More Aussies are moving out of the major cities and into the regions, with many searching for a cheaper lifestyle as the cost of living bites. One Victorian teacher said living in a small town was “definitely” cheaper but the difference wasn’t as dramatic as you might think.
Zoe Carney relocated from Melbourne to a small town on the way to Mildura this year to work as a rural teacher. The 29-year-old told Yahoo Finance the high cost of living was a major factor spurring her move.
“The cost of living in Melbourne is really high and I wanted to be able to live independently,” Carney said.
“Teacher’s salaries aren’t bad but if you want to be independent, live on your own and not be super financially stressed, you almost have to go into a leadership role.”
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Carney said she was able to receive a $50,000 financial bonus from the government to relocate to the regional town to teach. This was paid on top of her $83,000 yearly salary, which Carney said was initially a big drawcard for the move, along with the more relaxed lifestyle on offer.
In terms of the general cost of living, Carney estimated she was saving an extra $150 per week compared to Melbourne. She said this was “awesome” but probably not as “huge” savings as some people might expect.
“People think you’ll move to a small country town and you’ll save so much money. Of course, I earn more but if you take that away and if I was just earning the same as what I was earning in Melbourne, I’d still be saving a bit but it’s not as much as you’d think it would be,” she said.
Carney said she’s found there is only a “small difference” in the general cost of living. She’s found things like a gym membership and getting her car serviced were cheaper than in Melbourne.
Rent is also cheaper but not “significantly less” for someone like her who is renting as a single person, though she said she was able to get much more bang for her buck.
“In Melbourne, I was spending about $400 a week in rent but I was also living in my own one-bedroom,” she said.
“Now, I have a two-bedroom unit with a courtyard so I have way more space now and this is only $320 a week.
“The average cost of rent here for a three- or four-bedroom house is about $400 a week. So that’s where you have the really big savings.”
Those looking to get onto the property ladder could also reap the benefits, with average house prices in the area under $300,000 compared to Melbourne where things are north of $1 million.
Carney said she’s found she’s spending more on groceries because there is only one main IGA in town, but on the other side she’s also spending less on eating out because there are fewer options available.
Fuel costs are about the same although she doesn’t have to fill up as much since she lives a three-minute drive from school. That’s compared to Melbourne, where she was a 45-minute drive away.
Carney noted this was just her personal experience living rurally and prices would differ depending on whereabouts you were located.
Lifestyle benefits a huge drawcard
Finances aside, Carney said she loved all the lifestyle and work benefits living in a small town offered.
“The financial benefits have been great but it’s also been the lifestyle change that I didn’t really even expect that’s been the most amazing part,” she told Yahoo Finance.
“Feeling less stressed, not sitting in traffic, the community is amazing.”
Carney said she values the connections she has formed with her students and the whole community and feels “valued” in her job as a psychology and health teacher.
She shared that she has joined a social netball team where she has been able to make friends and has started running dance classes for kids through the local community centre.
More Aussies moving to the regions
The number of Aussies moving from the cities to the regions is continuing to grow, with regional NSW and regional Victoria attracting the most movers.
The latest Regional Movers Index found 27 per cent more people moved from cities to regional Australia than in the other direction, with a new flow of 11.2 per cent of movers over the course of a year.
Sydney and Melbourne residents led the exodus to the regions. The Sunshine Coast the most popular destination for all movers, followed by greater Geelong and Moorabool Victoria, Lake Macquarie and the Gold Coast.
Carney said she feels “so much more relaxed” now that she is living in a country town and enjoys the slower pace of life, feeling part of the community and having more time to herself.
She encouraged other Aussies considering a move to put themselves out there.
“Get involved in the community to really enjoy the experience,” she said.
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