Will you be better off leaving Sydney?

For several years, Sydneysiders have been trickling out of Sydney to regional areas.?While the harbour and beaches are beautiful, many have opted to leave Sydney due to the high cost of living, long commutes and poor work life balance.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 has shaken up workplaces and more Australians are working from home than ever before.?For many, COVID-19 has proved that they can successfully manage their careers remotely.?Without the requirement of heading into an office each day, the number of Sydneysiders leaving Sydney and seeking a better lifestyle elsewhere is gaining even more momentum.

Housing close to the city is unaffordable for many families and the high cost of living makes is hard to get ahead.?So will you be better off moving out of Sydney too??Here we speak to a few people who have done it and discuss some of the opportunities, risks and considerations for leaving Sydney.

Cheaper housing

Unless you’re willing to have a million-dollar plus mortgage, the Sydney property market might be out of reach. Rents are the highest in the nation and many families feel they are priced out of the market.

Concurrently, the first generation to take advantage of the flexibility of working from home are Millenials — the same generation that’s been effectively locked out of the housing market. Now of an age where they’re having children, they’re looking for more bedrooms.??They can either buy in the suburbs, or pay less and take advantage of working from home by moving out of the city.

Many of the people we interviewed who had left chose areas close to Sydney such as Newcastle and love it. Sheree Myers said... Read more