16 Pros and Cons of Living in Australia (2024)

Australia is undoubtedly among the best places to live in the world.

Australia is a dream place to live from its growing economy, which comes with many opportunities, to its beauty and aesthetic.

Most people in Australia will agree that the advantages of living there outweigh the disadvantages.

But as much as this is the case, you need to make a sound individual decision.

Therefore, read on to learn about the pros and cons of living in Australia.

Pros Of Living in Australia

Australia has been regarded in many instances as one of the best places to live in the world.

According to the World Population Review 2022, it was ranked the 8th best country in the world for quality of life.

So let us explore deeper what will attract you to this country.

1. Outstanding Healthcare System

Australia’s healthcare system is one of the many pros for choosing Australia as your place of residence, as there is universal healthcare.

In addition, it has highly trained and regulated healthcare providers, ranking it among the best in the world when it comes to healthcare services.

The health care system is funded through theMedicare program.

The Medicare program covers all Australian citizens and permanent residents.

Additionally, it provides them with affordable services and extra coverage for special groups like veterans.

2. High Living Standards

The Australian economy is highly developed, thus making it an excellent place to live and work.

It offers top-notch job prospects.

Employees are paid very high salaries, ensuring they live a quality and comfortable life.

The high living standard may be attributed to the low crime rate, high average wages, and excellent government systems.

3. Climate and Nature

The diverse climate in Australia will leave you in awe.

It has rainforests, deserts, mountains, and beaches, among other sceneries.

This diversity means you can find a region that will suit your climatic preferences and tastes.

For those who love sunshine, Australia has more than 3000 hours of sunshine a year which is terrific.

It also prides itself on having natural resources that include coal, gold, and iron, among other valuable resources.

Australia has a large land mass of 7.692 million square kilometers, which provides a home to numerous wildlife species like kangaroos, dingos, and platypus.

Interestingly, more than 80 percent of mammals, reptiles, and frogs are only found in Australia.

4. Immigration Opportunities and a Multicultural Environment

Australia is among the top countries in the world with thehighest immigrationrate.

As a result, it has been a welcoming home for immigrants from all over the world.

Reasons for migrating may vary from seeking quality education to occupying workforce opportunities.

Whichever your reason is, Australia may be the best choice for you.

Let’s explore the reasons below.

• Australia has a multicultural environment that readily accepts, accommodates, and is friendly to immigrants.
• It has high-quality food and restaurants for those looking for a lifestyle.
• Accommodation is quite affordable in most cities, like Perth.
• There is freedom of choice and respect for everyone.
• It also boasts of a strong employment market.
• One can get permanent residency after living for at least four years and passing the citizenship test.

5. Education System

The education system in Australia is high quality.

It is also regarded as one of the best for domestic and international students.

Its key features include qualified trainers, a comprehensive curriculum, and a high-quality education delivery.

In addition, citizens and permanent residents can access free education from a government school.

Australia has seven of the top universities in the world, making it an ideal place for one to acquire an education.

The government also sets aside approximately $200 million from its budget, which is used for scholarships for local and international students.

6. A Low Crime Rate

Australia has low crime rates, making it an ideal place to live.

However, as reported by the Global Peace Index, an annual ranking to determine which countries are the safest, Australia was ranked 13th out of 163 countries for the year 2020.

Its cities like Sydney and Melbourne have been ranked as 4th and 8th safest cities in the world in theSafe Cities Index 2021by the Economic Intelligence Unit.

7. Different Work Visas

Australia offers different types of visas for which an individual can be eligible.

Family visas are possible when you are married, plan to marry, or are in a committed relationship with an Australian citizen.

Your spouse needs to guarantee that he will be your sponsor and will support you for two years.

Others include skilled immigrant visas, business visas, student visas, and temporary visas that a person may qualify for.

8. Adequate Housing

There are many housing choices in Australia.

An essential range of factors such as location and cost are key decision influencers.

Major cities such as Sydney and Perth, amongst others, have townhouses and apartments close to urban activities.

With good research, it is easy to find rental accommodations that are reasonably priced.

Cons of Living in Australia

Despite its booming economy, Australia is not perfect and has its flaws.

Most of the things that make Australia not an ideal place are subjective.

Their magnitude varies from person to person.

Some things that might vary in relevance to different people include.

1. High Cost of Living

Australia may pride itself on having a high standard of living, but this comes at a price.

The living standards for an average income earner are very high, ranking it as one of the most expensive countries to live in.

This expense can be associated with the skyrocketing cost of housing and transportation.

An average cost of living falls between 800 to 1,000 AUD, excluding rent charges.

Food costs have risen sharply, and visitors may be shocked at the exorbitant prices charged.

Most automobiles are imported into the country due to the high cost of local manufacturing, leading to a high cost of purchasing and maintaining.

2. A sense of Isolation

Australia occupies a large mass of 7.693 Square Kilometers, making it very self-contained.

Major cities are spread far apart, and one has to drive hours to get across the cities.

Some towns are so widespread that one may drive for more than half a day just to get to another city.

Additionally, the Australian continent is far from other continents, leading to time differences.

This difference makes it difficult to connect with family and loved ones in other corners of the world.

3. Expensive Healthcare Insurance

Private insurance in Australia has exorbitant prices, depending on the type of policy chosen.

As a result, one forks out thousands of dollars as premiums every year.

Government subsidies are just a drop in the ocean compared to the high cost of medical expenses.

For instance, the Medicare system for all residents does not cater to ambulance services.

4. Extreme Weather Conditions and Natural Disasters

Australia is the land of extremes.

Some parts of the country are scorching, and living in those areas becomes challenging, especially if you have not acclimatized to these weather conditions.

Extreme humidity and temperatures that go beyond 40 degrees Celsius are experienced in some regions.

During winter, areas like Tasmania on the Southside of the country get so cold.

Australia also faces natural disasters like floods, cyclones, drought, and bushfires, making it a scary place to live in.

Hundreds of properties and people’s lives are significantly destroyed when these events occur.

5. Australian Law Allows Creditors to Force You Into Bankruptcy

For example, if you owe more than $10,000 worth of debt and cannot pay your creditors, you will be forced into bankruptcy.

This leads to a loss of assets that will be used to offset the loan partially.

The bankruptcy tenure lasts for three years, and during this period, there are some jobs you cannot work in, and your income return is capped.

6. Racism

Let us address this deep-rooted evil called racism.

It is an existing and growing problem in Australia.

Many people working in different aspects who are either black or not of European origin have reported incidents of racism.

A major surveyconducted by ABCfound that 76% of Australians from a non – European background have faced racial discrimination based on their ethnicity.

7. Culture Shock and Language Barrier

International visitors may be exposed to different types of transition shock as they adapt to a new environment.

Individuals not possessing good mastery of English will experience a hard time communicating, as this is the primary language used.

In addition, Australians use colorful slang and colloquium, which even a person who knows English may not fully understand this phrases.

8. High Cost of Education for International Students

The high cost of education for international students is due to the high fees international students are required to pay and the high cost of living.

A study done by HSBC revealed that international students spent more than $42,300 on average a year to study in Australian universities.

The reason may be attributed to the government underfunding the higher education sector, which leads to universities over-charging international students to get extra revenue.

The financial demand leads to students opting to work 20 hours a week as stipulated by law to get enough money for tuition and accommodation.

However, in many instances, it is not always sufficient.

Pros and Cons of Living in Australia – Summary Table