Moving to Australia Checklist: Everything Americans Need to Know

Last Updated: January 8, 2026

Affordability

Healthcare

Taxes

Safety

Stability

Relative Ratings versus the United States

TL;DR

Australia attracts West Coast Americans seeking outdoor lifestyle with better safety and social services. Skilled Independent Visa (189) requires high-demand occupation without sponsor; Employer Sponsored Visa (482) needs Australian employer sponsorship. While Sydney/Melbourne housing rivals San Francisco, higher wages and lower healthcare costs create greater disposable income for middle-class families. Australia's Medicare combines tax-funded public care with affordable private 'top-up' insurance, far cheaper than U.S. employer plans.

Why is Australia seeing a surge in interest from Americans?

In 2026, Australia is seeing a surge in interest from West Coast Americans—specifically from California and Washington—who are seeking a similar climate and outdoor lifestyle but with improved public safety and social services. Australia offers some of the highest minimum wages globally and a healthcare system that Americans find significantly more accessible. For professionals in healthcare, education, and construction, Australia is currently running aggressive recruitment campaigns to fill critical labor shortages.

The Australian "fair go" culture and the emphasis on the "weekend" provide a stark contrast to the U.S. "hustle culture," making it a top choice for families.

What are the visa options for Americans?

Australia's visa system is complex and points-based, favoring younger, skilled applicants.

Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): For workers with occupations in high demand. It does not require a sponsor and allows you to live and work anywhere in Australia as a permanent resident.
Employer Sponsored Visa (Subclass 482): Allows an Australian employer to sponsor a foreign worker for a position they cannot fill with a local. This is the most common route for Americans in corporate or specialized trade roles.

Available Visa Pathways:

Education
Work
Entrepreneurship
Study
Other (Working Holiday - available for Americans up to age 35)

How does the cost of living in Australia compare to USA cities?

While housing in Sydney and Melbourne is notoriously expensive, it is often comparable to San Francisco; however, the higher wages and lower healthcare costs often result in higher "disposable" income for middle-class American families.

What is healthcare like in Australia?

Australia's Medicare is a hybrid system; it provides high-quality public care funded by taxes, while many residents maintain private "top-up" insurance which is vastly more affordable than any equivalent U.S. employer-sponsored plan.

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At Bring Me Abroad, we synthesize official government data, local legal requirements, and real expat experiences to create our relocation guides. Our goal is to simplify the complex process of moving abroad for US citizens.

About Aaron

Aaron is a seasoned designer and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience building digital products for the SaaS and hospitality industries. In 2023, he navigated the complex journey of relocating from the U.S. to the Netherlands—a process that revealed a fragmented landscape of outdated visa blogs and "browser tab overload." After successfully launching a design studio in the Netherlands, Aaron co-founded Bring Me Abroad to solve the "Day 1" information gap. His mission is to democratize relocation by replacing expensive consultants with high-utility, data-driven reports that help early-stage explorers get situated quickly. When he isn't decoding immigration logistics, Aaron can be found cycling through the Dutch rain in search of the perfect apple pie or navigating the nuances of the Dutch language.