Moving to Australia from Oregon

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Oregon to Australia, you would find that Australia is 0.3% cheaper than Oregon. A $75,000 salary in Oregon would need to be roughly A$106,000 in Australia to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Sydney averages 72°F vs 56°F in Portland, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Australia cheaper than Oregon?

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

Restaurants

pay 0.6% more

Groceries

pay 3.2% less

Transportation

pay 7.8% more

Housing

pay 15.3% less

Childcare

pay 38.8% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 18.6% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (November 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.

What salary do you need in Australia?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → A$106,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Australia

Calculate with your salary →

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 4% less than cities in Oregon.

Oregon

Portland 73%
Beaverton 64%
Medford 57%
Hillsboro 54%

Australia

Sydney 69%
Perth 64%
Melbourne 62%
Adelaide 60%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to Australia

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Oregon 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 Oregon to Australia.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

OR
31.9%
AU
30.6%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

OR
91.8%
AU
96.1%

Australia performs significantly better than Oregon across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

OR
5.1%
AU
4.1%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

OR
$61,622
AU
$65,130

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

OR
78.8 yrs
AU
83.0 yrs

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

Weather in Australia vs Oregon

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Portland Rain: 47.2 in/yr (1200 mm)
56° / 37°F

Avg. annual high / low

Sydney Rain: 48.1 in/yr (1223 mm)
72° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Portland Sydney
Jan–Mar 36°/18°F (2°/-8°C) 79°/66°F (26°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 63°/44°F (17°/7°C) 69°/54°F (21°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/56°F (24°/13°C) 66°/50°F (19°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 48°/30°F (9°/-1°C) 75°/61°F (24°/16°C)
View all months
Month Portland Sydney
Jan 31°/13°F (-0.4°/-10.3°C) 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.6°C)
Feb 35°/16°F (1.4°/-8.7°C) 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.7°C)
Mar 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.9°C) 78°/65°F (25.4°/18.1°C)
Apr 53°/35°F (11.8°/1.5°C) 74°/60°F (23.3°/15.3°C)
May 64°/44°F (17.5°/6.8°C) 69°/54°F (20.6°/12.5°C)
Jun 73°/54°F (22.9°/12.0°C) 64°/49°F (18.0°/9.7°C)
Jul 79°/59°F (26.0°/15.2°C) 63°/48°F (17.4°/8.7°C)
Aug 78°/58°F (25.4°/14.6°C) 66°/49°F (18.9°/9.7°C)
Sep 70°/50°F (21.1°/10.2°C) 70°/54°F (21.2°/12.0°C)
Oct 59°/39°F (14.8°/3.8°C) 73°/58°F (22.8°/14.4°C)
Nov 48°/31°F (8.9°/-0.6°C) 75°/61°F (23.8°/16.3°C)
Dec 37°/20°F (2.9°/-6.4°C) 78°/65°F (25.5°/18.3°C)

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

Can you move from Oregon to Australia?

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 Oregon?

Costs in Australia and Oregon 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$26,500 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 Oregon?

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

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

The average high temperature in Sydney is 72°F, compared to 56°F in Portland. Sydney receives around 48.1 in of rainfall per year, while Portland gets 47.2 in.

What language do they speak in Australia?

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

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At a Glance

AU
Population 4,273,586 27,614,411
Currency United States Dollar ($) Australian Dollar (A$)
Languages English English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +61
Time zones 11 8
Emergency number 911 000