Why Are People Moving Away From Sydney
If you’re wondering why so many people are leaving the Sydney area, the answer may not be straightforward. However, let’s take a look. Maybe it’s just house prices are too high, living costs are too high and it all can cause high levels of pressure and stress. These can all be reasons that Australians are leaving Sydney and opting for quieter towns. Read on to learn more and if you should consider making the move yourself.
House affordability too high
The problem of housing affordability is widespread across Australia’s big cities, with many struggling to save enough money to purchase a home. One such example is Sydney-based Susan. Despite a salary well above the national average, Susan has been seriously considering moving to Adelaide. She’s now convinced that she and her partner should move to Adelaide. Ultimately, she hopes to sell the house and move to Adelaide.
Housing affordability is a complicated issue in Australia, with many factors playing a role. These include land releases, tax policy, overseas investor rules, and immigration policies. While some people point the finger at wealthy developers and landlords, others blame basic economics. The reality is that the problem is far more complex than this. For starters, house prices in some areas of Sydney are now up to 200% more expensive than in many other cities.
Expensive cost of living
Despite the fact that Australians’ median household income has increased in recent years, the cost of living in Sydney is still unaffordable for many people. The high CPI, or consumer price index, means that prices for basic necessities continue to rise at a faster rate than the average Australian’s income. The price of non-discretionary items rose by 1.8% in the June 2022 quarter, while wages only rose by 2.4%. As a result, households lost some of their purchasing power.
Rent is another factor driving people away from the city. Even if you have a decent salary, the cost of renting a house in Sydney can cost you nearly 30% to 35% of your after-tax income. Fuel costs can be as high as $2 per litre. If you’re a professional, you’ll need to earn a substantial salary to live comfortably in Sydney.
Work from home opportunities
With the COVID19 pandemic causing chaos around the globe. Australia, currently has the highest number of infections per million people. The COVID-19 reform has shaken up the workforce, and more people than ever before are choosing to work from home. There is a continued shift from working in large spaces and offices to allowing employees to request to work from home. Many employees are willing to sacrifice a wage cut just to be able to do so. There are a number of remote jobs available, including virtual assistant jobs and content writing. If you’re considering this option, there are several advantages to consider.
Having a job at home can be a lucrative alternative to traditional office work. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), more people are now working from home and expect the trend to continue. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, only eight per cent of employees had formal work-from-home arrangements. But that number rose to 25 percent after the pandemic. People with sales jobs, managers, and clerical and administrative roles were most likely to work from home during the pandemic.
Stress
The prevailing population trends are changing the way that people live in the city. As a result, there is less concentration of people in the inner-city suburbs and more spread-out populations. But work is not the only factor determining a person’s lifestyle. While some people prefer a country lifestyle, others want the city’s conveniences and amenities. No matter the reasons, living in the city is an excellent choice for many and choose to move out of Sydney for a less populated city like Adelaide or Hobart.
Sydney’s housing affordability continues to remain an issue. One of the main problems people have in the city is that the price of a one-bedroom apartment in Sydney is higher than in a similar property in a country town. People who want to live in a country town like Tamworth, for example, pay $300 less a week in rent. Their property is closer to the beach, and they’re less stressed there.
Air quality
A blanket of smoke covers Sydney daily and that was noticeable when COVID19 stay at home orders were in play. The sky’s cleared up and the air quality changed dramatically cleaner and clearer. Air quality levels can reach dangerous levels across the city. During a day when air quality is low it can affect more than 60 people, requiring them to seek medical treatment for acute respiratory problems. Some media reports overstated Sydney’s air pollution levels – it’s summer in the northern hemisphere, so it’s impossible to make meaningful comparisons. However, Sydney’s air quality index reached levels that were potentially dangerous to the health of vulnerable people – those who live with chronic respiratory conditions and asthma.
The prevailing wind direction and cloudiness play an important role in the amount of pollutants in the city’s air. In a typical Sydney day, a shallow layer of cold air drains into the city’s basin, moving eastward. This layer accumulates primary pollutants, including carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide. When a sea breeze returns, it carries these pollutants back inland. These conditions occur south of the city’s business district. Other patterns occur west of the Hawkesbury Valley, which runs parallel to the coastline.
Acknowledging the above reasons, we can agree that Sydney once the business capital of the Australia is experiencing a fundamental shift. Where people once needed to reside in Sydney to take advantage of professional jobs for corporate firms. Technology has now made it possible to interact globally from different states and locations no longer requiring commute to the office. While some corporations have embraced the technology a majority still needs to follow suit before this can be widely accepted nationally and globally.
