Since relocating, Tim has experienced an astounding 75 percent decrease in his living expenses. He notes with relief, “Now, when money comes in, I can actually keep it for myself,” appreciating the newfound financial freedom.

Tim shares a striking comparison of his rent expenses. In Sydney, he shelled out a hefty $600 weekly, whereas now, in western Queensland, he pays a mere $220 a month. This dramatic reduction has allowed him to rethink his financial priorities.

Despite the significant savings, Tim candidly admits, “I’m trying to stay positive about the change, but it’s a bit of a struggle,” he chuckles. Nevertheless, he acknowledges that the decision to move is proving financially rewarding in the long run.

‘Regional cities holding onto more people’

“We’ve always had people shifting around the country for short-term contracts, spending a couple of years in a regional town. So that’s definitely continuous, people churn from the big cities and then back,” Rawnsley says.

“Housing affordability is going to be more of a barrier going back into the big cities,” Rawnsley says.

“While they’ve had this big influx of people, they’ve also brought the big city housing problems with them, and everyone’s trying to work out how do we get more supply coming out of the ground.”

Looking forward without financial anxiety

Now, the pair are saving the rent they’d have spent in Sydney, saved on stamp duty with first home buyer assistance, and have cut down on their living expenses. When the year is up, they’ll make an assessment based on finances about what they’ll do next.

Will and Sarah made the move from Sydney to the coastal NSW town of Forster earlier this year. They say when their “financial gap year” is up, they will reassess their options. Source: Supplied

“We were paying $820 a week [in rent] in Sydney — all of that has gone into savings,” she said.

[This article was originally published in August 2025]