There are plenty of people who move to Australia from overseas, but have you ever thought about leaving Australia to live somewhere else in the world? You definitely wouldn’t be alone – over half a million Australians now live abroad.
But how exactly does that dream of moving abroad compare with reality? Let’s unpack some of the more common assumptions Aussies have about expat life and see what really happens once the plane lands and you’re left to your own devices.
Cost of Living: Expecting Cheap, Meeting Reality
Expectation: Life will be cheaper overseas – no more “Australia tax” on everything.
Reality: It’s a bit mixed and definitely isn’t always the case. Australia is indeed expensive, no one is denying that. But we also have high wages to match.
Move to a place with lower salaries and, even if groceries or rent are cheaper, you might feel a pinch in a few other ways. For instance, Australia’s overall cost of living is about 10% lower than London’s, so an Aussie arriving in the UK may be shocked when a pub meal or flat rental costs more than it did back home.
Needless to say, things definitely get a bit more affordable when you go further up north, but even cities like Manchester have incredibly high costs of living. Obviously, this is assuming that you’re planning to emigrate to an English speaking country, which is why we’re focusing on England at the moment.
On the other hand, some things definitely are a bit cheaper abroad – Brits usually get lower supermarket prices than Australians (thanks to the shorter distance for imports around Europe, for example), and many Asian countries have bargains when it comes to street food and transport.
But in short, “cheap” and “expensive” will flip around depending on where you go. As a result, you’re just going to have to learn how to adjust your budgets.
Cultural Adjustment: More Than a Holiday
Expectation: Moving abroad will feel like a permanent vacation. Same language and similar culture means an easy transition.
Reality: Once the honeymoon phase passes, daily life overseas has the same chores and challenges as life at home – just in a different setting. Obviously, it’s still a fairly exciting prospect to move abroad, but you’re not going to be able to run from your problems entirely. You’ll still have to commute to work and pay your bills, only now you’re figuring it all out in unfamiliar surroundings.
Even in another English-speaking country, you’ll stumble over little differences. Australians are famously informal, which could definitely raise a few eyebrows in more emotionally reserved cultures like in England.
Adapting basically just means letting go of the “holiday” mindset and trying to embrace a new normal. It’s not our goal to sound too pessimistic and cynical about this whole journey. The good news is you’ll also discover new delights – perhaps a local bakery you love or a new sport you take up – that become part of your routine. You just need to appreciate that it’s not a holiday; it’s just everyday life, but with different buildings and weather.
Housing & Space: A Reality Check
Expectation: Housing will be easier or cheaper overseas. Maybe you’ll get a bigger place for less than you paid in Sydney.
Reality: Think again. Australian homes are actually among some of the world’s largest – on average about three times the size of UK homes – so moving into a London flat or Tokyo studio can be a fairly big shock to your system.
You might swap a backyard and garage for a tiny balcony (or no outdoor space at all, which is fairly common in England). Even if property prices abroad seem lower on paper, exploring the market as an outsider isn’t exactly simple – especially if you’re going to a non-English speaking country.
Renting can come with unfamiliar rules (like needing a local guarantor or extra deposits), and buying property is notoriously a frustratingly bureaucratic process. Be prepared for plenty of paperwork – translating documents and proving your financial credentials in a new system – to get a mortgage approved overseas.
It’s all doable, but it certainly isn’t the effortless process you might expect. You’re definitely going to have to be a bit patient while you’re hunting for that new home away from home.
Community & Friends: Starting from Scratch
Expectation: You’ll instantly make friends and feel at home, and locals will love your Aussie charm.
Reality: Building a social circle from scratch is harder than it looks. In the first weeks abroad you might feel like the odd one out – your lifelong mates and family are thousands of kilometres away, and you might be friendly with co-workers or neighbours but probably aren’t going to feel immediately close.
The Australian accent, for better or for worse, is definitely somewhat of an ice-breaker, but turning small talk into real friendship is something that takes time. We all take for granted how easy it was to make friends when we were back in school; it isn’t always as easy when you’re an adult.
Many expats find themselves seeking out other Australians or at least English speakers for a bit of familiarity. There’s no shame in that – joining an expat meetup or social group can quickly connect you with people who understand what you’re going through.
Over time, you will break into the local scene too, especially as you learn the culture (and perhaps the language if you’re moving somewhere nearby in Asia, for example). Again, the key is just putting yourself out there and being patient.
Bureaucracy & Healthcare
Expectation: Paperwork will be straightforward, and my health needs will be covered just like in Australia.
Reality: Every country has its own heap of rules and admin, and you often don’t realise how smooth things are at home until you’re dealing with a foreign bureaucracy. Setting up bank accounts or driver’s licences can turn out to be a whole ordeal.
Some places are infamous for red tape – and often for good reason. Even in efficient countries, you’ll likely come across forms and processes you’ve never heard of. And when it comes to healthcare, don’t assume you’re automatically covered. Australia’s Medicare safety net doesn’t travel with you.
While countries like the UK have public health systems with the NHS, the reciprocal healthcare agreement we have only covers basic emergency treatment and leaves out a lot. In many destinations (especially those without universal healthcare, like the United States), private health insurance is a must to avoid huge bills.
So, make sure you do your homework on local requirements and get proper coverage. You wouldn’t want to be massively out of pocket from some random illness or from a bit of paperwork.
How Upscore Can Help
If you’re an Australian planning an international move, one way to ease the transition is to get your finances sorted early. Upscore’s Finance Passport can help by using your Australian financial history to let you compare and even apply for mortgages in multiple countries online. It simplifies remote property financing across borders, so you can explore your options with far less hassle.
