Moving to Australia from Texas

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Texas to Australia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Texas to Australia, you would find that Australia is 8.5% more expensive than Texas. A $75,000 salary in Texas would need to be roughly A$115,301 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 79°F in Austin, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Texas and Australia.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 A$115,301

To maintain the same standard of living in Australia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 1.7% less

Groceries

pay 1.4% more

Transportation

pay 19.3% more

Housing

pay 17.3% less

Childcare

pay 3.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 48.6% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1.43 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 4% less than cities in Texas.

Texas

Dallas 68%
Plano 64%
Houston 63%

Australia

Sydney 64%
Melbourne 60%
Perth 57%
Brisbane 57%
Adelaide 55%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Texas to Australia.

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

The numbers behind daily life in Australia compared to Texas.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

TX
36.8%
AU
29.0%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

TX
90.1%
AU
96.0%

Australia performs significantly better than Texas across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

TX
3.9%
AU
3.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

TX
$70,071
AU
$59,500

Texas generally does better on employment & economy, though Australia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

TX
76.5 yrs
AU
83.1 yrs

Australia performs significantly better than Texas 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.

Austin Rain: 36.2 in/yr (920 mm)
79° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Austin Canberra
Jan–Mar 65°/40°F (18°/5°C) 80°/54°F (26°/12°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/63°F (29°/17°C) 61°/39°F (16°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 93°/70°F (34°/21°C) 56°/35°F (13°/1°C)
Oct–Dec 71°/47°F (22°/8°C) 73°/47°F (23°/9°C)
View all months
Month Austin Canberra
Jan 61°/37°F (15.9°/2.9°C) 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C)
Feb 64°/39°F (17.6°/3.8°C) 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C)
Mar 71°/45°F (21.6°/7.4°C) 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C)
Apr 79°/55°F (25.9°/12.8°C) 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C)
May 85°/64°F (29.7°/17.7°C) 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C)
Jun 91°/70°F (32.8°/21.0°C) 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C)
Jul 94°/72°F (34.7°/22.3°C) 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C)
Aug 96°/72°F (35.4°/22.1°C) 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C)
Sep 90°/67°F (32.3°/19.2°C) 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C)
Oct 81°/57°F (27.3°/13.7°C) 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C)
Nov 71°/47°F (21.4°/8.4°C) 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C)
Dec 62°/38°F (16.5°/3.4°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 Texas?

On average Australia is around 8% pricier than Texas, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Australia?

Budget about A$28,825 for 3 months in Australia (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Australia?

From major Australia cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Texas and Australia are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Australia compared to Texas?

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

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

The average high temperature in Canberra is 67°F, compared to 79°F in Austin. Canberra receives around 24.8 in of rainfall per year, while Austin gets 36.2 in.

What language do they speak in Australia?

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

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At a Glance

AU
Population 25,145,561 26,141,369
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