.2°C)79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Bureau of Meteorology Bureau of Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Australia. To live, work, or study long-term in Australia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Australia's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Australia

Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Australia.
Australia passport

Australia passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Australia passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Australia than Montana?

Costs in Australia and Montana are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.

How much money do I need to move to Australia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly A$26,994 in Australia on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Australia?

Usually fine from major cities in Australia. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Australia compared to Montana?

Australia performs significantly better than Montana across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Australia compared to Montana?

The average high temperature in Canberra is 67°F, compared to 58°F in Helena. Canberra receives around 24.8 in of rainfall per year, while Helena gets 11.2 in.

What language do they speak in Australia?

Both Montana and Australia share the same official language: English.

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At a Glance

AU
Population989,41526,141,369
CurrencyUnited States Dollar ($)Australian Dollar (A$)
LanguagesEnglishEnglish
Driving sideRightLeft
Calling code+1+61
Time zones118
Emergency number911000