Sunshine Coast or Sydney

[Whereinoz]

Any Aussies or expats out there…. hoping to move over to Australia next year.
I can work anywhere (permanent visa holder and my job is all over the country) partner works in finance. Toddler DC.

Trying to decide, as above, whether to move to the Sunshine Coast or Sydney.

Sydney obviously would be easier for DP to find work, however had a conversation with someone in an adjacent field today who feels that Brisbane would offer almost the same amount of opportunities, and would also probably offer more WFH days. We do appreciate it would be a long commute on the days he did have to go in.

I can’t really figure out whether there would be an appreciable difference in cost of living between the two. I know Sydney’s busy but from what I hear the SC’s not far behind these days. I realise they would be different lifestyles, up to a point, but I’d love some perspectives from people who’ve experienced both lifestyles.

My salary would be the same wherever we live, more or less. So any help regarding the differences (in all aspects of life, housing, bills, education and hobbies/free time) would be appreciated. TIA!!

I would get yourselves over to www.pomsinoz.com where you'll find a wealth of informations and views.

Take my opinion with a pinch of salt.. but as an Aussie who has visited both places numerous times, I would take Sunshine Coast over Sydney any day! Even more so with a young family.

Hi OP, the Sunshine Coast is around an hour’s drive north of Brisbane so they aren’t the same place. Sydney vs Brisbane vs Sunshine Coast will offer very different experiences with different wages and living costs. I think you need to do some more research and plan out what type of lifestyle you would like.

Start by researching housing costs as that might end up being the decider. I absolutely love living in Sydney but the price of houses is crazy and there is a real rental shortage at the moment. It is hard to see how that will improve in the short term as Australia looks to recruit more overseas workers post COVID. Working in finance it is likely that your DH would find it easier to find work in Sydney but there will be opportunities in Brisbane depending on exactly what he does. I have only been to the Sunshine Coast on holiday and I wouldn’t live there tbh, there is more to life than a beautiful beach, but I would seriously consider Brisbane. Most people I have met who live there love it.

We are UK expats and have lived in Sydney for 12 years. I suggest you have a think about what kind of lifestyle you really want (and where you can afford it!). Sydney is great for easy beach access and plenty to see and do but it is very expensive, especially if you want to live near the water. We have friends who moved to Brisbane to take advantage of the lower cost of living. They travel to the coast at the weekend for day trips to the beach and enjoy all the other outdoor opportunities in the Brisbane area. The Sunny Coast can be lovely but it is definitely a tourist/holiday destination which could make it a bit seasonal and potentially harder for you DH to find work.

I love Sydney but I'd choose the Sunshine Coast any day, even with a commute into Brisbane.

But I'm curious why not Brisbane? Prices have gone mad in recent years but not Sydney mad.

I live in Brisbane, my DD lives on the Sunshine Coast. Sister lives in Sydney so I know it really well. So I am familiar with all those places. Personally in your position I'd choose the Sunshine Coast every time. The lifestyle between there and Sydney is nowhere alike - chalk and cheese. Sydney is nice to visit - good beaches, lovely harbour etc. But living there is very different. Too crowded, too busy, super expensive , nothing nice about it imho.

The Sunshine Coast is beautiful , no matter where you are living. Carefree lifestyle, gorgeous beaches, much more affordable real estate, just a lovely place to live. Easy 1 hour drive to Brisbane if work is there. I'd vote for it every time. There is no similarity with Sydney .

Pomsinoz used to be amazing, I agree, but I find there’s not much traffic these days. I don’t know if there’s a new board I don’t know about it just not many pins moving over there now!!

I’m very interested in your opinion!! Why is that though? This is what I want - people on the inside!!

Hi, thanks for responding. Yes I know they are different places, DP would need to commute to Brisbane from SC.

@bananabread2000 thankyou. Housing costs would definitely be a factor in our decision, but I suppose I’m asking are the other costs appreciably different? Food fuel etc? Daycare and school fees? I know you have to pay some fees for state school over there. I was talking to a friend the other day who lives in Bli Bli and she kept referencing the COL being so much higher in Sydney, but couldn’t really detail it when I asked her. I didn’t know whether it was just ones of those things you say iyswim.

It seems we’d need two cars on Sunshine Coast and would definitely only have one in Sydney. Probably wouldn’t have one at all to start with. So that’s a huge ‘set up’ cost to take into account.

Depends on lifestyle your after and budget. If you have a high income and can afford the beautiful spots in Sydney then it’s worth it. Sunny coast is gorgeous and offers different lifestyle. The commute would be annoying though if you had to do it daily. Hubby used to do Goldcoast to Brisbane and hated it.

You are not the first person to say that. For some reason it’s just never appealed, but definitely more research needed I think!

@ShippingNews @unkownone thankyou and noted

It is a long time since I lived in Brisbane but I would have found commuting from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane difficult on a daily basis. But I have a friend who does it by train a few days a week so it’s possible. The Sunshine Coast is awesome for surfing or for a weekend by the beach, but not as cosmopolitan and you may be surprised by how much time is spent in cars and how suburban life can be. You may find some of the culture different to what you are used to as well. I always liked Brisbane but your lifestyle will vary hugely depending on how much money you have. Life in Brisbane can vary from inner city wealthy suburbs to rougher suburbs on the outskirts. Life in Sydney is a completely different equation. It is incredibly expensive in comparison (and Brisbane is not cheap).

This is a little like comparing a Devon to Leeds to London… I would recommend going to visit all of these places, visiting estate agents and getting a real sense of what they’re like before moving.

I've lived in Brisbane and Sydney and I'd choose The sunshine coast every time. It's beautiful, although much much quieter than Sydney.
I would not commute everyday. It would be a nightmare. If I did I would catch the train. Over the next couple of years the road will get more and more busy as Brisbane expands outward and the Sunshine Coast gets bigger.
If you are used to London's restaurants and bars and nightlife and theatres it will be a culture shock for you.
I love it though and hope to retire there one day.

I'm a little biased as a Queenslander originally, but I think Brisbane is a decent halfway between the two - more laid back and cheaper than Sydney but better connected/better opportunities than the Sunshine Coast (much as I adore it - Coolum or Peregian for choice but those are NOT good commuting options!)

Also as Brisbane is hosting the 3032 Olympics job opportunities may increase depending on what your husband does. Cost of housing is way cheaper on the sunshine coast, more bang for your buck. I think groceries and electricity etc would be similar to Sydney.

Lol 2032 Olympics.

Thanks everyone. It will all come down to house prices I think. I just don’t know who is affording these mental prices in Sydney!!

Cost of living is definitely less than in Sydney. I pay much more in childcare costs (around $140 per day) than my QLD based friends and that is not particularly expensive compared to the other daycare centres locally. Also as an aside if you are planning on putting DC into daycare, research availablility and get on wait lists as early as you can - there is a chronic educator shortage after covid (our local community daycare has a waitlist of over 100 kids just for the baby room!)

I’m a Sydney sider with a dream of living in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. We can’t make it work as we’d both have to commute to Brisbane and it’s a decent trek. For logistics reasons one of you needs to work locally.

I would live there if I could.

I've lived in both, with a young baby.

Sunshine Coast is not Brisbane. It's 1.5 hrs drive and a few people who tried to commute to Brissy said it was too hard.
Sydney is extortionate, very expensive. Unless you're very very well off I wouldn't go there.

Daycare is Sydney so around $200 a day. Sunshine Coast is around $135 a day.

Sunshine Coast all the way. It's an amazing place to bring up a family. But be aware that a lot of Sydney and Melbourne people are now moving to Sunshine Coast so the competition is ramping up. It's still nowhere near as expensive as Syd.

House prices comparison: you can either buy a house with a pool on the Sunshine Coast or a 2 bed apartment in Bondi for the same price.

Anything else feel free to ask.

Sunshine Coast for me,too. If you really,really like city living with all its car problems and expenses you would go Sydney. I’m probably not the right person to ask, being a Melbournite hehe.

For me, Sydney all the way! I’m from the U.K. originally and I love that there are always interesting things going on in Sydney, there’s a buzz around the harbour, it’s got loads of sport events, theatre, great schools. The weather isn’t so insanely hot and humid. I like the Sunshine Coast but honestly, we went there for a 10 day holiday and had run out of things to do after a week. It’s nice, the beaches are pretty but the towns are very new and there just isn’t as much to do as there is in Sydney.
Id probably look at Adelaide with a young family. It’s not the most exciting city compared to Sydney, but they have loads of events going on and the weather is very pleasant and houses are more affordable, although of course wages are lower. It’s a nice city though, you can live outside the city and it hardly takes any time to drive in, it’s more like a large town.