Oz Property Prices Bad News For Incoming Expat Professionals

Would-be expats are in favour of both Melbourne and Sydney, but soaring house prices are causing financial issues.

Now that just about anywhere on the planet can turn into a favourite expat destination almost overnight, would-be career boosters and upscale digital nomads are making their choices on the basis of property prices. Australian expats overseas are claiming they’re there due to the expense of staying in the home country, and would-be expats from overseas are now bypassing any city experiencing house price bubbles.

In the majority of annual surveys, both Sydney and Melbourne do well in most categories, but it seems that expat arrivals from the USA’s major cities are seriously considering a stint in Oz in spite of its high accommodation costs. San Francisco, for example, crashed to the bottom rung of a recent study due to its unaffordable housing. In addition, US citizens now living and working in Australia feel they’re getting much more from their money than they would at home.

For techies in particular, Australia is far more friendly and welcoming than the USA, with locals seen as more open to new ideas and safety and security not a negative issue. The two cities are far more walkable, even at night, offsetting the admittedly higher cost of living even excluding rent. It seems the majority of expats arrive for work-related reasons, as both Melbourne and Sydney attract top international talent, but the advantages include the continent’s warm weather, shorter working weeks and laid-back lifestyle.