Great weather, beautiful beaches, incredible wildlife and an active lifestyle: There are many reasons why moving to Australia is so appealing. But is having more disposable income one of them?
Upping sticks and moving to the other side of the world isn’t a decision to be taken lightly – especially when you consider the potential financial implications. So, to help you figure out whether moving to Australia will leave you better off, we’ve analysed average salaries, taxes and the cost of living and compared them to the UK.
Wage comparison
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, average weekly ordinary earnings for a full-time adult in Australia are $2,083.70 (£1,098.02). In the UK, Office for National Statistics data puts median weekly earnings for full-time employees at £766.60.
The minimum wage in Australia is currently $26.44 (£13.93) per hour. In the UK, the minimum wage is £12.71 (less if you are under 21 years old).
How does that translate into individual occupations? The table below compares median full-time earnings for a selection of jobs using the latest available official occupational earnings data from Jobs and Skills Australia and the Office for National Statistics.
| Occupation | Australia | UK | Australia + or – % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | A$113,932 (£60,037) | £39,647 | +51% |
| Graphic designer | A$96,200 (£50,693) | £32,510 | +56% |
| Software programmer | A$131,924 (£69,518) | £56,914 | +22% |
| Mechanic | A$84,344 (£44,446) | £37,458 | +19% |
| Midwife | A$109,928 (£57,927) | £46,990 | +23% |
| Plumber | A$103,480 (£54,529) | £37,881 | +44% |
| Accountant | A$104,156 (£54,886) | £50,062 | +10% |
| Retail manager | A$84,240 (£44,391) | £38,447 | +15% |
| Quantity surveyor* | A$115,284 (£60,750) | £52,537 | +16% |
| Primary school teacher | A$115,752 (£60,996) | £45,939 | +33% |
| Waiter/waitress | A$69,992 (£36,883) | £22,936 | +61% |
| Bricklayer | A$120,484 (£63,490) | £33,030 | +92% |
*The Australian figure for quantity surveyors uses the wider Jobs and Skills Australia category of civil engineering professionals, which includes quantity surveyors.
These figures aren’t a guarantee of what you’d earn after moving. Pay varies significantly according to qualifications, experience, employer and location, and the Australian and UK occupation classifications aren’t identical. However, across this selection of jobs, median earnings are higher in Australia – in some cases substantially so.
Tax comparison
A higher salary is useful only if you get to keep enough of it, and comparing the two tax systems isn’t quite as simple as looking at headline tax rates.
In Australia, residents can generally earn A$18,200 before paying income tax. Most also pay a Medicare levy, normally equivalent to 2% of taxable income.
In the UK, the standard Personal Allowance for the 2026/27 tax year is £12,570. Employees also pay National Insurance, generally at 8% on earnings between the main thresholds and 2% above the upper earnings limit.
At a national level, Australia currently collects a smaller proportion of its economy in tax than the UK. The OECD’s latest comparable figures put Australia’s tax-to-GDP ratio at 29.9% and the UK’s at 34.4%. However, that doesn’t mean every individual will pay less tax in Australia.
Your personal position will depend on your salary, residency status, deductions and other income. So rather than assuming you’ll automatically take home a particular amount more, it’s worth comparing the likely salary for your own occupation with the tax that would apply to you.
Cost of Living, Australia vs. UK
You may earn more doing the same job, but when you consider how much things cost, will you really be better off living in Australia?
According to the Your Overseas Home 2026 Cost of Living Index, everyday living costs in Australia are now very close to those in the UK. Our basket of more than 50 everyday goods and services came to £1,238 a month in Australia, compared with £1,218 in the UK – making Australia just 2% more expensive overall. Groceries and travel were both 16% more expensive in Australia, while leisure and eating out were 13% cheaper.
Exchange rates can also affect how far your money goes. If you’re transferring savings, a pension or money for a property purchase between pounds and Australian dollars, movements in the GBP/AUD rate can change the amount you ultimately have to spend in Australia.
So, while salaries are generally higher in Australia, that doesn’t automatically mean you’ll feel richer. Your profession, tax position, everyday spending and where you choose to live will all play a part in how much disposable income you have.
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