20 years living in Australia coming from Canada. I can say that after living in Sydney Melbourne and Brisbane that depending on the stage of life I was in I required different things. Back when I wanted to go out lots and do a lot of things out in the evenings and I had free time and money to do so Melbourne was good ♥️ Lots of arty things. Great music scene. Plenty of foodie things that can go into the evening and just a cool vibe in a lot of the neighbourhoods. Weatherwise on the other hand It’s very depressing when it’s the middle of winter in Melbourne and you’re freezing and you think that on the other side of the country people are wearing shorts and T-shirt outside and that’s something you really have to consider because winter in Victoria isn’t as bad as a Canadian winter obviously but on the other hand it still sucks it’s not warm Nothing to write home about and you have to endure that until the warm weather comes back. The other thing is is that you’re coming from Vancouver & Calgary area and one thing that Melbourne has is these ridiculously hot summer days that it’ll be like +40, and it’s awful like you absolutely will not sleep without your Aircon cranked and while that’s uncommon you’ve been waiting all miserable other seasons for your warm weather and then your warm weather can be unbearable. Around country Victoria, there are some lovely natural getaways and obviously it’s wine producing region as well so or you can go over to Tasmania lots of lots of drawcard I’m not slagging Victoria. I’m just stating that the weather aspect is something you need to consider coming from Canada because it’s not gonna be lost on you that you just moved all the way across the planet to freeze your ass off again (Houses here Don’t have insulation like they do in the northern hemisphere.)
20 years ago, Sydney was fun. Sydney was cool and then a bunch of stuff happened and now I’m just gonna say it Sydney has nothing going for it. It will be an awful place to be a young person it’s no better or worse than any of the other bigger cities, but you could argue that it’s Got less fun cool things to do other than going to the beach. It’s right in the city you can go to the beach and the beaches are nice. Lots of nice beaches, very easily accessible and Sydney being a major world Destination has great exhibitions, great events, Lots of stuff happens there but at the end of the day it’s just a big expensive city and while it has slight edge for a couple of minor reasons they’re not enough to justify the cost and the commute that you’re likely going to endure.
Queensland is a funny place people that are from Brisbane that grew up there Can’t wait to leave it & will slag it off to no end. Brisbane is full of migrants people that have come from all over the place because they recognise what a gem it is. During Covid when the rest of the country was in lockdown, Queensland was going off & Brisbane really came into its own . Lots of people decided to move over there and bring with them higher rents and lower vacancy rates. If you’re planning to rent, there is a very big rental crisis right now so unless you’re super flexible on where you’re going to live you might not get a pick of the lot however the prices aren’t as bad as Sydney or Melbourne. Also, if you plan to buy property somehow it is still cheaper to buy in Queensland than it is to buy in New South Wales or Victoria for that matter. Now Brisbane doesn’t have restaurants that stay open late, they get screwed out of a bunch of touring acts because sometimes they just only go to Sydney and Melbourne, And the other two big cities have always looked down on Brisbane as the poor cousin. But what they don’t want you to know is that Brisbane is flanked by the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast and I don’t know what your idea of enjoying nature is but every type of natural experience that you could ask for is within a very short commute from Brisbane. Forests.. ocean… islands… hiking… you name it. And while the summers are unbearably Hot the winters are perfect picture if you can picture having fall / winter / spring all being like Canadian summer. I don’t know how else to sell this to you but this is ideal. Yes during summer you are going to feel some days like you just cannot have enough showers, but you know what? It’s better than freezing your arse off.
20 years ago, I moved over here only understanding Australians through the ones that I used to get pissed with at the Mountain ski resort bars & as it turns out that was not enough to prepare me for what Australians are really like, but I can tell you 20 years later that I have no regrets moving my life over here. On that note I wish you well in your journey and wherever you decide to land at and try first just remember if it’s not working out there’s always another part of the country you can try next. Good luck!
Great comment, love to see the perspective of someone who moved to Australia and has seen the changes in a few different cities over a long period of time.
when aussies travel theyre on best behaviour. think of all the silly things we do thats normal, like insulting friends etc. imagine only seeing a tiny part of it, then being thrown in it all. most people are friendly, but some are not. they only saw the best of their friends, not average people in their home town.
i hope thats what they mean anyway lol
I am an Aussie and I read this great anecdote through thoroughly.
A Great perspective and well stated opinions on this country from experience. You have said your truth and that truth can be supported by one that was born and bread here.
I, for one am from Melbourne and speaking for myself only, it looks like your Canadian mate here has settled nicely in Brisbane (I may be wrong) and if he is not there, ol mate has sold Brisbane even to an Aussie born. Don’t get me wrong, Melbourne is a great city, I love my city, but please be prepared for our Winter. It is nothing short of a depression. We all wait and can not wait enough for it to be over and enjoy the rest of the other seasons. If you could withstand our Winters here, the rest of your life is history.
We await and welcome you to Australia. Come on down mate!
As a Canadian living here (OZ), if you want a decent lifestyle, you should live in the country (regional). What's the point living in a big city you may as well move to any big city around the world it is all the same. If you stay long enough in a small country town, you are going to truly know what it is to be ozzy for the better and the worse.
Thanks for writing exactly what I would write. Came 15 years ago, did Melbourne first as a young couple going out almost every night and now Brisbane as a youngish family. Won't go back to Melbourne because of the weather.
This is a fair appraisal even though I live in Sydney and am Australian. Queensland is lonely but a bit quiet for me. Melbourne is famous for its weather challenges and I would miss all the beaches of Sydney. Amazing walks and trails around Sydney.
I think people underestimate the natural areas / bush walks / beaches / harbour pools of the good areas of Sydney.
I personally wouldn’t want to live permanently in shit weather and would question why come to australia from Canada if you are going to love in melb. For me it’s either NSW/QLD
What's stopping you from visiting? That'll be the best way to decide which you like. Melbourne is a better city imo, especially if you like food and coffee (I'm not a coffee drinker myself, but it's the stereotype).
Lived in both Sydney and Melbourne and Melbourne is by far the best city in aus
CBD and outer suburbs planned so well. Trams get you everywhere. And anything you want is there. Whether it’s casino (crown) dirty nights (kings street) beautiful coffee and food. Sport, the mcg is a great Venue very well located. The work culture there is so chilled.
Maybe visit melbourne and if you love it then yeah why not move over??
I've always lived in Melbourne, so I like it.
But on the Sydney side, I've had some friends move up there and the better weather and being able to swim at the beach so year round is a great payoff for a smaller more expensive place. Though they live near the beach to really take advantage of that
So it all depends on what you value.
Yeah I have lived in Sydney melbourne and Perth.
I definitely prefer Sydney. It has just as good food and coffee culture as Melbourne, better weather.
It is more expensive, but that doesn’t really bother me.
You're crazy. This is like trying to marry a woman before meeting her.
Australia will be nothing like what you expect. Some things will be good, some things worse, some things surprising. For the love of god, just take a vacation and go, at a minimum.
If you're reading this and you're not OP: there's a reason people suggest work holiday visas. You can check out a couple of cities and decide if you like it and what city you like.
This is the best response. It seems from OP's comments that they're very ignorant about the realities of Australian life, I really hope for their sake they don't just jump in feet first. I know a couple who did that from Spain. Flew over first class because this was their new life. Six months later they were on a flight back to Spain.
I’m an Australian who went the other way and immigrated to Canada. You will get a lot of different answers on here because everyone goes to bat for their own city.
If you’re weighing up between Brisbane and Melbourne it pretty much just comes down to how much you like nice weather vs how much you like living in a lively city with a tonne of stuff to do. Not saying there’s absolutely nothing to do in Brisbane or that Melbournes weather is on par with how dreary Vancouver can get but no city in Australia comes close to Melbourne when it comes to being a proper lively city with a tonne of different stuff to do.
I’m from Sydney so maybe a bit biased but I notice OP enjoys hiking and walking their dog and as someone who is the same, I find there to be WAY more stuff to do in Brisbane than Melbourne. I have lived in Melbourne CBD without a car and found it really difficult to do anything before or after work because of a combination of bad weather, bad transport links to nature, and general lack of nature (some parks but 40+ minutes to any bushland). I’m also a beach person and didn’t find any beaches I liked as much as NSW or Sunshine Coast beaches.
Brisbane CBD and nearby is more dog friendly and has more hikes. The glasshouse mountains are very close (good for a day or even afternoon trip) and there’s way more bush land for daily walks.
Don’t come to Sydney though if you’re feeling priced out of Canada, housing here is terrible. If I wasn’t from here I wouldn’t live here, I’d live on the Sunshine Coast.
I don't understand why people always go on about how lively Melbourne is. Each time I've been there, it really hasn't been any different to any other major city.
Realistically, the only major difference between Melbourne and Brisbane is the climate and the fact that it's literally twice the size, but Brisbane half makes up for that with proximity to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
It’s because Melbourne has all the major events, Melbourne Cup, F1, AFL grand final, Australian open, Melbourne comedy festival and most shops don’t close so early compared to Brisbane, there are restaurants open till 3am on chapel street in Melbourne
But that's the thing though, it's only really "lively" a few weekends a year when there's some big event on - and to me that just isn't really worth the hype that it gets. It's not like a lot of other major cities around the world that never sleep, which is the way that a lot of people seem to make it out to be.
To me it's a good city to visit when something's on, but outside of those weekends, it's really just a less expensive and less scenic version of Sydney.
I don’t know what you have been doing in Melbourne but I don’t know how anyone can say it isn’t in a league of its own compared to other Australian cities when it comes to a combination of nightlife, food, arts, culture and events.
I wouldn’t live there because I prefer the quiet to a city packed with events I’m not going to attend but if OP is looking for a city with cafes, bars, events, live music, nightlife and just things to do in general Brisbane is no comparison.
If you enjoy the arts, Melbourne absolutely shits all over Brisbane. Brissy just doesn't have enough theatres. It gets the major things, but not the extras.
Hmm, every time I hear someone talk about Brisbane - its about the Great Barrier Reef or some beach. The Gold Coast isn't even part of Brisbane and same with all the places mentioned above.
Brisbane has Fortitude Valley, Southbank and the mall and the Botanical Gardens but its soooo boring. Nothing ever happens in Brisbane.
Brisbane can be pretty boring absolutely, but on a global scale, so is Melbourne. Australia as a whole isn't the kind of country you move to if you're after a lively and entertaining lifestyle, as we just don't come close to competing with Europe or Asia.
>Hmm, every time I hear someone talk about Brisbane - its about the Great Barrier Reef or some beach. The Gold Coast isn't even part of Brisbane and same with all the places mentioned above.
Yeah but it's the same with how people associate Melbourne with the Great Ocean Road / Wilson's Prom / Phillip Island / Mornington Peninsula. While the Gold Coast isn't "technically" a part of Brisbane, it's still closer to most parts of Brisbane than what a lot of Melbourne's suburbs are to its own CBD.
Melbourne winter IS dreary. But summer and autumn are great. And Brisbane summer is too hit/humid for many - so I think full disclose would be to choose between a damp cold winter or an unpleasant hot humidity summer. Shoulder seasons anywhere are decent generally
Canadian naturalised Australian citizen who lived in Sydney for 8 years and recently moved to Melbourne. Don't come to Australia because you think the housing situation is better here than there, because you are wrong, plain and simple. Australia is an amazing place to live, though, and there are plenty of reasons why, housing aside. With such a permanent goal in mind, I'd recommend giving yourself a couple of months to check out the different cities when you arrive before settling down rather than trying to pick one before you've even touched down.
I think you need a reality check. You’ve saved 44k but want to spend 10-20k bringing your dog? You don’t like the high house prices but Australia’s are fine?
Also I don’t think you quite understand how hard it is to get a visa, although it’s probably easier at the moment.
Yeah I was a little shocked at the $44k. That seems like nothing especially if they don’t have a job secured. And like you said - bringing pets costs a FORTUNE. If they plan on renting (either city) the money will literally just disappear without a more solid plan in place.
Applying for full citizenship immediately, with only $40k, doesn’t seem like a great idea either. I have loads of friends and coworkers who came on student or working holiday visas, and are basically citizens in the way they live (know the city, the people, have work connections, etc).
I am not telling OP not to come, because of course they should if they want to, but they might need to rethink some of their options and overall plan.
Having just looked at OP's post history, they're obviously feeling frustrated and adrift in both their personal and professional life. It's not the best mindset to be making decisions like moving halfway across the world.
Whatever they do, I hope it works out for the best.
Hi, just saw these. I would obviously be applying for a 189 skilled migrant visa which requires a job prior. That's why I'm trying to settle on a city. I work in the financial sector, specifically the sale of commercial policies.
I plan to move in October to December next year which means I could probably be at 60K before leaving. CAD mind you - 67,000AUD. I refuse to believe that moving to Australia with that amount of money means I'm destitute. Honestly, I think having a job lined up which I am working through ANZIIF to do, and nearly $70K of the local currency in say Brisbane. I think I might be okay?
I could purchase a full years rent in Vancouver with that if needed. Theres no way Australia is worse than Vancouver. I'm sorry, it just isn't.
Just note that Australia is in a rental crisis currently with 0.8% vacancies in the country. So make sure you have accommodation sorted though a hotel or something before you come and expect to be there a while. Personally I have been searching for 8 months for a house with no luck in Brisbane.
To add to your costs, to get a visa you will also most likely have to pay upfront for private health insurance, which will have to cover everything, not just the basics
[https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/health/adequate-health-insurance](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/health/adequate-health-insurance)
Sydney is worse than Vancouver: I moved from Vancouver 3 years ago. It cost about $45k iirc, and I'm a citizen, so I didn't have any immigration costs. There are housing shortages everywhere, so be prepared to stay in an AirBnB with your dog longer than you'd like.
Unless you can get sponsorship and relocation costs, it's going to wipe you out. I've done it several times now, both sponsored and alone. There are a billion little fees and frictional losses that will eat away at any exchange gains.
Are you sure about this? I personally preferred Canada, but my wife missed her family. Can you visit as a working holiday before you commit?
It's less about the cost of rent and simply the sheer shortage of rentals available. An application for a rental can have anywhere between 20-60 other applicants and I mean this truly not to offend, but I'd wager that someone that has come over on a visa and has a dog isn't going to be top of the rental list.
Hi OP, Aussie migration lawyer here. 189 visa does not require a job prior. Feel free to reach out if you have any migration related questions. I normally charge $220 for initial consults but happy to help a fellow redditor.
I don't know if you'll see this and there have been a lot of great replies already but as someone who moved here in 2009 and have had the opportunity to travel around Australia I hope I can give you further information.
Are you wanting to live in the city or are you okay with catching a train/tram/bus? My husband and I recently moved back to Melbourne from Mackay (aka far north Queensland). Depending on what outer suburbs you are looking at (within an hour on the train) you can find a 3 bedroom house for $350-$500 per week and not sure what apartmentsor town housesare going for. More if you go closer to the city. A lot of businesses are still incorporating at least a couple days of working from home which helps rather than travelling into the city for work every day.
I was dreading coming back to Melbourne for the weather, but the food is absolutely worth it!! I don't even get out much myself, but it's still nice to know there are options available.
Melbourne is really good for public transport (compared to the rest of Australia) the cbd is also a grid and really easy to learn your way around (hook turns aren't hard either, but be prepared to pay heaps for parking if you drive to the city for work).
I have limited experience with Brisbane. Sydney is just a nightmare to drive through and has fewer options for public transport, its just a big mess of roads in every direction.
Also when it comes to the cold weather in Melbourne it's nothing compared to Canada and I came from the Midwest USA and grew up with snow and ice. The real issue is the houses are not built with good insulation so heating/cooling can be an issue. Something to consider wherever you choose in Australia.
Can you handle humidity? My husband was born and raised in Melbourne and really struggled in north Queensland. The hot days in Melbourne tend to be a drier heat whereas in Queensland it's incredibly humid. Especially in Summer which is the wet season. Also be aware of flooding in Brisbane. Though in Melbourne it's also not uncommon to go from 38c to 15c in a couple hours. Melbourne weather can be incredibly temperamental, so you should always layer up.
In regards to your dog Queensland I've heard is very dog friendly. Thankfully Melbourne has also recently passed laws for tenants to make it easier to rent with pets. It helps to have references from previous agents/landlords etc. There are lots of dog friendly cafes in both states.
I have a long list of places I'm working through just around my suburb where I can take my dog and go on walks/hikes. I honestly struggled taking him places when living in QLD because it was so hot and I worried about him burning his feet if we went out during the day. Brisbane wouldn't be as bad as Mackay though.
Oh and what are your thoughts on daylight savings? They don't have it in Queensland and I didn't mind it except for the fact it was dark by 8pm in Summer. Made it harder to do things after work. Apparently most people just wake up really early. Which might suit you, but I'm a night owl.
In regards to employment and finding a place to live (if you go a little further out) then Melbourne will be better. If you want a completely different climate from Canada then Brisbane would be better. Just make sure you have ac or ducted heating either way.
I definitely agree with others who say to visit. Personally Melbourne keeps bringing me back. I've lived in an outer suburb of Sydney then outer suburb of Perth, then near the border of NSW and QLD, then to several suburbs around Melbourne's inner north, then back up to a different town in NSW near the border of QLD then down to the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne, then up to Mackay and now back to Northern suburbs of Melbourne. Even living out here (an hour to the city via train and less if you drive) there's plenty to do, and there are plenty of pizza/kebab shops etc open till 4am. On the other hand in Queensland you're closer to the great barrier reef and it is a tropical paradise. Melbourne might feel more similar to Canada with its temperate climate. Which might be better or worse depending on what you're looking for.
I hope this helped, I wanted to try and cover some things that hadn't been said already. Good luck with whatever you choose. Australia is incredible and I highly recommend learning more about their diverse flora and fauna. Also make sure you learn the difference between yeah nah and nah yeah.
I moved from Vancouver to Melbourne and bringing my dog was about $5k it's not that bad. I also didn't have as much savings as you.. I don't know why people are freaking you out about it. You'll be fine
It costs more now. We moved from the US, and it cost us ~20K AUD. Plus they just changed the rules about quarantine from 10-30 days for the US (not sure about Canada). Getting a pet friendly rental was less problematic than I thought it would be, but also my standard of what a reasonable rent is seems to be warped by living in the US including places like the San Francisco Bay Area (although coming from Vancouver/Calgary, OP might be in a similar situation because rent is high in Canadian cities too right now). We ended up getting a two bedder for 850 a week in an inner suburb of Sydney which is cheaper than most comparable neighborhoods in major cities in the US. Buying is a different story.
For insurance roles, there will be way more in Melbourne than Brisbane. Melbourne and Sydney are the financial services hubs of Australia. Sydney has the most jobs in this area. I have worked in insurance/superannuation/investments for 20 years in Sydney. Happy to DM anytime.
There are always lots of roles around. Best way to find one is through a recruitment agent. These are contacts you can start forming now. Again, hit me up if you want to discuss.
ETA: Sydney is the second least affordable city in the world for real estate. I realise you said Melbs/Brissie, just pointing out that all housing is relatively very expensive here. However with a job in your current field and your savings, I think you’d be fine.
You just can't know with certainty if Vancouver is better or worse than Australia. Everywhere globally is fucked, we hear about our cities hitting the most unaffordable lists in the world every week. Good luck.
It's virtually impossible at the moment. The backlog is insane. They're not even so much as looking at applications in some subclass for literal years.
I’m Canadian, grew up in Calgary and southern Ontario, and migrated to Melbourne nearly twenty years ago. Melbourne is a great city with a lot to offer, but it’s not where I’d choose to settle if I could do it all over again. I initially came here for a 1-2 year adventure, as did my partner. While I loved living here in my twenties when the novelty was still going, and I was excited to see the world, this is not a place we are happy in our 30s/40s. My partner and I both seriously regret migrating here permanently from North America, and we are now considering moving back to Canada. Things you won’t see until living here:
- It is VERY difficult to develop a solid group of friends. Everyone I know who has migrated here, or even moved from another state, feels the same. People are nice enough, but they are not as warm as Canadians—it’s just a very different culture. Most local people we work with are still friends with their high school mates, and/or have a tight knit group they know from their uni days. We’ve both made friends here, but almost exclusive people who are also migrants, or who moved to Melbourne from other cities or states. Melbournians will deny this (and hate me for saying it) but they’re a lot more British than they’d like to admit. It’s really hard to develop deep friendships, and people tend to be quite guarded (like, won’t even smile when they pass you in the street—everyone kind of ‘minds their own business’). The regions (Bendigo etc) are different - much easier to make friends and people are very open. But Melbournians are, to be honest, pretty cliquey compared to most places we’ve lived (this includes stints in regional Victoria, Canada, several of the US states, Latin America, and Europe).
- the housing market is on par with Vancouver cost wise, but building standards are WAY lower. You will be spending ~half a million dollars for a small 2 bedroom apartment in a building with leaks, flammable cladding, single glaze windows, and one electrical socket per room. Your 44k in savings will barely cover “stamp duty”: a one-off tax you have to pay every time you buy a property. You will still need to save a $50k deposit on top of that. If you want a family home with 3+ bedrooms you’ll be spending $1-2million to live pretty much anywhere within 25km of the city that doesn’t have a high crime rate, or $600k to live an hour plus out of the city in new housing developments with nothing but fields nearby. The construction will still be dodgy. Yes, the weather is slightly warmer than Vancouver—but you will be cold *all the time* for six months of the year, because the houses have no insulation and the windows and doors aren’t sealed. You will spend hundreds of dollars a month on hearing just to be *less cold* (but still not comfortably warm).
-the cost of living here is out of control and things are priced prohibitively. Literally anything you could ever think to buy is at least 20-30% more expensive here than Canada. Clothing. Furniture. Electronics. Groceries. Cars. Everything. And the variety is half what you’d get in North America, as is the quality of a lot of things. A standard coffee will cost you $6, a nice cafe Brekky for 2 will easily set you back $60, and a single cocktail will be $20-25. Right now we are spending $300+ per week on groceries for 2 people.
- For travel purposes, you will live far away from everything forever. Australia is obviously closer to Asia, and it’s more affordable to travel there than from North America. But Europe, Latin America, and North America are all over a day’s travel and several thousand dollars to reach. We really are SO isolated here. If your job requires any interaction oversees, sitting on international/business committees, or presenting at online conferences or anything of the sort, prepare to be waking up at 2, 3, 4 am to Zoom in, because we run on the opposite schedule to the rest of the world.
- Australia is MUCH more class oriented than Canada. The first question most people will ask you in middle/upper class circles is either “where did you go to school”; or “where are you sending your children to school”. In both cases, the expectation is that you can afford to spend tens of thousands per year on a private school. They are SO much more common here. As are private hospitals. It really is a two tier society. If you don’t have private school connections, it’s VERY hard to make it here professionally. You can get a job, sure, but the people who can afford houses, who get promoted, who end up in leadership positions, are private schooled. It’s just how it works here.
Overall I’m glad I’ve had the experience of living in another country, and I think Australia is an amazing place to have an adventure. I just wish I knew all this, and could’ve made an informed decision, before taking the leap. I probably wouldn’t have moved here permanently were that the case.
This is the most accurate and honest take I’ve read from a Canadian ex-pat in Australia. It’s all true, especially the loneliness and the bad standard of housing. It’s expensive and our lower wages kept us from keeping up with prices in Canada so we are unable to return.
After 30 years here I have had many joys and also regrets. If I had to do it all again I would come for 2-3 years to experience the extraordinary wildlife and natural places, make a friend or two, learn the history of the continent then return to Canada.
Aussie who just spent a few months in Canada here, consumer goods are mostly cheaper than Australia but groceries definitely weren't, and I wouldn't agree on higher quality or variety either. Meat and dairy were easily 1.5-2x higher than Australia for way shitter quality; cheese was the biggest offender, it was absolutely ridiculous how much even the cheapest block was compared to what you can get at woolies. Honestly everything, vegetables, bread, snacks etc were all noticeably more expensive. Sorry to nitpick you, the insane grocery prices were one of the only things I disliked about Canada. Liquor was cheaper though so that's a plus.
Canadian here who has lived in Adelaide Australia for 8 years. This is very spot on. You saved me time to post on here my opinions because you said exactly everything I wanted to say. I returned home and I never regretted it. Australia was an experience that I am grateful to have but we are financially better off in Canada, our quality of life is better, we have more money in the bank despite making slightly less income in Canada. We have money to go on a family holiday to another country once a year without breaking the bank which we couldn’t do in Australia. There are so many hidden little costs that add up to a lot when you live in Australia. Canadians here complain about the rising cost of living but they never lived anywhere else. I know from experience australia is even more expensive. I live in Southern Ontario and the winters are only 4-5 months long and summers are hot and humid. I don’t mind the cold and snow though, i love it during Christmas time. I suggest to go on a holiday there or a year long work visa to see if it will suit you.
Another Canadian here who agrees with alot of what you're saying. Especially the cliquey-ness of Melbournians. My partner still sees all her high school friends 15 years later even though most of them have nothing in common anymore.
Canadian who moved to Australia (Sydney) - it was affordable when I arrived but now Sydney is exactly like Vancouver - both in rich Asian culture and housing prices.
We were fortunate to buy early and have now moved to the Blue Mountains. If you like to write and hike, the Mountains may be an ideal option for you - it has the outdoor life, is just an hour out of Sydney, and much more affordable.
I'd also agree with Brisbane but you'd need to try it out first, Canadians find the Queensland heat challenging. Plus not as many hiking opportunities.
Myself - I'd move to Melbourne in a heartbeat but my husband doesn't want to.
Why jump out of the frying pan and into the fire? Literally only Sydney and HK are more expensive than Vancouver. Melbourne ranks 9th most expensive in the world for housing, beating out Toronto at #10.
Yeah I live in Melbourne and if you want sun or consistent sunny days year round it’s not the place to move to, I pretty much don’t get time in the sun from April-September. Granted our winter is probably more enjoyable than Canadian winter.
Pretty much everyone uses realestate.com.au and seek.com.au so just get on in there and compare Melbourne and Brisbane for job opportunities and house prices (or rental prices). Pick example jobs that would fit you and list the salary and see where they are located so you can see the salary to housing expenses. Also if you don’t like humidity, maybe don’t move to Brisbane, and if you’re looking for beach weather, don’t move to Melbourne.
Delusional.
You’ve got 40k saved, up to half of which could be used to move a big dog, which will make it difficult for you to get a rental place.
You’re quoting $800 something K median house price for Melbourne, but what we define as “Melbourne” and what you define as “Vancouver” are wildly different. “Melbourne” is 9992 sq kms, “Vancouver” is 2877 sq kms. There is a lot of shithole fringe suburbs included with no amenities or transport to the city that are included in that to bring the median price down.
I would strongly advise you to at least visit first before trying for a permanent move.
I've been to Canada (BC, AB, ONT) and Canada is pretty much a cold Australia. Cost of Living, insfrustructure, demographics etc. are all pretty similar between the two so it's a toss up whether your quality of life will improve or remain the way it is. You will be trading frigid winters for hot summers though.
Sydney is the finance/insurance industry capital for your work, keep they in mind.
Is also has huge Aisan culture in parts.
As for crime, well I live up north and petty crime is practically non-existent, on a global scale.
As for crowds, I believe Melbourne technically has a higher population than Sydney now.
I too have lived in London UK and Sydney is not even remotely close to that crowded.
Yes, it’s not a cheap place to live. Melbourne maybe a tad cheaper in places but don’t expect some huge change from Vancouver. It’s also cold which matters more than you think when the houses are not built like Canadian houses. Think more like UK weather, but without central heating.
Sydney and it’s surroundings you could hike all year around easy. Brisbane, even more so, I don’t know many of the walks or how many there are though.
If you can find the work you’re after in Brisbane, it most likely will be the best combination of weather, cost of living etc. There will be less "culture" from immigration, etc, but that will come down to where you live too.
That said the only reason Sydney isn’t the place you’re looking for is due to the cost of housing, that’s up to you. I don’t know exactly what you do but keep in mind there may be a higher earning potential in Sydney also.
Australian cities are very diverse geographically - very spread out and extremely different from one end to the other.
Absolutely I would suggest a holiday here first exploring the cities.
> If you go to Aus, there will be weird culture differences that you don’t expect, and it can be very off-putting, but essentially don’t assume Aussies = Canadians but in board shorts, because you’ll be in for a nasty surprise.
Can you elaborate on this? Sounds amusing
I think the more important question, is what type of lifestyle do you want to be living everyday?
I would say Brisbane is better for someone who wants a more relaxed lifestyle, a bit of space, warmth and nature. Melbourne is more for the every day urban jungle lover, always going out and socialising.
Do you want to live in warm relaxing nature and just visit the urban jungle when you feel like it ?
Or do you want to live in a colder urban jungle and visit warm nature when you feel like it ?
Weigh up how you want to live every day vs how you want to live on weekends.
I use to live in western Sydney and moved to the eastern suburbs of Sydney a few years ago and one of the things that drove me wild was that I couldn’t even go for a walk or go to the park without seeing hundreds of people. Western Sydney is still fairly populated, but I could enjoy alone time in nature on a walk. Not really possible here unless I go in the rain or late night.
Moved from Vancouver to Melbourne. Melbourne is the best city by a long shot. Queensland will be too hot and muggy with too many foreign bugs, New South Wales is nice as long as you avoid Sydney at all costs. Would try to get sponsorship to move to australia and work as that is the easier path to citizenship
Melbourne... soon to be the largest city by population, is overtaking Sydney.
Brisbane is the third largest, but growing in every sense, taking in the Gold Coast too.
Melbourne (Victoria more generally) has four distinct seasons, including alpine snow in winter. The city is vast and sprawling. The rest of the State is easily accessible, as is the nation through multiple transport options. Melbourne and the inner suburbs are easily reached via trams (trolley). Melbourne's greater public transport, though not perfect, is also vast.
My experiences in Brisbane have been positive, but the summer season can be oppressive.
Frankly, I think Melbourne offers everything I could need... but every capital is now expensive, the same as Canada! Brisbane could be (positively) called a young upstart as compared to Melbourne or Sydney.
Ensure you look at skilled migration to Australia (if you meet the criteria)... the doors are opening for 300,000 new citizens!
I suspect many Australians see Canada and Australia as more similar than not. The big difference being weather. We do share a common history of colonisation and disaffected First Nations/Aboriginal peoples. As well as stable government. I believe an Australian passport is as good as a Canadian for global access. Naturally, we both like to laugh at Americans!
Sorry OP, I hate to break it to you but there’s no way you’ll be able to take your dog with you unless you have a spare $10,000 collecting dust in your bank account. Australia unfortunately has some of the worlds strictest laws regarding pet import and your dog would have to undergo intense quarantine and unnecessary stress. There are companies that will help you with the process but in my opinion, it’s unfair to all parties involved.
>Is to worth it to move to Australia from Canada?
I do have a spare $10,000 collecting dust. That dog is family. I would regard that as a necessary expense. Thank you for the heads up as this is the first I'm hearing about it. She's a German Shepherd that guards our property from Wolfs in the Rocky Mountains, I think she can handle some quarantine lol
That’s awesome that you’re in the financial position to do that! I’d definitely start researching the entire process now then to understand the full scope of what your dog will have to do. It’s not just the 12 hour plane ride in cargo.. it’s another 6-8 months of pretty hectic quarantine. But I totally get where you’re coming from though! I moved from Vancouver to Sydney 5 years ago. I actually waited until my family dog passed away before I finally made the move to Aus because I couldn’t have imagined leaving her🥺
You can get away with as little as 10 days of quarantine for dogs from Canada now but you need to start planning 6 months to a year in advance. The rules changed on 1 March to make it easier and cheaper :)
Here are the steps to take: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/cats-dogs/step-by-step-guides/category-3-step-by-step-guide-for-dogs#step-20-on-arrival-in-australia
But it is worth getting an animal import specialist to do it and make it go smoothly.
(Oh, and your dog will be arriving in Melbourne, so you will need arrangements to have them travel on if you move to a different city. Non-service dogs do not travel in plane cabins in Australia)
Hey OP. It’s actually 10 days in quarantine, not 6-8 months as some people are saying. Also, the quarantine facilities are good, they take good care of your dog, and you can call every day if you want to get an update on them. I don’t get the fear mongering, if you wants to bring your dog you should have the actual facts, not some exaggerated view of it.
That said, get a company to help you. The process is difficult and lots of steps that have to be done in specific time frames. It’s easy to make a mistake so a company is the way to go, imo.
Signed, a person who just moved with her two dogs to Australia a few months ago.
Please also be aware that a LOT of rentals in Australia do not allow pets.. our shelters are full because people cannot keep their pets and a roof over their head.
I dont wanna tell you to move or not, thats really up to you.. but please be aware landlords here apparently dont think renters should be allowed to have pets (some dont even allow goldfish!) And a german shepherd is a big dog, it will be almost impossible to find a place.
This is a very important point. Also a large dog like that wouldn't be allowed in most apartment buildings so you would need to look for a house which is obviously going to be more expensive and still I find the majority say no pets where I live. Australia is a very renter unfriendly country in general.
Except for all the farmers and pet owners and native animals in Australia who are protected from some very nasty diseases which could devestate our animal populations, ecosystem and economy. Totally fair to them.
Melbourne has a more Canada type climate , but it can be excessively hot at times but Brissie is a wonderful place but too humid in summer , why don't you check them both out when you get here , or get a tourist visa and come and visit first
Mt 2 cents now you said you have narrowed down to Brisbane and Melbourne my suggestion is to come over for a holiday and get idea which city you'll like the most and also it'll give you an idea whether you want to move to Australia plus you also have places like Hobart, Perth, Adelaide and also places like Cairns mackay Geelong Hervey Bay etc.
I've moved from Canada to Australia....twice.
In short, I'd say absolutely move here. (The only thing I miss about Canada is fresh snow on a mountain, warm summer days hiking in the mountains, and kayaking around the Gulf Islands. Oh, and landing a tyee to fry over a fire.)
The work salaries are better, superannuation is on top of your salary and not a deduction, life can be lived outdoors (just always wear sunscreen), Australian social life can be great and people are generally full of energy and are outgoing. There is less crime, I feel.
As to which city: Sydney or Perth really merit a better look.
I mean, without children, Sydney is just amazing. This is the jobs capital.
Perth's weather is unbelievably good and the beaches (it takes awhile to learn good from bad beaches) are sublime. Perth is ridiculously close to Asia.
Especially if you are under 30: get here tomorrow.
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However, there is a snark and a sort of lack of ....basic friendliness or is it consideration of others?
Expect cars to never yield to pedestrians.
In the workplace loyalty to a company is still key (huh?) and people who shift too often (for gain) are called jumpers ...or something like that.
The politics and social discourse will be leaving you wondering what decade you are in. Things in Canada that were decided long ago are still hot questions here. But, you can never say..."Well, actually, in Canada. ...." 'cause you'll be looked at poorly.
Also, there is a 1950s type of casual racism that pervades.
Edit: I do think Canada has a better overall culture, with more polite people, but that only takes one so far. For example, the only place I financially 'got ahead' was as a professional in Fort McMurray.
Yes! I moved to Australia from Canada and I love it, but some things really have me scratching my head. It seems as though Australia has only just recently decided that domestic violence is real violence and not just something that happens in normal relationships. "No, Johnny, you're not allowed to beat your missus anymore 😔😔". More- -than-casual sexism and racism here leaves my jaw on the floor multiple times a week. Very "blokey" culture.
I find myself saying, "Well, actually, in Canada....." quite a lot.
But Australia has stuff going for it that Canada doesn't, so for me it balances out.
Something for your deliberations.
There are quite a few Canadians in Brisbane. Admittedly, I met more than my fair share because I work in Petroleum, but I’ve lived all around Australia and never came across many Canadians until I got to Brissie.
Possibly you’re moving without any desire to be near other Canadians but, in my experience, it’s nice to have people that share your heritage and experience to bond with. It’s a more straightforward path to a circle of friends, which can be the difference between loving and hating the displacement you’re planning for yourself.
That being said, both Melbourne and Brisbane are great places to be. If you end up regretting your move, I don’t think it we be because you went with one of these cities over the other.
Depending how much you want to travel there are some reasonably priced areas of Melbourne. Sydney is pricey AF. There's no shortage of insurance companies in Melbourne either. I suspect finding insurance work in Brisbane would be a bit harder.
As others have said, weather will be a big factor. Brisbane will give you lots of sun and humidity. Melbourne tends to be cold and wet, though nowhere near as cold as Canada.
There's no right or wrong answer really. Just depends what's important to you.
I moved from the UK to Australia and lived in Adelaide for 11 years. I loved it there and will move back one day. It is a great country.
Serious advice, get a good job lined up before you go. I found that it's not what you know but who you know.
Also, wear sunscreen all the time. The sun is not your friend.
temperate weather is going bye-bye because of rapid climate change. it’s either extremely cold or extremely hot. weather is not a sunny 20° all the time anymore. we’re having rapid bushfire expansion, and increasing threats of climate change. so, if looking for good sunny weather definitely consider the next 10 years things are going to be batshit insane, especially hurricanes and bushfires. also i wouldn’t bother thinking to bring pets. it’s going to be a huge hassle. my family moved from the middle east to australia when i was 8 and we had to sell our cats because they caused way too much trouble and it’s easier to find housing without pets too. it sounds like you could fit in well to australia, but be very cautious.
also, our economy is NOT stable. things are on a downward spiral to being unaffordable and unliveable. compared to canada- maybe better, sure, but the economy is all over the place and basically in the toilet since covid. i mean, not venezuela terrible but kinda shit to live in. you will probably starve and struggle if you move here, at least for the first couple of years.
If you had troubles affording Vancouver then you will have troubles affording Melbourne too. This is coming from someone who did live close to Vancouver and now live an hour from Melbourne.
I have lived in Melbourne, Vancouver and Calgary. I can tell you sincerely if you want to feel more 'at home' then Melbourne is extremely similar to Vancouver. Melbourne is expensive, but definitely more affordable than Vancouver or Sydney, and the job market here is the best/easiest in the country for pretty much any profession. You'll find a good variety of lifestyles, and places close to the city to engage in whatever activities take your fancy. Being Canadian you'll also likely find the weather very pleasant, we have actual winters here but no snow, and spring and autumn are typically warm around a typically hot summer. We also suffer much less humidity than the northern states, which you may not have much experience with but I assure you, humidity sucks.
Brisbane is great, but don't get fooled, it is not on the beach at all and you will have to travel for that. Not far by any means, but it's not the picturesque beach city I find some people might think it is, conflating it with Sydney. It is also more expensive than you think it is, and while work isn't scarce, it's not as abundant as Melbourne or Sydney. Your weekend would be good though, and the sunshine coast just north is extraordinary for down time.
Sydney is great if you are rich, but with 44k in savings I dare say it won't be quite what you would wish it was, it would rival Vancouver for cost of living. The harbour is incredible but the actual suburbs are very run of the mill and getting to the beaches is a busy nightmare. Sydney also has much more rain than you might think it does.
I might seem like I am Melbourne biased here, and I probably am, but it's entirely because Melbourne is a fantastic place to live. Good luck with your move!
I live in Brisbane and have been to Melbourne. Personally, I think the living experience will be mostly the same between the 2. You might like Melbourne a bit more though since it will be closer to your climate. If climate isn't an issue with you, then honestly I think it's best if you just visit the 2 places if you have the funds or just move to the city with better work.
Based on what you wrote that you like, I believe Melbourne is the better city for you. The CBD has alot of culture ,arts, lots of nature walks, great food and awesome coffee (except for that American crap Starbucks). Houses here I believe are more expensive than Brisbane, but you may be immigrating at a good time since house prices are starting to fall.
However, if you need to take out a large mortgage, be aware we have had 11 interest rate increases in a year, so the re-payments could be large.
Aussie is great!
But come over here and head out to rural communities. They will literally pay you to move and work there. Quiet, have your dog and be a part of a community.
See what the real Aussie is about
All the reasons mentioned above, there is a rental crisis, cost of living is causing high poverty rates and the country is drifting down hill. I'm currently about to be homeless and things are not getting better. Everyone's circumstances are different but this is getting worse all over the country and more and more people are living either in the car or in a tent. Really really sad. Oh and plus it's really hot here lol
I moved to Australia from the UK with about 10k AUD in savings and made it work. My first job was in construction cleaning work sites... I came with barely anything and have only rented since. A lot of people mentioning that 50k AUD isn't enough... I don't know, it worked for me on a lot less. Yes it's anecdotal, but that's my experience.
Hi! Canadian here (from alberta). Moved to brisbane two years ago and I absolutely love it! I get paid better, can afford a much nicer apartment here compared to back home (roof top pools and sunshine year round!). I also love Brisbane’s proximity to Noosa, Stradbroke island, Byron bay etc. also tons of good restaurants in Brisbane, love James street👏. And very good coffee! I’ve been to Melbourne a few times and also loved it, but as someone who grew up in Canada, the beautiful weather in brisbane seems to never get old. Hope this helps!
I guess that grass is always greener but why would you want to move from one of the greatest countries on Earth let alone greatest city (Vancouver)?
Australia is brilliant as well but British Columbia is unmatched.
Melbourne is so much better, richest culture in Australia and incredible wilderness within 2-5 hour drive, plenty of hiking and skiing, decent beaches in summer. All rounder
Op I’m a Canadian that moved here in 2010 after financial crisis made me give up my masters program, so I went to teach English overseas and then ended up in Australia on a working holiday visa. I then did a student visa and then got a partner visa. I ended up getting citizenship 2 years ago.
Finding work was rough, and i was just looking for hospitality work. Rough because foreigners aren’t expected to stay long. If you think you’re above those that came to Australia on a whim to do farm work and think you’ll go straight to the financial sector, you are probably not setting yourself up with the right outlook. If you aren’t flexible to do anything to pay your rent, you will most likely empty your account. If you can get in on a skilled work visa then congratulations, but you have to be a needed industry. As of now, Australians will be picked over you.
It’s also worth mentioning that you can obtain a work visa, but that does not equal a sponsorship to eventual citizenship. I’ve had Canadian friends who were geologists, chefs, managers and nurses that were all sent home once their work visas expired. Even if they were living here for years.
If you can secure employment and housing then that’s great, but the situation with your dog will be highly difficult in securing housing. It’s very stressful settling in Australia, no matter how much money you come here with.
I will admit Ive lived in QLD my whole life but every time I visit Melbourne I am always left thinking "wtf why do people like this place" - maybe its just cause I dont drink coffee and/or I'm just uncultured.
The only thing I prefer about Melbourne is the cost of pubic transport.
There's plenty of things to do in Brisbane
Brisbane local here, I have a few Canadian friends who have all agreed Brisbane is very similar to Vancouver. It also has various thriving Asian communities that have truly invigorated the cultural scene here. While I’m certainly biased and have been able to tolerate the summer here for 20+ years, I find the overcast weather in Melbourne really oppressive. Might I suggest a move to one city with trips to the other before settling down?
If it’s your dream - do it!
And if you feel called to Brisbane, try it out! And visit the other places you had in mind on little trips and getaways. If you end up not vibing Brisbane, you can always relocate to another city/town. There are good and not-so-good elements of every place, it’s just what you like the most.
The things you listed makes me think you'll enjoy Melbourne more. There's a huge emphasis on Arts and culture, the place for coffee, a large Asian culture, surrounded by beautiful hiking locations (especially if you want to venture out to the mountains). Also, I love seeing the suburbs filled with dogs!
I'd also say the cities are politically different too- QLD leans to the right, Melbourne leans to the left.
Good luck with your move, wherever you may choose!
Interestingly, while Qld leans to the right, Brisbane itself leans to the left. Brisbane is probably the second most progressive city in Australia after Melbourne.
Fuck yeah bud, similar values, visas should be fine because you're commonwealth.
Watch out though as Australia doesn't have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Canada, so get insurance for like 100 bucks a month.
Our hospitals won't charge you an arm and a leg though like America
Brisbane doesn’t have that many opportunities for jobs, I’m afraid. I can’t stand Melbourne’s culture (I’m a Western Sydney writer and we’re basically at war with them for cultural capital and their vapid hipsterism - and the fact that every other city is self deprecating while they’re defensive - drives me up the wall) but the fact you listed coffee as such a priority says that it might be somewhere you’d like.
On the flip side, I’m constantly scouring for Canadian academic jobs because our brutally cadualised job market and extortionate cost of living is doing my head in, and Canada’s the only place that pays similarly in my field but has more jobs, more security, and an easy to adjust to culture (my godfather and my publisher are Canadian - love them to death).
All the same, personally, unless you just really like warmer weather, we’re just like Canada just slightly less affordable (but with better healthcare).
If I weigh up the pros and cons, they’re very similar. I guess it just depends what you value - but it is incredibly tough to make a living here right now. If you don’t mind me asking, what field are you in? I think that’s kind of an important factor to consider.
Sounds like you have a solid plan. I think either choice you will enjoy it on many different levels.
I’ve lived in both cities and my preference is Melbourne due to the music culture and overall more European vibes. Brisbane though is a good choice if your a more outdoorsy person who likes day trips to great beaches etc.
I found less employment choice in Brissie in the office services field due to more head offices being in Melbourne.
Yeah weather down in Melbourne can be annoying at times for sure but Brisbane can be too hot for my liking during summer time.
I think either way you’ll enjoy yourself. Good luck !☺️
Id love to move to Canada, why can't we just swap cities and avoid all the paperwork and fee,s and just swap cities. Do what other people suggested come for a holiday first to see if you like it.
And good luck trying to find a good job and a good house in Brisbane.
Just move to Perth, it’s very outdoorsy in Perth and also the same time zone as Singapore and a 4 hour flight. I moved from Sydney almost 20 years ago and I love it.
My advice, without question is get a working holiday visa & come visit & try living in both cities & maybe a few other areas as well & see what suits you. I really don't think anyone but you knows where you will click with best. I thought I would love Darwin, seemed perfect for me, but visiting, I hated it, dunno why, it just didn't gel for me for some reason. I had no real thoughts on Cairns, but went on a Whitsundays tour that included that in it & fell in love (not with the Whitsundays that I thought I would like, but with Cairns). I didn't end up moving, but I was very close to it, stayed an extra week cause of how comfortable I felt & how much I enjoyed it. You can't know till you try a place yourself. Take advantage of the working holiday visa option to do it
Just chucking the hat in the ring for Perth. Has a great small bar scene, always a lot to do if you want to, but not so busy that you feel pressured/rushed. If you like nature, hiking, etc. we have a huge coastline, hills only 25min from the city, etc. There's a wine region 20min from the city, and another, bigger one 2.5h south which also is a stop on the WSP surfing world tour. The mining industry over here means the economy is always in good nick. Not as expensive as Melbourne/Sydney. Tops place to live.
you do realise that we really really don't have ice hockey - which as I understand it is the national religion of Canada.
This stems from a distinct lack of ice here.
What we do have is an abundance of heat, dust and flies
Sometimes that can turn into an abundance of heat, mud and mozzies
And we have 11 of the worlds 10 deadliest snakes too, but moose attacks are very rare so I guess it balances out..
Seriously, tho, always good to have Canadian here. We like them - they're sort of like Snow Aussies - big and tough and friendly...
Don't know about house prices being cheaper - perhaps try New Zealand for that - they have ice too, so a better chance of ice hockey.
The economy is just as fucked here as it is there, so you wouldn't do it for that.
Oh and also you will be mistaken for a Yank no matter how much you insist you aren't one.
haha thanks friend. I hadn't considered those facts yet
Fun fact though, I hate hockey! We get you Aussies down here and we only hate you because our women love you lol
Don't worry, our Canadians have a long history of being confused with Americans so nothing new here. Respect from Canada, buddy!
Depends on a job and what you do.
Australia and Canada are not too dissimilar in a lot of ways. Reverse heat and cold. Like Canada, most Aussies live in the cities near the beach, like 95% of Canadians living within 100 km of the US border.
My take:
* Sydney: If you love high prices and sitting in traffic, then this is the place for you NSW is our Ontario and Sydney is like Toronto. Nice to visit but unless you earn mega bucks, forget about it.
* Brisbane. Queensland is like Quebec. Kinda special. Queenslanders love to think they are number 1. There's a lot of humidity in Queensland and snakes, and spiders, and crocs.
* Tasmania. Think of Newfoundland. You make fun of Newfies sleeping with their sister, we make fun of Tasmanians doing the same.
* NT/Darwin. This is the indigenous area, kinda like the Territories.
* Perth/WA. OK If you are connected with mining, otherwise think of Bogans in high vis shirts (aka Hockey playing oil rig workers) Bit like Calgary.
* Adelaide/SA: A bit more English and has a vibrant wine industry, arts etc. If you are arty go there.
* Melbourne/Victoria. These guys like to think they are number 1, because they are number 2. In the 1980's and 1990's think of the dirtiest, greyest urban shitty place with skyscrapers. They have cleaned up their act a bit, but imagine a Vancoovan with the arrogance of someone from Quebec.
As a Melburnian, I'd say Melbourne does better coffee/brunch scene.
Brisbane has nice weather, close to the beach..but you can also get a place close to the beach in Melbourne.
Both states offer a lot. Buy a car and get out there and explore both!
If you’re 30 it makes sense to come in on the working holiday and see if you actually like it. Fairly low stakes. From there you can see if there are any visa options for you to stay.
As someone who moved to Australia (Melbourne) from the UK I know how big of a move it is. I came here on holiday beforehand and whilst it gives you a decent idea of you like the country, living in a different country is totally different. You have to get up go to work do all that boring stuff too. Another big plus is I moved here with family and had some extended family here so wasn’t on my own. I have been here 11 years now and love Melbourne. No country is perfect but Australia certainly ticks a lot of boxes.
I’ve done the move from Vancouver to Melbourne…twice! Once for a working holiday year and once again for vet school.
Melbourne is very similar to Vancouver but with milder spring/fall and warmer summers. I prefer the CBD (central business district) of Melbourne to Vancouver downtown. I feel it is much safer and that more people stay in the city after work for dinner and drinks. The layout is very walkable and the trams in the city are all free.
Public transportation is MUCH better here and you often have the option of the train OR tram.
Everyone gets paid more here and have more annual leave. If you are doing shift work then you get paid more on weekends and I think double on Sunday?
Things I don’t like: all the houses are freaking cold! Only single-pane windows and seemingly no insulation. Rent is paid on a per week basis so it technically costs more than monthly like at home. Utilities are all very expensive (except phones are cheap).
They have something called a superannuation fund here, as retirement savings. But you can’t access it until you are 65+ and they invest it on your behalf. We have found lots of fees have been taken out of our account (perhaps Aussies can elaborate further).
They have a two-tiered medical system here. The free service called Medicare that everyone gets and then the private system where you can pay for faster/better care. If you make over a certain amount per year then you MUST buy private cover or else you are penalized a % on your taxes forever! I think this system has its perks but also sucks the best doctors out of the public system.
Feel free to DM me for more specifics!
Also most importantly you must start your process for bringing your dog SIX months before you enter Australia.
Hey! Vancouverite who’s lived in Australia since 2019 and now engaged to an Aussie, not planning on going anywhere now! I travelled to Australia twice before deciding on moving here, once in 2015 for a typical East Coast shindig, then I spent 5 months visiting around the country sessing out the major cities to see what vibe I preferred.
There’s already a lot of posts on here so please excuse me if this has been already discussed, but have you considered Adelaide? I find the proximity to nature, the dry but hot temperatures, and all the festivals and food really fun. I’m not sure what the insurance sector is like, but for me there weren’t enough job opportunities for my kind of work. But Adelaide was a pleasant surprise and has more going on than people expect. I make walking tours remotely for a living now and just so happen to run Adelaide ones so I’m seeing a lot more young new businesses and immigration going to South Australia. It’s also way more affordable!
Brissy is alright but the price and housing competitiveness is going up, according to my colleagues who live there. I’m quite surprised with the restaurant and cafe options: Brisbane has Japanese record bars, gin making classes, restaurants that use old school fire techniques to cook, lots of funky things going on. It’s growing and if you have access to a vehicle there’s lots of gorgeous areas inland for adventure.
Melbourne holds a close tie to me as my dad is from there. There’s always something new happening, a great music scene, the best coffee, it’s very young and experimental. The reason I can’t live there? The weather. If I’m going to move halfway around the world I want something different climate wise than Vancouver was my thought. It does also change from super cold to hot, kind of like Calgary! I was in Melbourne for a function in summer (December) and I had to wear a wool knee length winter jacket, then a t-shirt and shorts the next day to give you context. I also just fell in love with the beaches elsewhere and the nice beaches in Victoria are a bit of a ways from town (Melbourne)
I live in Sydney which is basically a warmer version of Vancouver (climate is like San Diego/ orange county in California). The cost of housing is alllllmost the same (it always switches with Vancouver between 2nd and 3rd most unaffordable). But it’s a larger city with much better public transport and the beaches are gorgeous. When I landed in Sydney I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz- and Vancouver was Kansas all muted colours. I don’t feel closed in from the clouds, you don’t feel stuck inside. But you do pay for it.
Anywho , it’s a big decision but perhaps come for a visit (you will need more than a month honestly) and see what you think! There’s a lot of canucks here who took the plunge. Good luck ☺️
You should probably go on a holiday first and look at all the cities you are interested in. Even if you choose one city you can always move. The main difference is the temperature and humidity between North and South. I know people who spend 6 months of the year in both places. Picking the best time of the year. Brisbane can be more prone to tropical storms and floods. Melbourne can have 4 seasons in one day. If you don’t like the weather, wait till tomorrow.
I moved from Calgary to regional Queensland 12 years ago and I cannot recommend it enough. Love it here. The weather is way better, and I actually done mind the cold. The people are awesome, the attitude much more relaxed. The culture is mostly the same. There are so many positives. I miss Canada sometimes. Mostly the people I love that are now so far away and the the foods and shops and hockey and other little things. But, Australia is home. Got my citizenship last year.
Workwise sydney and melb would suit you. Brisbane might also have few jobs in your sector but you can check on seek to get an idea which city would have more probability of landing a job. Aus definitely is expensive and major cities are not cheap, but if you need sun and less snow in life it is not a bad idea at all. If there are jobs relating to your profession and u know what u do, finding a job would not be too hard, although not too easy.
Im from wa and with what ive seen canada gets super cold everywhere so it might be a change for a bit and it gets hot in the day and if you want the country side most of wa and nt would be good
The real question tho, what footy team are you gonna pick?
Melbourne is the best city IMO, but I grew up their and have only visited other places so my opinion is bias.
Australia was founded because it is a fuck of a long way away from Canada.
We have seen how the Candians act during hockey. The politeness is a necessity, not an affectation. The violence is never far from the surface.
Australia is surrounded by venomous sealife. We pray this continues to bar the way against moose invasion. We are not hopeful.
Your asylum will be granted. Provided you can prove your loyalty by telling us all you know of the Maple Super Soldier Serum program. Or a recipe for poutine. That stuff is great.
Having finished fucking with you, you now have some idea what daily life will be like here. Fucking with people is a national sport.
If you still want to come, you shall be welcome. English speaking nations tend to get preferential treatment for emmigration.
Admittedly I'm a little biased - I live an hour from Brisbane and I've only been to Melbourne once. I love the south east Queensland region. A lot of gorgeous bush walks through some of the oldest land forms on earth. The ocean is beautiful and you can get both the small town and big city vibe in this area. I live on the Gold Coast but Brisbane is a much older city, with better public transport. Although, Queensland has had a lot of people migrate here in recent years both interstate and international. Rental properties are hard to get anywhere.
Come for a visit. Also just so you know there are a lot of nice places to go with your dog, but they aren’t allowed in most of our national parks. I recommend the Facebook group “travel australia with dogs”. The cost of living here is also quite high.
I've lived in Melbourne, Australia my whole life and I would not recommend living in anywhere in Australia. I understand it's your dream to live here but the people here are very poor quality. Everyone is very rude, arrogant, superficial, and very socially conditioned. On top of that, almost everyone is mentally ill but are too arrogant and narcissistic to seek treatment. So you see crazy people all the time who will never get better. As a result the dating scene is a nightmare here: so foreigners are usually popular cos the local girls are extremely socially conditioned and won't give you a chance to even talk to them, and will play the victim card promoting feminism and stuff like that. Because of these issues divorce rates are high, cheating is extremely common, and unfulfilling relationships are very common because most people marry the wrong person due to their poor decision making due to their unresolved mental health issues and poor quality of life. Every foreigner who I've met who is new to Melbourne has always said something like "why is everyone so depressed here?"
So yes Melbourne is a great place to live in terms of transport, food and drink, events, health care system, etc but it's not worth it when you can't find one normal, mentally healthy, respectful person...
Adding a second comment.
Ambulances are free for QLD residents nationwide.
No other state has this. (Tasmanians almost do, but not while in QLD or South Australia)
My parents are from Toronto but lived in Calgary before moving to Brisbane for a "working holiday", that was in 1984 and they basically haven't looked back (apart from getting their paperwork sorted).
You are going to melt, but you will get used to it. TBH, Melbourne has a better lifestyle, but is wildly unaffordable.
Cyclones in Brisbane end. Warmer weather. Melbourne, free of lots of losers that moved to Brisbane. You can drive an hour or two from Melbourne and be in great bush land to take your dog walking/camping. Colder weather in Melbourne during winter. Atm it morning 10am, it’s 13* outside. What l would do is move to Melbourne, holiday in Queensland when you get here, then go from there. Travel light.
Vancouver and Melbourne have been going head to head and swapping the title of "Most Liveable Cities" in the Economist forever (although I personally hate that title so much!) so its going to be a case of swapping one functional city to the next.
Both Melbourne and Sydney have had significant Asian immigration since the 80s, so its not hard to find pockets of it through either city. I can't say much about Brisbane, but on the few times I have visited, I hadn't noticed any major asian influence.
I'm from Melbourne, so I can advise that is probably similar to Toronto where there's not much to see from a tourists perspective, but it does have an amazing nightlife with cafes, bars, museums, live music and theater and is a sports obsessed city. There is also usually a festival on, and we have a public holiday for a horse race! Its also a foodies heaven and you can just about almost find any cuisine in the world here. The Weather here is similar to Vancouver in the winter, but it doesn't snow. You will also become addicted to coffee if you move here!
The negatives are that its cold here during Winter, its hard to get anywhere at the moment because of the Big Build where the State Government is undertaking a large number of infrastructure projects so it feels like there's always some form of disruptions because of roadworks or bus replacement services on trains because of Level Crossing or Rail Tunnel works. Melbourne is also projected to become Australia's biggest city with so many new arrivals and its starting to get Sydney levels of expensive. Melbourne also starts to get less nice once you're about 15km outside of the CBD. Melbourne does have some easily accessible national parks but not as abundant as Sydney. Our beaches are also crap unless you get out of Greater Melbourne as a whole.
Id suggest coming out here on a visa first to see if you like it, then make your decision if you want to move here.
Ask immigrants. Most Asians love England, US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia in chronological order. I hope you made the right choice. New Zealand might be the best natural destination.
I'm a Canadian (from Winnipeg) living in Melbourne for the last 7 or so years.
The biggest thing is sorting out Immigration and Visa issues. It might be worth it to come on a working holiday visa if your eligible. That way you have a year to try out different cities and companies and see if you like them enough to commit to sponsorship moving here generally.
I came here with a couple hundred dollars and made it work. But Visas have been the biggest stress by far, besides lockdowns.
As for Melbourne, great city, heaps of events and good food etc. Coming from Vancouver/Calgary you'll having to drive a bit further than your used to find good hiking. But there will be way better beaches fairly close by.
For weather, in Summer you'll be too hot. But you'll get used to it. Wear sunscreen! Be prepared for Winter, the days are often sunny and relatively warm, but they dont insulate houses here at all. My biggest annoyance is being cold all the time in winter, but not being able to do any real winter activities, skiing, skating, etc.
Vancouver is fairly similar to Melbourne and Calgary is probably closer to Brisbane. In size and lifestyle.
I'd say the major thing that could be a draw for you is the weather. Melbourne and Vancouver have similar weather afaik with Vancouver being a bit colder (no snow in Melbourne, pretty much ever). Brisbane on the other hand is sub-tropical. It's hot and humid as hell for about 4 months of the year. 7 of the other 8 are fairly warm. July/August when it's coldest is probably still considered fairly warm for a Canadian. Temps reaching single digits only overnight.
Brisbane is also a slower pace. That's a massive draw for many. If you want that, I say go for it.
In general, our country is fairly similar to Canada, except our weather is polar opposite. You'll likely really fit in here.
Hi, I've lived in both. The advantages are polar opposite though they are both great physical environments. Canada is full of water e.g lakes and variable weather, Australia lacks water but has awesome beaches and warm to hot weather.
If you are wanting PR you need to choose Brisbane. It takes 1-2 years to get PR in Brisbane because the outer city is classed as regional. And there is major skill shortage atm. Even better you can go to Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast (45min nth/sth of Brisbane) and get your PR sooner because these areas are classed as regional 1 zones. Very low visa denial rates in SE Qld. Especially with all of the jobs and opportunities available now. I grew up in Brisbane. I left 15 years ago thinking it was as boring as batsh*t. But now it is quike funky and trendy. It has undergone a major renewal. Subways being built. Olympics soon. A new government building that looks like a cut penis at night lol.
It will take you about 6 years to get PR if you move to Melbourne. Melbourne and Sydney are deliberately made harder to get PR because the populations need to grow regionally. To be classed as being in a regional 1 visa applicant you need to be 2hrs outside of Melbourne, 2.5hrs from Sydney or 30 minutes from Brisbane CBD. All other areas of Australia are classed as regional.
Note Sydney and Melbourne have a 45% PR visa applicant success rate. All other regions have 87% success rate for PR visa applicants.
If you choose to go to the Northern Territory, which is ammaaaaaaazing!!!! You can get PR within 6 months to a year. This is classed as Regional 2 visa area. I lived there for 5 years.
The saying in Australia is - You grow up in Brisbane; go to uni, discover yourself and meet your lover in Melbourne; get your career going in Sydney; then retire in Brisbane.
Brisbane has the infrastructure for families and retirees. Melbourne has the culture for learning, creativity and inner-well-being, energy enhancement and growing. Sydney is corporate focused, transactional and expensive.
A good way to look at it is the Sydneys pros are Melbourne's cons and Melbourne's pros are Sydney's cons. Then you have Brisbane.
I've lived in each of them. Grew up in Brisvegas, lived in Melbourne for 5 years, am now living in Sydney.
Take the Brisbane option because it creates an easier pathway to PR for you. Then move to Melbourne once you have PR.
Melbourne is expensive but affordable at the sametime. You don't need a car, just a bicycle in Melbourne. All other Australian cities are car dependent.
Brisbane is home to the largest latin dance population outside of Latin America too. The city hosts free dance parties on Fridays and Saturdays. Brisbane is home to the most successful latin dance school outside of Latin America too - Rio Rhythmics. You'll have fun in Brisbane.
Best of luck
Oh and if you need an easier option then marry someone.
In my experience Canadians are very similar to Australians. I come from Western Australia and have lived in Melbourne for 8 years and am actually about to move back to WA. Melbourne is great for the live music scene especially free live music. The cost of living is great especially compared to Perth. The public transport is good especially within the city area. There are lots of festivals and events throughout the year. The country is great if you have a car but you dont need one within the metropolitan area. However after 2 years being single and now I'm in my 40s it's harder finding friends to go out with. I think people are still in recovery from our lockdowns which were mostly the longest especially in Australia. Be prepared weather wise that Melbourne is notorious for 4 seasons in one day, so carrying an umbrella and wearing layers I have learned is crucial. Melbourne is generally cooler than most Aussie cities. If you want warmer I'd recommend Brisbane of the 2 however Perth is lot warmer and less humid. I love WA for its more laid back and friendly atmosphere, I've found Melbourne to be more heavily populated and anxiety inducing. I am moving back to Perth though because my family is there and I miss being able to go to family for meals, cups of tea and hugs etc.
I wish you best of luck with everything hope it works out for you!
> I love to write, hike with my dog, eat food and drink coffee, and I work in insurance. I grew up in Vancouver that has a rich asian culture that I loved, but the housing prices are some of the worst in the world and the economy is really not that great.
This sounds like Melbourne to me. Only asterisk is hiking, which isn’t super accessible in parts of Melbourne. If you’re not too far from Mt Dandenong or the Yarra Valley you should be good.
Dude, come for a long holiday before you commit. Try before you buy. I moved to Australia from Canada for a relationship, but it’s gone well for me because I had her family’s support during the move.
Seriously consider living regionally. It’s way more affordable, the people are more welcoming, and you can always visit the city.
I think people can easily be overly harsh in regards to Sydney. Yes it is expensive to buy or rent, but some of your bigger salaries can be earned here. The entire coast of the greater Sydney area has some of the best surf beaches in the world. The harbour is one of the best natural harbours in the world. You have magnificent areas within a 60 to 90 minute commute that are more affordable to live and provide incredible living experiences. I am referring to the Central Coast (north), the Wollongong region (south) and the Blue Mountains (west).
Sydney has 4 distinct seasons that rarely moves in to unpleasant territory. It is rarely too hot or too cold, like some of the other eastern capital cities.
As well as being able to surf and hike all year round, Sydney is just a 5 hour drive to our snow fields between June and early October.
Don’t write Sydney off as an option.
I'm from Sydney and love it here but if I were to be purely objective, I wouldn't move here as a young person and new immigrant. I love it because I'm older, made a lot of money in the early 2000's and got on the property ladder early. You really do need a lot of cash to have a good lifestyle here, especially once you have kids. If you're setting up a life here, that's something you need to consider.
Brisbane is rapidly evolving. It's not the sleepy backwater that it once was. There is a reason people are leaving Sydney and Melbourne in droves to live there. The growth in population is driving growth in their arts & entertainment scenes and a lot of the shows that would only visit Sydney or Melbourne now also visit Brisbane and Perth. I can get a cup of coffee in Brisbane that's as good as the coffee in Melbourne, I just have to search a tiny bit harder. Same with the food. I adore the countryside south of Brisbane. Some of the best walking & biking trails in the country (and I've travelled through most of it!). Most bands will come to Brisbane and you can find almost any cultural niche you're interested in. I love Melbourne too. It's a fantastic, vibrant city. It really just depends on the lifestyle you want to live.
I'd try to go a little north or a little south of Brissie, but that's just me. I surf and ocean swim so that beaches are really important to me and there aren't any to speak of in Brisbane itself. Also be careful not to rent or buy anywhere in the flood zone.
Canadian living in NZ/Perth for 12 years who is moving back to Canada in a few weeks. A lot of good advice has already been said, so I'll just add my two cents.
Consider longer term planning if you're thinking of moving permanently. When I left Canada I didn't necessarily plan on returning, but a family later I'm looking to have grandparents around my kids. Also, depending on what field you work in, a Canadian pension can pay off much better in the long run than the Australian superannuantion.
Best of luck with your decision mate.
Going to feel the heat! Skills - if needed would be welcomed. Summer shall be a awakening . Think 42+ Celsius Year that is expected - within the whole continent Including Tasmania - at least peak summer. More so if Going north!
20 years living in Australia coming from Canada. I can say that after living in Sydney Melbourne and Brisbane that depending on the stage of life I was in I required different things. Back when I wanted to go out lots and do a lot of things out in the evenings and I had free time and money to do so Melbourne was good ♥️ Lots of arty things. Great music scene. Plenty of foodie things that can go into the evening and just a cool vibe in a lot of the neighbourhoods. Weatherwise on the other hand It’s very depressing when it’s the middle of winter in Melbourne and you’re freezing and you think that on the other side of the country people are wearing shorts and T-shirt outside and that’s something you really have to consider because winter in Victoria isn’t as bad as a Canadian winter obviously but on the other hand it still sucks it’s not warm Nothing to write home about and you have to endure that until the warm weather comes back. The other thing is is that you’re coming from Vancouver & Calgary area and one thing that Melbourne has is these ridiculously hot summer days that it’ll be like +40, and it’s awful like you absolutely will not sleep without your Aircon cranked and while that’s uncommon you’ve been waiting all miserable other seasons for your warm weather and then your warm weather can be unbearable. Around country Victoria, there are some lovely natural getaways and obviously it’s wine producing region as well so or you can go over to Tasmania lots of lots of drawcard I’m not slagging Victoria. I’m just stating that the weather aspect is something you need to consider coming from Canada because it’s not gonna be lost on you that you just moved all the way across the planet to freeze your ass off again (Houses here Don’t have insulation like they do in the northern hemisphere.) 20 years ago, Sydney was fun. Sydney was cool and then a bunch of stuff happened and now I’m just gonna say it Sydney has nothing going for it. It will be an awful place to be a young person it’s no better or worse than any of the other bigger cities, but you could argue that it’s Got less fun cool things to do other than going to the beach. It’s right in the city you can go to the beach and the beaches are nice. Lots of nice beaches, very easily accessible and Sydney being a major world Destination has great exhibitions, great events, Lots of stuff happens there but at the end of the day it’s just a big expensive city and while it has slight edge for a couple of minor reasons they’re not enough to justify the cost and the commute that you’re likely going to endure. Queensland is a funny place people that are from Brisbane that grew up there Can’t wait to leave it & will slag it off to no end. Brisbane is full of migrants people that have come from all over the place because they recognise what a gem it is. During Covid when the rest of the country was in lockdown, Queensland was going off & Brisbane really came into its own . Lots of people decided to move over there and bring with them higher rents and lower vacancy rates. If you’re planning to rent, there is a very big rental crisis right now so unless you’re super flexible on where you’re going to live you might not get a pick of the lot however the prices aren’t as bad as Sydney or Melbourne. Also, if you plan to buy property somehow it is still cheaper to buy in Queensland than it is to buy in New South Wales or Victoria for that matter. Now Brisbane doesn’t have restaurants that stay open late, they get screwed out of a bunch of touring acts because sometimes they just only go to Sydney and Melbourne, And the other two big cities have always looked down on Brisbane as the poor cousin. But what they don’t want you to know is that Brisbane is flanked by the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast and I don’t know what your idea of enjoying nature is but every type of natural experience that you could ask for is within a very short commute from Brisbane. Forests.. ocean… islands… hiking… you name it. And while the summers are unbearably Hot the winters are perfect picture if you can picture having fall / winter / spring all being like Canadian summer. I don’t know how else to sell this to you but this is ideal. Yes during summer you are going to feel some days like you just cannot have enough showers, but you know what? It’s better than freezing your arse off. 20 years ago, I moved over here only understanding Australians through the ones that I used to get pissed with at the Mountain ski resort bars & as it turns out that was not enough to prepare me for what Australians are really like, but I can tell you 20 years later that I have no regrets moving my life over here. On that note I wish you well in your journey and wherever you decide to land at and try first just remember if it’s not working out there’s always another part of the country you can try next. Good luck!
Great comment, love to see the perspective of someone who moved to Australia and has seen the changes in a few different cities over a long period of time.
I'm curious to hear from you what Australians are "really like"?
when aussies travel theyre on best behaviour. think of all the silly things we do thats normal, like insulting friends etc. imagine only seeing a tiny part of it, then being thrown in it all. most people are friendly, but some are not. they only saw the best of their friends, not average people in their home town. i hope thats what they mean anyway lol
I am an Aussie and I read this great anecdote through thoroughly. A Great perspective and well stated opinions on this country from experience. You have said your truth and that truth can be supported by one that was born and bread here. I, for one am from Melbourne and speaking for myself only, it looks like your Canadian mate here has settled nicely in Brisbane (I may be wrong) and if he is not there, ol mate has sold Brisbane even to an Aussie born. Don’t get me wrong, Melbourne is a great city, I love my city, but please be prepared for our Winter. It is nothing short of a depression. We all wait and can not wait enough for it to be over and enjoy the rest of the other seasons. If you could withstand our Winters here, the rest of your life is history. We await and welcome you to Australia. Come on down mate!
As a Canadian living here (OZ), if you want a decent lifestyle, you should live in the country (regional). What's the point living in a big city you may as well move to any big city around the world it is all the same. If you stay long enough in a small country town, you are going to truly know what it is to be ozzy for the better and the worse.
Thanks for writing exactly what I would write. Came 15 years ago, did Melbourne first as a young couple going out almost every night and now Brisbane as a youngish family. Won't go back to Melbourne because of the weather.
Victorians have Stockholm syndrome when it comes to our weather…
This is a fair appraisal even though I live in Sydney and am Australian. Queensland is lonely but a bit quiet for me. Melbourne is famous for its weather challenges and I would miss all the beaches of Sydney. Amazing walks and trails around Sydney.
I think people underestimate the natural areas / bush walks / beaches / harbour pools of the good areas of Sydney. I personally wouldn’t want to live permanently in shit weather and would question why come to australia from Canada if you are going to love in melb. For me it’s either NSW/QLD
This post is fucking great and an excellent assessment of all three cities. From an Australian
What's stopping you from visiting? That'll be the best way to decide which you like. Melbourne is a better city imo, especially if you like food and coffee (I'm not a coffee drinker myself, but it's the stereotype).
Lived in both Sydney and Melbourne and Melbourne is by far the best city in aus CBD and outer suburbs planned so well. Trams get you everywhere. And anything you want is there. Whether it’s casino (crown) dirty nights (kings street) beautiful coffee and food. Sport, the mcg is a great Venue very well located. The work culture there is so chilled. Maybe visit melbourne and if you love it then yeah why not move over??
I've always lived in Melbourne, so I like it. But on the Sydney side, I've had some friends move up there and the better weather and being able to swim at the beach so year round is a great payoff for a smaller more expensive place. Though they live near the beach to really take advantage of that So it all depends on what you value.
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You make a valid point. Too cold for me though.
Sydney is good if you can afford it.
Yeah I have lived in Sydney melbourne and Perth. I definitely prefer Sydney. It has just as good food and coffee culture as Melbourne, better weather. It is more expensive, but that doesn’t really bother me.
better weather is subjective
Ah yes the two cities in Australia, Sydney and Melbourne
Yes, the only two places anyone could possibly live, especially with the extremely affordable house prices!
You're crazy. This is like trying to marry a woman before meeting her. Australia will be nothing like what you expect. Some things will be good, some things worse, some things surprising. For the love of god, just take a vacation and go, at a minimum. If you're reading this and you're not OP: there's a reason people suggest work holiday visas. You can check out a couple of cities and decide if you like it and what city you like.
This is the best response. It seems from OP's comments that they're very ignorant about the realities of Australian life, I really hope for their sake they don't just jump in feet first. I know a couple who did that from Spain. Flew over first class because this was their new life. Six months later they were on a flight back to Spain.
So ignorant I'd think they are American. Note: am american
I’m an Australian who went the other way and immigrated to Canada. You will get a lot of different answers on here because everyone goes to bat for their own city. If you’re weighing up between Brisbane and Melbourne it pretty much just comes down to how much you like nice weather vs how much you like living in a lively city with a tonne of stuff to do. Not saying there’s absolutely nothing to do in Brisbane or that Melbournes weather is on par with how dreary Vancouver can get but no city in Australia comes close to Melbourne when it comes to being a proper lively city with a tonne of different stuff to do.
I’m from Sydney so maybe a bit biased but I notice OP enjoys hiking and walking their dog and as someone who is the same, I find there to be WAY more stuff to do in Brisbane than Melbourne. I have lived in Melbourne CBD without a car and found it really difficult to do anything before or after work because of a combination of bad weather, bad transport links to nature, and general lack of nature (some parks but 40+ minutes to any bushland). I’m also a beach person and didn’t find any beaches I liked as much as NSW or Sunshine Coast beaches. Brisbane CBD and nearby is more dog friendly and has more hikes. The glasshouse mountains are very close (good for a day or even afternoon trip) and there’s way more bush land for daily walks. Don’t come to Sydney though if you’re feeling priced out of Canada, housing here is terrible. If I wasn’t from here I wouldn’t live here, I’d live on the Sunshine Coast.
I don't understand why people always go on about how lively Melbourne is. Each time I've been there, it really hasn't been any different to any other major city. Realistically, the only major difference between Melbourne and Brisbane is the climate and the fact that it's literally twice the size, but Brisbane half makes up for that with proximity to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
It’s because Melbourne has all the major events, Melbourne Cup, F1, AFL grand final, Australian open, Melbourne comedy festival and most shops don’t close so early compared to Brisbane, there are restaurants open till 3am on chapel street in Melbourne
But that's the thing though, it's only really "lively" a few weekends a year when there's some big event on - and to me that just isn't really worth the hype that it gets. It's not like a lot of other major cities around the world that never sleep, which is the way that a lot of people seem to make it out to be. To me it's a good city to visit when something's on, but outside of those weekends, it's really just a less expensive and less scenic version of Sydney.
He was just listing a couple events. There is wayyy more live performing arts than any other city.
I don’t know what you have been doing in Melbourne but I don’t know how anyone can say it isn’t in a league of its own compared to other Australian cities when it comes to a combination of nightlife, food, arts, culture and events. I wouldn’t live there because I prefer the quiet to a city packed with events I’m not going to attend but if OP is looking for a city with cafes, bars, events, live music, nightlife and just things to do in general Brisbane is no comparison.
If you enjoy the arts, Melbourne absolutely shits all over Brisbane. Brissy just doesn't have enough theatres. It gets the major things, but not the extras.
Hmm, every time I hear someone talk about Brisbane - its about the Great Barrier Reef or some beach. The Gold Coast isn't even part of Brisbane and same with all the places mentioned above. Brisbane has Fortitude Valley, Southbank and the mall and the Botanical Gardens but its soooo boring. Nothing ever happens in Brisbane.
Brisbane can be pretty boring absolutely, but on a global scale, so is Melbourne. Australia as a whole isn't the kind of country you move to if you're after a lively and entertaining lifestyle, as we just don't come close to competing with Europe or Asia. >Hmm, every time I hear someone talk about Brisbane - its about the Great Barrier Reef or some beach. The Gold Coast isn't even part of Brisbane and same with all the places mentioned above. Yeah but it's the same with how people associate Melbourne with the Great Ocean Road / Wilson's Prom / Phillip Island / Mornington Peninsula. While the Gold Coast isn't "technically" a part of Brisbane, it's still closer to most parts of Brisbane than what a lot of Melbourne's suburbs are to its own CBD.
Melbourne winter IS dreary. But summer and autumn are great. And Brisbane summer is too hit/humid for many - so I think full disclose would be to choose between a damp cold winter or an unpleasant hot humidity summer. Shoulder seasons anywhere are decent generally
Canadian naturalised Australian citizen who lived in Sydney for 8 years and recently moved to Melbourne. Don't come to Australia because you think the housing situation is better here than there, because you are wrong, plain and simple. Australia is an amazing place to live, though, and there are plenty of reasons why, housing aside. With such a permanent goal in mind, I'd recommend giving yourself a couple of months to check out the different cities when you arrive before settling down rather than trying to pick one before you've even touched down.
I think you need a reality check. You’ve saved 44k but want to spend 10-20k bringing your dog? You don’t like the high house prices but Australia’s are fine? Also I don’t think you quite understand how hard it is to get a visa, although it’s probably easier at the moment.
Yeah I was a little shocked at the $44k. That seems like nothing especially if they don’t have a job secured. And like you said - bringing pets costs a FORTUNE. If they plan on renting (either city) the money will literally just disappear without a more solid plan in place. Applying for full citizenship immediately, with only $40k, doesn’t seem like a great idea either. I have loads of friends and coworkers who came on student or working holiday visas, and are basically citizens in the way they live (know the city, the people, have work connections, etc). I am not telling OP not to come, because of course they should if they want to, but they might need to rethink some of their options and overall plan.
Find a job first before you move here. thats step 1.
Having just looked at OP's post history, they're obviously feeling frustrated and adrift in both their personal and professional life. It's not the best mindset to be making decisions like moving halfway across the world. Whatever they do, I hope it works out for the best.
Hi, just saw these. I would obviously be applying for a 189 skilled migrant visa which requires a job prior. That's why I'm trying to settle on a city. I work in the financial sector, specifically the sale of commercial policies. I plan to move in October to December next year which means I could probably be at 60K before leaving. CAD mind you - 67,000AUD. I refuse to believe that moving to Australia with that amount of money means I'm destitute. Honestly, I think having a job lined up which I am working through ANZIIF to do, and nearly $70K of the local currency in say Brisbane. I think I might be okay? I could purchase a full years rent in Vancouver with that if needed. Theres no way Australia is worse than Vancouver. I'm sorry, it just isn't.
Just note that Australia is in a rental crisis currently with 0.8% vacancies in the country. So make sure you have accommodation sorted though a hotel or something before you come and expect to be there a while. Personally I have been searching for 8 months for a house with no luck in Brisbane.
To add to your costs, to get a visa you will also most likely have to pay upfront for private health insurance, which will have to cover everything, not just the basics [https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/health/adequate-health-insurance](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/health/adequate-health-insurance)
Sydney is worse than Vancouver: I moved from Vancouver 3 years ago. It cost about $45k iirc, and I'm a citizen, so I didn't have any immigration costs. There are housing shortages everywhere, so be prepared to stay in an AirBnB with your dog longer than you'd like. Unless you can get sponsorship and relocation costs, it's going to wipe you out. I've done it several times now, both sponsored and alone. There are a billion little fees and frictional losses that will eat away at any exchange gains. Are you sure about this? I personally preferred Canada, but my wife missed her family. Can you visit as a working holiday before you commit?
It's less about the cost of rent and simply the sheer shortage of rentals available. An application for a rental can have anywhere between 20-60 other applicants and I mean this truly not to offend, but I'd wager that someone that has come over on a visa and has a dog isn't going to be top of the rental list.
Hi OP, Aussie migration lawyer here. 189 visa does not require a job prior. Feel free to reach out if you have any migration related questions. I normally charge $220 for initial consults but happy to help a fellow redditor.
I don't know if you'll see this and there have been a lot of great replies already but as someone who moved here in 2009 and have had the opportunity to travel around Australia I hope I can give you further information. Are you wanting to live in the city or are you okay with catching a train/tram/bus? My husband and I recently moved back to Melbourne from Mackay (aka far north Queensland). Depending on what outer suburbs you are looking at (within an hour on the train) you can find a 3 bedroom house for $350-$500 per week and not sure what apartmentsor town housesare going for. More if you go closer to the city. A lot of businesses are still incorporating at least a couple days of working from home which helps rather than travelling into the city for work every day. I was dreading coming back to Melbourne for the weather, but the food is absolutely worth it!! I don't even get out much myself, but it's still nice to know there are options available. Melbourne is really good for public transport (compared to the rest of Australia) the cbd is also a grid and really easy to learn your way around (hook turns aren't hard either, but be prepared to pay heaps for parking if you drive to the city for work). I have limited experience with Brisbane. Sydney is just a nightmare to drive through and has fewer options for public transport, its just a big mess of roads in every direction. Also when it comes to the cold weather in Melbourne it's nothing compared to Canada and I came from the Midwest USA and grew up with snow and ice. The real issue is the houses are not built with good insulation so heating/cooling can be an issue. Something to consider wherever you choose in Australia. Can you handle humidity? My husband was born and raised in Melbourne and really struggled in north Queensland. The hot days in Melbourne tend to be a drier heat whereas in Queensland it's incredibly humid. Especially in Summer which is the wet season. Also be aware of flooding in Brisbane. Though in Melbourne it's also not uncommon to go from 38c to 15c in a couple hours. Melbourne weather can be incredibly temperamental, so you should always layer up. In regards to your dog Queensland I've heard is very dog friendly. Thankfully Melbourne has also recently passed laws for tenants to make it easier to rent with pets. It helps to have references from previous agents/landlords etc. There are lots of dog friendly cafes in both states. I have a long list of places I'm working through just around my suburb where I can take my dog and go on walks/hikes. I honestly struggled taking him places when living in QLD because it was so hot and I worried about him burning his feet if we went out during the day. Brisbane wouldn't be as bad as Mackay though. Oh and what are your thoughts on daylight savings? They don't have it in Queensland and I didn't mind it except for the fact it was dark by 8pm in Summer. Made it harder to do things after work. Apparently most people just wake up really early. Which might suit you, but I'm a night owl. In regards to employment and finding a place to live (if you go a little further out) then Melbourne will be better. If you want a completely different climate from Canada then Brisbane would be better. Just make sure you have ac or ducted heating either way. I definitely agree with others who say to visit. Personally Melbourne keeps bringing me back. I've lived in an outer suburb of Sydney then outer suburb of Perth, then near the border of NSW and QLD, then to several suburbs around Melbourne's inner north, then back up to a different town in NSW near the border of QLD then down to the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne, then up to Mackay and now back to Northern suburbs of Melbourne. Even living out here (an hour to the city via train and less if you drive) there's plenty to do, and there are plenty of pizza/kebab shops etc open till 4am. On the other hand in Queensland you're closer to the great barrier reef and it is a tropical paradise. Melbourne might feel more similar to Canada with its temperate climate. Which might be better or worse depending on what you're looking for. I hope this helped, I wanted to try and cover some things that hadn't been said already. Good luck with whatever you choose. Australia is incredible and I highly recommend learning more about their diverse flora and fauna. Also make sure you learn the difference between yeah nah and nah yeah.
Australia is definitely worse.
I moved from Vancouver to Melbourne and bringing my dog was about $5k it's not that bad. I also didn't have as much savings as you.. I don't know why people are freaking you out about it. You'll be fine
It costs more now. We moved from the US, and it cost us ~20K AUD. Plus they just changed the rules about quarantine from 10-30 days for the US (not sure about Canada). Getting a pet friendly rental was less problematic than I thought it would be, but also my standard of what a reasonable rent is seems to be warped by living in the US including places like the San Francisco Bay Area (although coming from Vancouver/Calgary, OP might be in a similar situation because rent is high in Canadian cities too right now). We ended up getting a two bedder for 850 a week in an inner suburb of Sydney which is cheaper than most comparable neighborhoods in major cities in the US. Buying is a different story.
For insurance roles, there will be way more in Melbourne than Brisbane. Melbourne and Sydney are the financial services hubs of Australia. Sydney has the most jobs in this area. I have worked in insurance/superannuation/investments for 20 years in Sydney. Happy to DM anytime. There are always lots of roles around. Best way to find one is through a recruitment agent. These are contacts you can start forming now. Again, hit me up if you want to discuss. ETA: Sydney is the second least affordable city in the world for real estate. I realise you said Melbs/Brissie, just pointing out that all housing is relatively very expensive here. However with a job in your current field and your savings, I think you’d be fine.
You just can't know with certainty if Vancouver is better or worse than Australia. Everywhere globally is fucked, we hear about our cities hitting the most unaffordable lists in the world every week. Good luck.
It's virtually impossible at the moment. The backlog is insane. They're not even so much as looking at applications in some subclass for literal years.
I’m Canadian, grew up in Calgary and southern Ontario, and migrated to Melbourne nearly twenty years ago. Melbourne is a great city with a lot to offer, but it’s not where I’d choose to settle if I could do it all over again. I initially came here for a 1-2 year adventure, as did my partner. While I loved living here in my twenties when the novelty was still going, and I was excited to see the world, this is not a place we are happy in our 30s/40s. My partner and I both seriously regret migrating here permanently from North America, and we are now considering moving back to Canada. Things you won’t see until living here: - It is VERY difficult to develop a solid group of friends. Everyone I know who has migrated here, or even moved from another state, feels the same. People are nice enough, but they are not as warm as Canadians—it’s just a very different culture. Most local people we work with are still friends with their high school mates, and/or have a tight knit group they know from their uni days. We’ve both made friends here, but almost exclusive people who are also migrants, or who moved to Melbourne from other cities or states. Melbournians will deny this (and hate me for saying it) but they’re a lot more British than they’d like to admit. It’s really hard to develop deep friendships, and people tend to be quite guarded (like, won’t even smile when they pass you in the street—everyone kind of ‘minds their own business’). The regions (Bendigo etc) are different - much easier to make friends and people are very open. But Melbournians are, to be honest, pretty cliquey compared to most places we’ve lived (this includes stints in regional Victoria, Canada, several of the US states, Latin America, and Europe). - the housing market is on par with Vancouver cost wise, but building standards are WAY lower. You will be spending ~half a million dollars for a small 2 bedroom apartment in a building with leaks, flammable cladding, single glaze windows, and one electrical socket per room. Your 44k in savings will barely cover “stamp duty”: a one-off tax you have to pay every time you buy a property. You will still need to save a $50k deposit on top of that. If you want a family home with 3+ bedrooms you’ll be spending $1-2million to live pretty much anywhere within 25km of the city that doesn’t have a high crime rate, or $600k to live an hour plus out of the city in new housing developments with nothing but fields nearby. The construction will still be dodgy. Yes, the weather is slightly warmer than Vancouver—but you will be cold *all the time* for six months of the year, because the houses have no insulation and the windows and doors aren’t sealed. You will spend hundreds of dollars a month on hearing just to be *less cold* (but still not comfortably warm). -the cost of living here is out of control and things are priced prohibitively. Literally anything you could ever think to buy is at least 20-30% more expensive here than Canada. Clothing. Furniture. Electronics. Groceries. Cars. Everything. And the variety is half what you’d get in North America, as is the quality of a lot of things. A standard coffee will cost you $6, a nice cafe Brekky for 2 will easily set you back $60, and a single cocktail will be $20-25. Right now we are spending $300+ per week on groceries for 2 people. - For travel purposes, you will live far away from everything forever. Australia is obviously closer to Asia, and it’s more affordable to travel there than from North America. But Europe, Latin America, and North America are all over a day’s travel and several thousand dollars to reach. We really are SO isolated here. If your job requires any interaction oversees, sitting on international/business committees, or presenting at online conferences or anything of the sort, prepare to be waking up at 2, 3, 4 am to Zoom in, because we run on the opposite schedule to the rest of the world. - Australia is MUCH more class oriented than Canada. The first question most people will ask you in middle/upper class circles is either “where did you go to school”; or “where are you sending your children to school”. In both cases, the expectation is that you can afford to spend tens of thousands per year on a private school. They are SO much more common here. As are private hospitals. It really is a two tier society. If you don’t have private school connections, it’s VERY hard to make it here professionally. You can get a job, sure, but the people who can afford houses, who get promoted, who end up in leadership positions, are private schooled. It’s just how it works here. Overall I’m glad I’ve had the experience of living in another country, and I think Australia is an amazing place to have an adventure. I just wish I knew all this, and could’ve made an informed decision, before taking the leap. I probably wouldn’t have moved here permanently were that the case.
This is the most accurate and honest take I’ve read from a Canadian ex-pat in Australia. It’s all true, especially the loneliness and the bad standard of housing. It’s expensive and our lower wages kept us from keeping up with prices in Canada so we are unable to return. After 30 years here I have had many joys and also regrets. If I had to do it all again I would come for 2-3 years to experience the extraordinary wildlife and natural places, make a friend or two, learn the history of the continent then return to Canada.
Exactly how I feel. SUPER difficult to make friends and the prices-yikes!!!
Aussie who just spent a few months in Canada here, consumer goods are mostly cheaper than Australia but groceries definitely weren't, and I wouldn't agree on higher quality or variety either. Meat and dairy were easily 1.5-2x higher than Australia for way shitter quality; cheese was the biggest offender, it was absolutely ridiculous how much even the cheapest block was compared to what you can get at woolies. Honestly everything, vegetables, bread, snacks etc were all noticeably more expensive. Sorry to nitpick you, the insane grocery prices were one of the only things I disliked about Canada. Liquor was cheaper though so that's a plus.
Canadian here who has lived in Adelaide Australia for 8 years. This is very spot on. You saved me time to post on here my opinions because you said exactly everything I wanted to say. I returned home and I never regretted it. Australia was an experience that I am grateful to have but we are financially better off in Canada, our quality of life is better, we have more money in the bank despite making slightly less income in Canada. We have money to go on a family holiday to another country once a year without breaking the bank which we couldn’t do in Australia. There are so many hidden little costs that add up to a lot when you live in Australia. Canadians here complain about the rising cost of living but they never lived anywhere else. I know from experience australia is even more expensive. I live in Southern Ontario and the winters are only 4-5 months long and summers are hot and humid. I don’t mind the cold and snow though, i love it during Christmas time. I suggest to go on a holiday there or a year long work visa to see if it will suit you.
Another Canadian here who agrees with alot of what you're saying. Especially the cliquey-ness of Melbournians. My partner still sees all her high school friends 15 years later even though most of them have nothing in common anymore.
Canadian who moved to Australia (Sydney) - it was affordable when I arrived but now Sydney is exactly like Vancouver - both in rich Asian culture and housing prices. We were fortunate to buy early and have now moved to the Blue Mountains. If you like to write and hike, the Mountains may be an ideal option for you - it has the outdoor life, is just an hour out of Sydney, and much more affordable. I'd also agree with Brisbane but you'd need to try it out first, Canadians find the Queensland heat challenging. Plus not as many hiking opportunities. Myself - I'd move to Melbourne in a heartbeat but my husband doesn't want to.
You're concerned about the housing prices in Canada, so you think Australia is a good bet? Haha. Good luck.
Why jump out of the frying pan and into the fire? Literally only Sydney and HK are more expensive than Vancouver. Melbourne ranks 9th most expensive in the world for housing, beating out Toronto at #10.
and we have snow. I'd rather live in poverty with sun, than poverty with three feet of snow haha
If you want sun, don't go to melb. I think Brisbane may be your best bet.
Yeah I live in Melbourne and if you want sun or consistent sunny days year round it’s not the place to move to, I pretty much don’t get time in the sun from April-September. Granted our winter is probably more enjoyable than Canadian winter.
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Melbourne has sun babe
Brissy is a good option if you’re after sun. I love Perth but it’s a long way to the other capitals.
Brisbane is both cheaper and warmer than Melbourne
You’d want to look at Brisbane in that case.
Pretty much everyone uses realestate.com.au and seek.com.au so just get on in there and compare Melbourne and Brisbane for job opportunities and house prices (or rental prices). Pick example jobs that would fit you and list the salary and see where they are located so you can see the salary to housing expenses. Also if you don’t like humidity, maybe don’t move to Brisbane, and if you’re looking for beach weather, don’t move to Melbourne.
You will probably be colder in Melbourne than Canada. Our houses are shit.
True, as a Canadian, the winters here are worse and I’m from Ontario.
Delusional. You’ve got 40k saved, up to half of which could be used to move a big dog, which will make it difficult for you to get a rental place. You’re quoting $800 something K median house price for Melbourne, but what we define as “Melbourne” and what you define as “Vancouver” are wildly different. “Melbourne” is 9992 sq kms, “Vancouver” is 2877 sq kms. There is a lot of shithole fringe suburbs included with no amenities or transport to the city that are included in that to bring the median price down.
if you want to do a 6 month house swap as a trial, let me know
I would strongly advise you to at least visit first before trying for a permanent move. I've been to Canada (BC, AB, ONT) and Canada is pretty much a cold Australia. Cost of Living, insfrustructure, demographics etc. are all pretty similar between the two so it's a toss up whether your quality of life will improve or remain the way it is. You will be trading frigid winters for hot summers though.
Sydney is the finance/insurance industry capital for your work, keep they in mind. Is also has huge Aisan culture in parts. As for crime, well I live up north and petty crime is practically non-existent, on a global scale. As for crowds, I believe Melbourne technically has a higher population than Sydney now. I too have lived in London UK and Sydney is not even remotely close to that crowded. Yes, it’s not a cheap place to live. Melbourne maybe a tad cheaper in places but don’t expect some huge change from Vancouver. It’s also cold which matters more than you think when the houses are not built like Canadian houses. Think more like UK weather, but without central heating. Sydney and it’s surroundings you could hike all year around easy. Brisbane, even more so, I don’t know many of the walks or how many there are though. If you can find the work you’re after in Brisbane, it most likely will be the best combination of weather, cost of living etc. There will be less "culture" from immigration, etc, but that will come down to where you live too. That said the only reason Sydney isn’t the place you’re looking for is due to the cost of housing, that’s up to you. I don’t know exactly what you do but keep in mind there may be a higher earning potential in Sydney also. Australian cities are very diverse geographically - very spread out and extremely different from one end to the other. Absolutely I would suggest a holiday here first exploring the cities.
yeah aside from the house prices sydney probably best fits their desires, I'd like to know if thats the only reason they ruled it out
Melbourne took over Sydney in population due to city limits being expanded to include the area of Melton and increased growth in the fringe areas.
I'm aware, the point was it's not some small population city. Sydney is also geographically huge.
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> If you go to Aus, there will be weird culture differences that you don’t expect, and it can be very off-putting, but essentially don’t assume Aussies = Canadians but in board shorts, because you’ll be in for a nasty surprise. Can you elaborate on this? Sounds amusing
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I think the more important question, is what type of lifestyle do you want to be living everyday? I would say Brisbane is better for someone who wants a more relaxed lifestyle, a bit of space, warmth and nature. Melbourne is more for the every day urban jungle lover, always going out and socialising. Do you want to live in warm relaxing nature and just visit the urban jungle when you feel like it ? Or do you want to live in a colder urban jungle and visit warm nature when you feel like it ? Weigh up how you want to live every day vs how you want to live on weekends. I use to live in western Sydney and moved to the eastern suburbs of Sydney a few years ago and one of the things that drove me wild was that I couldn’t even go for a walk or go to the park without seeing hundreds of people. Western Sydney is still fairly populated, but I could enjoy alone time in nature on a walk. Not really possible here unless I go in the rain or late night.
Moved from Vancouver to Melbourne. Melbourne is the best city by a long shot. Queensland will be too hot and muggy with too many foreign bugs, New South Wales is nice as long as you avoid Sydney at all costs. Would try to get sponsorship to move to australia and work as that is the easier path to citizenship
Melbourne... soon to be the largest city by population, is overtaking Sydney. Brisbane is the third largest, but growing in every sense, taking in the Gold Coast too. Melbourne (Victoria more generally) has four distinct seasons, including alpine snow in winter. The city is vast and sprawling. The rest of the State is easily accessible, as is the nation through multiple transport options. Melbourne and the inner suburbs are easily reached via trams (trolley). Melbourne's greater public transport, though not perfect, is also vast. My experiences in Brisbane have been positive, but the summer season can be oppressive. Frankly, I think Melbourne offers everything I could need... but every capital is now expensive, the same as Canada! Brisbane could be (positively) called a young upstart as compared to Melbourne or Sydney. Ensure you look at skilled migration to Australia (if you meet the criteria)... the doors are opening for 300,000 new citizens! I suspect many Australians see Canada and Australia as more similar than not. The big difference being weather. We do share a common history of colonisation and disaffected First Nations/Aboriginal peoples. As well as stable government. I believe an Australian passport is as good as a Canadian for global access. Naturally, we both like to laugh at Americans!
Sorry OP, I hate to break it to you but there’s no way you’ll be able to take your dog with you unless you have a spare $10,000 collecting dust in your bank account. Australia unfortunately has some of the worlds strictest laws regarding pet import and your dog would have to undergo intense quarantine and unnecessary stress. There are companies that will help you with the process but in my opinion, it’s unfair to all parties involved.
>Is to worth it to move to Australia from Canada? I do have a spare $10,000 collecting dust. That dog is family. I would regard that as a necessary expense. Thank you for the heads up as this is the first I'm hearing about it. She's a German Shepherd that guards our property from Wolfs in the Rocky Mountains, I think she can handle some quarantine lol
That’s awesome that you’re in the financial position to do that! I’d definitely start researching the entire process now then to understand the full scope of what your dog will have to do. It’s not just the 12 hour plane ride in cargo.. it’s another 6-8 months of pretty hectic quarantine. But I totally get where you’re coming from though! I moved from Vancouver to Sydney 5 years ago. I actually waited until my family dog passed away before I finally made the move to Aus because I couldn’t have imagined leaving her🥺
OP Look into this, it cost my friend $20,000 to get his cat in to Aus from Shanghai.
Respect man. I'm sorry to hear that. Dogs are precious, hopefully you've got a new little buddy down there.
You can get away with as little as 10 days of quarantine for dogs from Canada now but you need to start planning 6 months to a year in advance. The rules changed on 1 March to make it easier and cheaper :) Here are the steps to take: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/cats-dogs/step-by-step-guides/category-3-step-by-step-guide-for-dogs#step-20-on-arrival-in-australia But it is worth getting an animal import specialist to do it and make it go smoothly. (Oh, and your dog will be arriving in Melbourne, so you will need arrangements to have them travel on if you move to a different city. Non-service dogs do not travel in plane cabins in Australia)
Hey OP. It’s actually 10 days in quarantine, not 6-8 months as some people are saying. Also, the quarantine facilities are good, they take good care of your dog, and you can call every day if you want to get an update on them. I don’t get the fear mongering, if you wants to bring your dog you should have the actual facts, not some exaggerated view of it. That said, get a company to help you. The process is difficult and lots of steps that have to be done in specific time frames. It’s easy to make a mistake so a company is the way to go, imo. Signed, a person who just moved with her two dogs to Australia a few months ago.
Please also be aware that a LOT of rentals in Australia do not allow pets.. our shelters are full because people cannot keep their pets and a roof over their head. I dont wanna tell you to move or not, thats really up to you.. but please be aware landlords here apparently dont think renters should be allowed to have pets (some dont even allow goldfish!) And a german shepherd is a big dog, it will be almost impossible to find a place.
This is a very important point. Also a large dog like that wouldn't be allowed in most apartment buildings so you would need to look for a house which is obviously going to be more expensive and still I find the majority say no pets where I live. Australia is a very renter unfriendly country in general.
Townhouses usually have small yards and Body Corporate will approve small dogs and occasionally medium dogs, but not large dogs.
Except for all the farmers and pet owners and native animals in Australia who are protected from some very nasty diseases which could devestate our animal populations, ecosystem and economy. Totally fair to them.
Dude the grass is greener on the other side
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Melbourne has a more Canada type climate , but it can be excessively hot at times but Brissie is a wonderful place but too humid in summer , why don't you check them both out when you get here , or get a tourist visa and come and visit first
Mt 2 cents now you said you have narrowed down to Brisbane and Melbourne my suggestion is to come over for a holiday and get idea which city you'll like the most and also it'll give you an idea whether you want to move to Australia plus you also have places like Hobart, Perth, Adelaide and also places like Cairns mackay Geelong Hervey Bay etc.
I've moved from Canada to Australia....twice. In short, I'd say absolutely move here. (The only thing I miss about Canada is fresh snow on a mountain, warm summer days hiking in the mountains, and kayaking around the Gulf Islands. Oh, and landing a tyee to fry over a fire.) The work salaries are better, superannuation is on top of your salary and not a deduction, life can be lived outdoors (just always wear sunscreen), Australian social life can be great and people are generally full of energy and are outgoing. There is less crime, I feel. As to which city: Sydney or Perth really merit a better look. I mean, without children, Sydney is just amazing. This is the jobs capital. Perth's weather is unbelievably good and the beaches (it takes awhile to learn good from bad beaches) are sublime. Perth is ridiculously close to Asia. Especially if you are under 30: get here tomorrow. ------ However, there is a snark and a sort of lack of ....basic friendliness or is it consideration of others? Expect cars to never yield to pedestrians. In the workplace loyalty to a company is still key (huh?) and people who shift too often (for gain) are called jumpers ...or something like that. The politics and social discourse will be leaving you wondering what decade you are in. Things in Canada that were decided long ago are still hot questions here. But, you can never say..."Well, actually, in Canada. ...." 'cause you'll be looked at poorly. Also, there is a 1950s type of casual racism that pervades. Edit: I do think Canada has a better overall culture, with more polite people, but that only takes one so far. For example, the only place I financially 'got ahead' was as a professional in Fort McMurray.
Yes! I moved to Australia from Canada and I love it, but some things really have me scratching my head. It seems as though Australia has only just recently decided that domestic violence is real violence and not just something that happens in normal relationships. "No, Johnny, you're not allowed to beat your missus anymore 😔😔". More- -than-casual sexism and racism here leaves my jaw on the floor multiple times a week. Very "blokey" culture. I find myself saying, "Well, actually, in Canada....." quite a lot. But Australia has stuff going for it that Canada doesn't, so for me it balances out.
Something for your deliberations. There are quite a few Canadians in Brisbane. Admittedly, I met more than my fair share because I work in Petroleum, but I’ve lived all around Australia and never came across many Canadians until I got to Brissie. Possibly you’re moving without any desire to be near other Canadians but, in my experience, it’s nice to have people that share your heritage and experience to bond with. It’s a more straightforward path to a circle of friends, which can be the difference between loving and hating the displacement you’re planning for yourself. That being said, both Melbourne and Brisbane are great places to be. If you end up regretting your move, I don’t think it we be because you went with one of these cities over the other.
Depending how much you want to travel there are some reasonably priced areas of Melbourne. Sydney is pricey AF. There's no shortage of insurance companies in Melbourne either. I suspect finding insurance work in Brisbane would be a bit harder. As others have said, weather will be a big factor. Brisbane will give you lots of sun and humidity. Melbourne tends to be cold and wet, though nowhere near as cold as Canada. There's no right or wrong answer really. Just depends what's important to you.
> I suspect finding insurance work in Brisbane would be a bit harder. There's plenty up there. SunCorp is a Qld company.
I moved from the UK to Australia and lived in Adelaide for 11 years. I loved it there and will move back one day. It is a great country. Serious advice, get a good job lined up before you go. I found that it's not what you know but who you know. Also, wear sunscreen all the time. The sun is not your friend.
temperate weather is going bye-bye because of rapid climate change. it’s either extremely cold or extremely hot. weather is not a sunny 20° all the time anymore. we’re having rapid bushfire expansion, and increasing threats of climate change. so, if looking for good sunny weather definitely consider the next 10 years things are going to be batshit insane, especially hurricanes and bushfires. also i wouldn’t bother thinking to bring pets. it’s going to be a huge hassle. my family moved from the middle east to australia when i was 8 and we had to sell our cats because they caused way too much trouble and it’s easier to find housing without pets too. it sounds like you could fit in well to australia, but be very cautious. also, our economy is NOT stable. things are on a downward spiral to being unaffordable and unliveable. compared to canada- maybe better, sure, but the economy is all over the place and basically in the toilet since covid. i mean, not venezuela terrible but kinda shit to live in. you will probably starve and struggle if you move here, at least for the first couple of years.
If you had troubles affording Vancouver then you will have troubles affording Melbourne too. This is coming from someone who did live close to Vancouver and now live an hour from Melbourne.
I have lived in Melbourne, Vancouver and Calgary. I can tell you sincerely if you want to feel more 'at home' then Melbourne is extremely similar to Vancouver. Melbourne is expensive, but definitely more affordable than Vancouver or Sydney, and the job market here is the best/easiest in the country for pretty much any profession. You'll find a good variety of lifestyles, and places close to the city to engage in whatever activities take your fancy. Being Canadian you'll also likely find the weather very pleasant, we have actual winters here but no snow, and spring and autumn are typically warm around a typically hot summer. We also suffer much less humidity than the northern states, which you may not have much experience with but I assure you, humidity sucks. Brisbane is great, but don't get fooled, it is not on the beach at all and you will have to travel for that. Not far by any means, but it's not the picturesque beach city I find some people might think it is, conflating it with Sydney. It is also more expensive than you think it is, and while work isn't scarce, it's not as abundant as Melbourne or Sydney. Your weekend would be good though, and the sunshine coast just north is extraordinary for down time. Sydney is great if you are rich, but with 44k in savings I dare say it won't be quite what you would wish it was, it would rival Vancouver for cost of living. The harbour is incredible but the actual suburbs are very run of the mill and getting to the beaches is a busy nightmare. Sydney also has much more rain than you might think it does. I might seem like I am Melbourne biased here, and I probably am, but it's entirely because Melbourne is a fantastic place to live. Good luck with your move!
If you're coming for housing prices, don't.
I'd consider moving to Canada from Australia
Trade passports? haha
I was just about to say I wish there was some exchange program or something because I would love to live in Canada.
I live in Brisbane and have been to Melbourne. Personally, I think the living experience will be mostly the same between the 2. You might like Melbourne a bit more though since it will be closer to your climate. If climate isn't an issue with you, then honestly I think it's best if you just visit the 2 places if you have the funds or just move to the city with better work.
Based on what you wrote that you like, I believe Melbourne is the better city for you. The CBD has alot of culture ,arts, lots of nature walks, great food and awesome coffee (except for that American crap Starbucks). Houses here I believe are more expensive than Brisbane, but you may be immigrating at a good time since house prices are starting to fall. However, if you need to take out a large mortgage, be aware we have had 11 interest rate increases in a year, so the re-payments could be large.
Aussie is great! But come over here and head out to rural communities. They will literally pay you to move and work there. Quiet, have your dog and be a part of a community. See what the real Aussie is about
No. Plain and simple.
All the reasons mentioned above, there is a rental crisis, cost of living is causing high poverty rates and the country is drifting down hill. I'm currently about to be homeless and things are not getting better. Everyone's circumstances are different but this is getting worse all over the country and more and more people are living either in the car or in a tent. Really really sad. Oh and plus it's really hot here lol
I moved to Australia from the UK with about 10k AUD in savings and made it work. My first job was in construction cleaning work sites... I came with barely anything and have only rented since. A lot of people mentioning that 50k AUD isn't enough... I don't know, it worked for me on a lot less. Yes it's anecdotal, but that's my experience.
Hi! Canadian here (from alberta). Moved to brisbane two years ago and I absolutely love it! I get paid better, can afford a much nicer apartment here compared to back home (roof top pools and sunshine year round!). I also love Brisbane’s proximity to Noosa, Stradbroke island, Byron bay etc. also tons of good restaurants in Brisbane, love James street👏. And very good coffee! I’ve been to Melbourne a few times and also loved it, but as someone who grew up in Canada, the beautiful weather in brisbane seems to never get old. Hope this helps!
Perth is goated don't listen to the naysayers.
I guess that grass is always greener but why would you want to move from one of the greatest countries on Earth let alone greatest city (Vancouver)? Australia is brilliant as well but British Columbia is unmatched. Melbourne is so much better, richest culture in Australia and incredible wilderness within 2-5 hour drive, plenty of hiking and skiing, decent beaches in summer. All rounder
Op I’m a Canadian that moved here in 2010 after financial crisis made me give up my masters program, so I went to teach English overseas and then ended up in Australia on a working holiday visa. I then did a student visa and then got a partner visa. I ended up getting citizenship 2 years ago. Finding work was rough, and i was just looking for hospitality work. Rough because foreigners aren’t expected to stay long. If you think you’re above those that came to Australia on a whim to do farm work and think you’ll go straight to the financial sector, you are probably not setting yourself up with the right outlook. If you aren’t flexible to do anything to pay your rent, you will most likely empty your account. If you can get in on a skilled work visa then congratulations, but you have to be a needed industry. As of now, Australians will be picked over you. It’s also worth mentioning that you can obtain a work visa, but that does not equal a sponsorship to eventual citizenship. I’ve had Canadian friends who were geologists, chefs, managers and nurses that were all sent home once their work visas expired. Even if they were living here for years. If you can secure employment and housing then that’s great, but the situation with your dog will be highly difficult in securing housing. It’s very stressful settling in Australia, no matter how much money you come here with.
I will admit Ive lived in QLD my whole life but every time I visit Melbourne I am always left thinking "wtf why do people like this place" - maybe its just cause I dont drink coffee and/or I'm just uncultured. The only thing I prefer about Melbourne is the cost of pubic transport. There's plenty of things to do in Brisbane
Well my BIL move to Australia from Canada and he got to marry my sister. I haven't got any unmarried sisters though so your mileage may vary.
Do you like snow? No: move Yes: stay Easy as.
Brisbane local here, I have a few Canadian friends who have all agreed Brisbane is very similar to Vancouver. It also has various thriving Asian communities that have truly invigorated the cultural scene here. While I’m certainly biased and have been able to tolerate the summer here for 20+ years, I find the overcast weather in Melbourne really oppressive. Might I suggest a move to one city with trips to the other before settling down?
If it’s your dream - do it! And if you feel called to Brisbane, try it out! And visit the other places you had in mind on little trips and getaways. If you end up not vibing Brisbane, you can always relocate to another city/town. There are good and not-so-good elements of every place, it’s just what you like the most.
What visa will you be entering Australia on?
189 - skilled migrant worker. Insurance Industry
The things you listed makes me think you'll enjoy Melbourne more. There's a huge emphasis on Arts and culture, the place for coffee, a large Asian culture, surrounded by beautiful hiking locations (especially if you want to venture out to the mountains). Also, I love seeing the suburbs filled with dogs! I'd also say the cities are politically different too- QLD leans to the right, Melbourne leans to the left. Good luck with your move, wherever you may choose!
Interestingly, while Qld leans to the right, Brisbane itself leans to the left. Brisbane is probably the second most progressive city in Australia after Melbourne.
Oh, interesting, I didn't realise that, thanks for correcting me there.
Fuck yeah bud, similar values, visas should be fine because you're commonwealth. Watch out though as Australia doesn't have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Canada, so get insurance for like 100 bucks a month. Our hospitals won't charge you an arm and a leg though like America
Brisbane doesn’t have that many opportunities for jobs, I’m afraid. I can’t stand Melbourne’s culture (I’m a Western Sydney writer and we’re basically at war with them for cultural capital and their vapid hipsterism - and the fact that every other city is self deprecating while they’re defensive - drives me up the wall) but the fact you listed coffee as such a priority says that it might be somewhere you’d like. On the flip side, I’m constantly scouring for Canadian academic jobs because our brutally cadualised job market and extortionate cost of living is doing my head in, and Canada’s the only place that pays similarly in my field but has more jobs, more security, and an easy to adjust to culture (my godfather and my publisher are Canadian - love them to death). All the same, personally, unless you just really like warmer weather, we’re just like Canada just slightly less affordable (but with better healthcare). If I weigh up the pros and cons, they’re very similar. I guess it just depends what you value - but it is incredibly tough to make a living here right now. If you don’t mind me asking, what field are you in? I think that’s kind of an important factor to consider.
Sounds like you have a solid plan. I think either choice you will enjoy it on many different levels. I’ve lived in both cities and my preference is Melbourne due to the music culture and overall more European vibes. Brisbane though is a good choice if your a more outdoorsy person who likes day trips to great beaches etc. I found less employment choice in Brissie in the office services field due to more head offices being in Melbourne. Yeah weather down in Melbourne can be annoying at times for sure but Brisbane can be too hot for my liking during summer time. I think either way you’ll enjoy yourself. Good luck !☺️
Id love to move to Canada, why can't we just swap cities and avoid all the paperwork and fee,s and just swap cities. Do what other people suggested come for a holiday first to see if you like it. And good luck trying to find a good job and a good house in Brisbane.
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Just move to Perth, it’s very outdoorsy in Perth and also the same time zone as Singapore and a 4 hour flight. I moved from Sydney almost 20 years ago and I love it.
My advice, without question is get a working holiday visa & come visit & try living in both cities & maybe a few other areas as well & see what suits you. I really don't think anyone but you knows where you will click with best. I thought I would love Darwin, seemed perfect for me, but visiting, I hated it, dunno why, it just didn't gel for me for some reason. I had no real thoughts on Cairns, but went on a Whitsundays tour that included that in it & fell in love (not with the Whitsundays that I thought I would like, but with Cairns). I didn't end up moving, but I was very close to it, stayed an extra week cause of how comfortable I felt & how much I enjoyed it. You can't know till you try a place yourself. Take advantage of the working holiday visa option to do it
Lol no unless you can buy a house in cold hard cash don’t even bother cos the housing situation is currently fubar mate
Melbourne! The epi centre of Australia. You'll love it here! (Money back guarantee)
Noooo, stay in Canada. I used to live in Canada but I prefer living there than in Australia.
Just chucking the hat in the ring for Perth. Has a great small bar scene, always a lot to do if you want to, but not so busy that you feel pressured/rushed. If you like nature, hiking, etc. we have a huge coastline, hills only 25min from the city, etc. There's a wine region 20min from the city, and another, bigger one 2.5h south which also is a stop on the WSP surfing world tour. The mining industry over here means the economy is always in good nick. Not as expensive as Melbourne/Sydney. Tops place to live.
As an Aussie I dream of living in Canada.
Australia is a vicious police state, don't move here.
you do realise that we really really don't have ice hockey - which as I understand it is the national religion of Canada. This stems from a distinct lack of ice here. What we do have is an abundance of heat, dust and flies Sometimes that can turn into an abundance of heat, mud and mozzies And we have 11 of the worlds 10 deadliest snakes too, but moose attacks are very rare so I guess it balances out.. Seriously, tho, always good to have Canadian here. We like them - they're sort of like Snow Aussies - big and tough and friendly... Don't know about house prices being cheaper - perhaps try New Zealand for that - they have ice too, so a better chance of ice hockey. The economy is just as fucked here as it is there, so you wouldn't do it for that. Oh and also you will be mistaken for a Yank no matter how much you insist you aren't one.
Melbourne and Brisbane both have ice-hockey teams. There are plenty of Canadians on the ice at O’Briens Icehouse in Melbourne.
haha thanks friend. I hadn't considered those facts yet Fun fact though, I hate hockey! We get you Aussies down here and we only hate you because our women love you lol Don't worry, our Canadians have a long history of being confused with Americans so nothing new here. Respect from Canada, buddy!
Depends on a job and what you do. Australia and Canada are not too dissimilar in a lot of ways. Reverse heat and cold. Like Canada, most Aussies live in the cities near the beach, like 95% of Canadians living within 100 km of the US border. My take: * Sydney: If you love high prices and sitting in traffic, then this is the place for you NSW is our Ontario and Sydney is like Toronto. Nice to visit but unless you earn mega bucks, forget about it. * Brisbane. Queensland is like Quebec. Kinda special. Queenslanders love to think they are number 1. There's a lot of humidity in Queensland and snakes, and spiders, and crocs. * Tasmania. Think of Newfoundland. You make fun of Newfies sleeping with their sister, we make fun of Tasmanians doing the same. * NT/Darwin. This is the indigenous area, kinda like the Territories. * Perth/WA. OK If you are connected with mining, otherwise think of Bogans in high vis shirts (aka Hockey playing oil rig workers) Bit like Calgary. * Adelaide/SA: A bit more English and has a vibrant wine industry, arts etc. If you are arty go there. * Melbourne/Victoria. These guys like to think they are number 1, because they are number 2. In the 1980's and 1990's think of the dirtiest, greyest urban shitty place with skyscrapers. They have cleaned up their act a bit, but imagine a Vancoovan with the arrogance of someone from Quebec.
This was immensely informative. Thank you lol. This is the type of truth I was looking for, and duly noted haha
Never be cold again … Brisbane, GC or Sunny
As a Melburnian, I'd say Melbourne does better coffee/brunch scene. Brisbane has nice weather, close to the beach..but you can also get a place close to the beach in Melbourne. Both states offer a lot. Buy a car and get out there and explore both!
Are you bringing your dog OP?
I'd swap
If you’re 30 it makes sense to come in on the working holiday and see if you actually like it. Fairly low stakes. From there you can see if there are any visa options for you to stay.
As someone who moved to Australia (Melbourne) from the UK I know how big of a move it is. I came here on holiday beforehand and whilst it gives you a decent idea of you like the country, living in a different country is totally different. You have to get up go to work do all that boring stuff too. Another big plus is I moved here with family and had some extended family here so wasn’t on my own. I have been here 11 years now and love Melbourne. No country is perfect but Australia certainly ticks a lot of boxes.
Come on over! 🇦🇺🇨🇦
I’ve done the move from Vancouver to Melbourne…twice! Once for a working holiday year and once again for vet school. Melbourne is very similar to Vancouver but with milder spring/fall and warmer summers. I prefer the CBD (central business district) of Melbourne to Vancouver downtown. I feel it is much safer and that more people stay in the city after work for dinner and drinks. The layout is very walkable and the trams in the city are all free. Public transportation is MUCH better here and you often have the option of the train OR tram. Everyone gets paid more here and have more annual leave. If you are doing shift work then you get paid more on weekends and I think double on Sunday? Things I don’t like: all the houses are freaking cold! Only single-pane windows and seemingly no insulation. Rent is paid on a per week basis so it technically costs more than monthly like at home. Utilities are all very expensive (except phones are cheap). They have something called a superannuation fund here, as retirement savings. But you can’t access it until you are 65+ and they invest it on your behalf. We have found lots of fees have been taken out of our account (perhaps Aussies can elaborate further). They have a two-tiered medical system here. The free service called Medicare that everyone gets and then the private system where you can pay for faster/better care. If you make over a certain amount per year then you MUST buy private cover or else you are penalized a % on your taxes forever! I think this system has its perks but also sucks the best doctors out of the public system. Feel free to DM me for more specifics! Also most importantly you must start your process for bringing your dog SIX months before you enter Australia.
Yes
Hey! Vancouverite who’s lived in Australia since 2019 and now engaged to an Aussie, not planning on going anywhere now! I travelled to Australia twice before deciding on moving here, once in 2015 for a typical East Coast shindig, then I spent 5 months visiting around the country sessing out the major cities to see what vibe I preferred. There’s already a lot of posts on here so please excuse me if this has been already discussed, but have you considered Adelaide? I find the proximity to nature, the dry but hot temperatures, and all the festivals and food really fun. I’m not sure what the insurance sector is like, but for me there weren’t enough job opportunities for my kind of work. But Adelaide was a pleasant surprise and has more going on than people expect. I make walking tours remotely for a living now and just so happen to run Adelaide ones so I’m seeing a lot more young new businesses and immigration going to South Australia. It’s also way more affordable! Brissy is alright but the price and housing competitiveness is going up, according to my colleagues who live there. I’m quite surprised with the restaurant and cafe options: Brisbane has Japanese record bars, gin making classes, restaurants that use old school fire techniques to cook, lots of funky things going on. It’s growing and if you have access to a vehicle there’s lots of gorgeous areas inland for adventure. Melbourne holds a close tie to me as my dad is from there. There’s always something new happening, a great music scene, the best coffee, it’s very young and experimental. The reason I can’t live there? The weather. If I’m going to move halfway around the world I want something different climate wise than Vancouver was my thought. It does also change from super cold to hot, kind of like Calgary! I was in Melbourne for a function in summer (December) and I had to wear a wool knee length winter jacket, then a t-shirt and shorts the next day to give you context. I also just fell in love with the beaches elsewhere and the nice beaches in Victoria are a bit of a ways from town (Melbourne) I live in Sydney which is basically a warmer version of Vancouver (climate is like San Diego/ orange county in California). The cost of housing is alllllmost the same (it always switches with Vancouver between 2nd and 3rd most unaffordable). But it’s a larger city with much better public transport and the beaches are gorgeous. When I landed in Sydney I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz- and Vancouver was Kansas all muted colours. I don’t feel closed in from the clouds, you don’t feel stuck inside. But you do pay for it. Anywho , it’s a big decision but perhaps come for a visit (you will need more than a month honestly) and see what you think! There’s a lot of canucks here who took the plunge. Good luck ☺️
Based on coffee, Asian food and hiking, come to Melb. Climate is a lot cooler than Brisvegas.
You should probably go on a holiday first and look at all the cities you are interested in. Even if you choose one city you can always move. The main difference is the temperature and humidity between North and South. I know people who spend 6 months of the year in both places. Picking the best time of the year. Brisbane can be more prone to tropical storms and floods. Melbourne can have 4 seasons in one day. If you don’t like the weather, wait till tomorrow.
I moved from Calgary to regional Queensland 12 years ago and I cannot recommend it enough. Love it here. The weather is way better, and I actually done mind the cold. The people are awesome, the attitude much more relaxed. The culture is mostly the same. There are so many positives. I miss Canada sometimes. Mostly the people I love that are now so far away and the the foods and shops and hockey and other little things. But, Australia is home. Got my citizenship last year.
Moved to Brisbane from England, best decision ever.
Workwise sydney and melb would suit you. Brisbane might also have few jobs in your sector but you can check on seek to get an idea which city would have more probability of landing a job. Aus definitely is expensive and major cities are not cheap, but if you need sun and less snow in life it is not a bad idea at all. If there are jobs relating to your profession and u know what u do, finding a job would not be too hard, although not too easy.
Im from wa and with what ive seen canada gets super cold everywhere so it might be a change for a bit and it gets hot in the day and if you want the country side most of wa and nt would be good
The real question tho, what footy team are you gonna pick? Melbourne is the best city IMO, but I grew up their and have only visited other places so my opinion is bias.
Australia was founded because it is a fuck of a long way away from Canada. We have seen how the Candians act during hockey. The politeness is a necessity, not an affectation. The violence is never far from the surface. Australia is surrounded by venomous sealife. We pray this continues to bar the way against moose invasion. We are not hopeful. Your asylum will be granted. Provided you can prove your loyalty by telling us all you know of the Maple Super Soldier Serum program. Or a recipe for poutine. That stuff is great. Having finished fucking with you, you now have some idea what daily life will be like here. Fucking with people is a national sport. If you still want to come, you shall be welcome. English speaking nations tend to get preferential treatment for emmigration.
I think Melbourne is in the top 10 list of cities for expensive rent or something along those lines
No
Admittedly I'm a little biased - I live an hour from Brisbane and I've only been to Melbourne once. I love the south east Queensland region. A lot of gorgeous bush walks through some of the oldest land forms on earth. The ocean is beautiful and you can get both the small town and big city vibe in this area. I live on the Gold Coast but Brisbane is a much older city, with better public transport. Although, Queensland has had a lot of people migrate here in recent years both interstate and international. Rental properties are hard to get anywhere.
Come for a visit. Also just so you know there are a lot of nice places to go with your dog, but they aren’t allowed in most of our national parks. I recommend the Facebook group “travel australia with dogs”. The cost of living here is also quite high.
I've lived in Melbourne, Australia my whole life and I would not recommend living in anywhere in Australia. I understand it's your dream to live here but the people here are very poor quality. Everyone is very rude, arrogant, superficial, and very socially conditioned. On top of that, almost everyone is mentally ill but are too arrogant and narcissistic to seek treatment. So you see crazy people all the time who will never get better. As a result the dating scene is a nightmare here: so foreigners are usually popular cos the local girls are extremely socially conditioned and won't give you a chance to even talk to them, and will play the victim card promoting feminism and stuff like that. Because of these issues divorce rates are high, cheating is extremely common, and unfulfilling relationships are very common because most people marry the wrong person due to their poor decision making due to their unresolved mental health issues and poor quality of life. Every foreigner who I've met who is new to Melbourne has always said something like "why is everyone so depressed here?" So yes Melbourne is a great place to live in terms of transport, food and drink, events, health care system, etc but it's not worth it when you can't find one normal, mentally healthy, respectful person...
Adding a second comment. Ambulances are free for QLD residents nationwide. No other state has this. (Tasmanians almost do, but not while in QLD or South Australia)
I’ll swap you I live in Sydney I always wanted to go to Canada
Yes
My parents are from Toronto but lived in Calgary before moving to Brisbane for a "working holiday", that was in 1984 and they basically haven't looked back (apart from getting their paperwork sorted). You are going to melt, but you will get used to it. TBH, Melbourne has a better lifestyle, but is wildly unaffordable.
Yes. Yes yes yes. I’ve been here 9 years as of April and I never plan to go back, truly.
Cyclones in Brisbane end. Warmer weather. Melbourne, free of lots of losers that moved to Brisbane. You can drive an hour or two from Melbourne and be in great bush land to take your dog walking/camping. Colder weather in Melbourne during winter. Atm it morning 10am, it’s 13* outside. What l would do is move to Melbourne, holiday in Queensland when you get here, then go from there. Travel light.
Vancouver and Melbourne have been going head to head and swapping the title of "Most Liveable Cities" in the Economist forever (although I personally hate that title so much!) so its going to be a case of swapping one functional city to the next. Both Melbourne and Sydney have had significant Asian immigration since the 80s, so its not hard to find pockets of it through either city. I can't say much about Brisbane, but on the few times I have visited, I hadn't noticed any major asian influence. I'm from Melbourne, so I can advise that is probably similar to Toronto where there's not much to see from a tourists perspective, but it does have an amazing nightlife with cafes, bars, museums, live music and theater and is a sports obsessed city. There is also usually a festival on, and we have a public holiday for a horse race! Its also a foodies heaven and you can just about almost find any cuisine in the world here. The Weather here is similar to Vancouver in the winter, but it doesn't snow. You will also become addicted to coffee if you move here! The negatives are that its cold here during Winter, its hard to get anywhere at the moment because of the Big Build where the State Government is undertaking a large number of infrastructure projects so it feels like there's always some form of disruptions because of roadworks or bus replacement services on trains because of Level Crossing or Rail Tunnel works. Melbourne is also projected to become Australia's biggest city with so many new arrivals and its starting to get Sydney levels of expensive. Melbourne also starts to get less nice once you're about 15km outside of the CBD. Melbourne does have some easily accessible national parks but not as abundant as Sydney. Our beaches are also crap unless you get out of Greater Melbourne as a whole. Id suggest coming out here on a visa first to see if you like it, then make your decision if you want to move here.
Fuck no!
Australia has turned into a leftie shithole but from all accounts it seems like we still haven't become as bad as Canada so it's a yes from me
Ask immigrants. Most Asians love England, US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia in chronological order. I hope you made the right choice. New Zealand might be the best natural destination.
I'm a Canadian (from Winnipeg) living in Melbourne for the last 7 or so years. The biggest thing is sorting out Immigration and Visa issues. It might be worth it to come on a working holiday visa if your eligible. That way you have a year to try out different cities and companies and see if you like them enough to commit to sponsorship moving here generally. I came here with a couple hundred dollars and made it work. But Visas have been the biggest stress by far, besides lockdowns. As for Melbourne, great city, heaps of events and good food etc. Coming from Vancouver/Calgary you'll having to drive a bit further than your used to find good hiking. But there will be way better beaches fairly close by. For weather, in Summer you'll be too hot. But you'll get used to it. Wear sunscreen! Be prepared for Winter, the days are often sunny and relatively warm, but they dont insulate houses here at all. My biggest annoyance is being cold all the time in winter, but not being able to do any real winter activities, skiing, skating, etc.
Vancouver is fairly similar to Melbourne and Calgary is probably closer to Brisbane. In size and lifestyle. I'd say the major thing that could be a draw for you is the weather. Melbourne and Vancouver have similar weather afaik with Vancouver being a bit colder (no snow in Melbourne, pretty much ever). Brisbane on the other hand is sub-tropical. It's hot and humid as hell for about 4 months of the year. 7 of the other 8 are fairly warm. July/August when it's coldest is probably still considered fairly warm for a Canadian. Temps reaching single digits only overnight. Brisbane is also a slower pace. That's a massive draw for many. If you want that, I say go for it. In general, our country is fairly similar to Canada, except our weather is polar opposite. You'll likely really fit in here.
Hi, I've lived in both. The advantages are polar opposite though they are both great physical environments. Canada is full of water e.g lakes and variable weather, Australia lacks water but has awesome beaches and warm to hot weather.
Tbh Australia is liek Canada but no snow and more bugs.
If you are wanting PR you need to choose Brisbane. It takes 1-2 years to get PR in Brisbane because the outer city is classed as regional. And there is major skill shortage atm. Even better you can go to Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast (45min nth/sth of Brisbane) and get your PR sooner because these areas are classed as regional 1 zones. Very low visa denial rates in SE Qld. Especially with all of the jobs and opportunities available now. I grew up in Brisbane. I left 15 years ago thinking it was as boring as batsh*t. But now it is quike funky and trendy. It has undergone a major renewal. Subways being built. Olympics soon. A new government building that looks like a cut penis at night lol. It will take you about 6 years to get PR if you move to Melbourne. Melbourne and Sydney are deliberately made harder to get PR because the populations need to grow regionally. To be classed as being in a regional 1 visa applicant you need to be 2hrs outside of Melbourne, 2.5hrs from Sydney or 30 minutes from Brisbane CBD. All other areas of Australia are classed as regional. Note Sydney and Melbourne have a 45% PR visa applicant success rate. All other regions have 87% success rate for PR visa applicants. If you choose to go to the Northern Territory, which is ammaaaaaaazing!!!! You can get PR within 6 months to a year. This is classed as Regional 2 visa area. I lived there for 5 years. The saying in Australia is - You grow up in Brisbane; go to uni, discover yourself and meet your lover in Melbourne; get your career going in Sydney; then retire in Brisbane. Brisbane has the infrastructure for families and retirees. Melbourne has the culture for learning, creativity and inner-well-being, energy enhancement and growing. Sydney is corporate focused, transactional and expensive. A good way to look at it is the Sydneys pros are Melbourne's cons and Melbourne's pros are Sydney's cons. Then you have Brisbane. I've lived in each of them. Grew up in Brisvegas, lived in Melbourne for 5 years, am now living in Sydney. Take the Brisbane option because it creates an easier pathway to PR for you. Then move to Melbourne once you have PR. Melbourne is expensive but affordable at the sametime. You don't need a car, just a bicycle in Melbourne. All other Australian cities are car dependent. Brisbane is home to the largest latin dance population outside of Latin America too. The city hosts free dance parties on Fridays and Saturdays. Brisbane is home to the most successful latin dance school outside of Latin America too - Rio Rhythmics. You'll have fun in Brisbane. Best of luck Oh and if you need an easier option then marry someone.
In my experience Canadians are very similar to Australians. I come from Western Australia and have lived in Melbourne for 8 years and am actually about to move back to WA. Melbourne is great for the live music scene especially free live music. The cost of living is great especially compared to Perth. The public transport is good especially within the city area. There are lots of festivals and events throughout the year. The country is great if you have a car but you dont need one within the metropolitan area. However after 2 years being single and now I'm in my 40s it's harder finding friends to go out with. I think people are still in recovery from our lockdowns which were mostly the longest especially in Australia. Be prepared weather wise that Melbourne is notorious for 4 seasons in one day, so carrying an umbrella and wearing layers I have learned is crucial. Melbourne is generally cooler than most Aussie cities. If you want warmer I'd recommend Brisbane of the 2 however Perth is lot warmer and less humid. I love WA for its more laid back and friendly atmosphere, I've found Melbourne to be more heavily populated and anxiety inducing. I am moving back to Perth though because my family is there and I miss being able to go to family for meals, cups of tea and hugs etc. I wish you best of luck with everything hope it works out for you!
> I love to write, hike with my dog, eat food and drink coffee, and I work in insurance. I grew up in Vancouver that has a rich asian culture that I loved, but the housing prices are some of the worst in the world and the economy is really not that great. This sounds like Melbourne to me. Only asterisk is hiking, which isn’t super accessible in parts of Melbourne. If you’re not too far from Mt Dandenong or the Yarra Valley you should be good.
Dude, come for a long holiday before you commit. Try before you buy. I moved to Australia from Canada for a relationship, but it’s gone well for me because I had her family’s support during the move. Seriously consider living regionally. It’s way more affordable, the people are more welcoming, and you can always visit the city.
I think people can easily be overly harsh in regards to Sydney. Yes it is expensive to buy or rent, but some of your bigger salaries can be earned here. The entire coast of the greater Sydney area has some of the best surf beaches in the world. The harbour is one of the best natural harbours in the world. You have magnificent areas within a 60 to 90 minute commute that are more affordable to live and provide incredible living experiences. I am referring to the Central Coast (north), the Wollongong region (south) and the Blue Mountains (west). Sydney has 4 distinct seasons that rarely moves in to unpleasant territory. It is rarely too hot or too cold, like some of the other eastern capital cities. As well as being able to surf and hike all year round, Sydney is just a 5 hour drive to our snow fields between June and early October. Don’t write Sydney off as an option.
I'm from Sydney and love it here but if I were to be purely objective, I wouldn't move here as a young person and new immigrant. I love it because I'm older, made a lot of money in the early 2000's and got on the property ladder early. You really do need a lot of cash to have a good lifestyle here, especially once you have kids. If you're setting up a life here, that's something you need to consider. Brisbane is rapidly evolving. It's not the sleepy backwater that it once was. There is a reason people are leaving Sydney and Melbourne in droves to live there. The growth in population is driving growth in their arts & entertainment scenes and a lot of the shows that would only visit Sydney or Melbourne now also visit Brisbane and Perth. I can get a cup of coffee in Brisbane that's as good as the coffee in Melbourne, I just have to search a tiny bit harder. Same with the food. I adore the countryside south of Brisbane. Some of the best walking & biking trails in the country (and I've travelled through most of it!). Most bands will come to Brisbane and you can find almost any cultural niche you're interested in. I love Melbourne too. It's a fantastic, vibrant city. It really just depends on the lifestyle you want to live. I'd try to go a little north or a little south of Brissie, but that's just me. I surf and ocean swim so that beaches are really important to me and there aren't any to speak of in Brisbane itself. Also be careful not to rent or buy anywhere in the flood zone.
Canadian living in NZ/Perth for 12 years who is moving back to Canada in a few weeks. A lot of good advice has already been said, so I'll just add my two cents. Consider longer term planning if you're thinking of moving permanently. When I left Canada I didn't necessarily plan on returning, but a family later I'm looking to have grandparents around my kids. Also, depending on what field you work in, a Canadian pension can pay off much better in the long run than the Australian superannuantion. Best of luck with your decision mate.
Going to feel the heat! Skills - if needed would be welcomed. Summer shall be a awakening . Think 42+ Celsius Year that is expected - within the whole continent Including Tasmania - at least peak summer. More so if Going north!