Australia Relocation Trends 2026
Australia's points-based skilled migration offers a clear, if demanding, route to permanent residence and a high quality of life. Strong demand for tech, healthcare, and engineering talent, world-class healthcare and schooling, and an active Jewish community make it a serious long-term destination — distance from Israel notwithstanding.
The Israeli angle
Around 120,000 Jewish residents live in Australia, with active communities in Melbourne and Sydney. The trade-off is distance: flights to Israel are long and there are no direct routes.
Metric breakdown
| Visa difficulty | 2/5 | Points-based skilled migration; employer sponsor or 189/190 state nomination required. |
| Cost of living | 2/5 Rising | Sydney and Melbourne are among the most expensive cities globally. |
| Housing | 2/5 | Median Sydney house price exceeds AUD 1.3M; rental vacancy near historic lows. |
| Healthcare | 5/5 | Medicare universal public system; world-class hospitals. |
| Education | 5/5 | Excellent public schooling; top-ranked universities. |
| Taxes | 3/5 | Progressive federal tax up to 45%; no wealth tax. |
| Safety | 5/5 | Consistently top-10 globally on peace index. |
| Language barrier | 5/5 | English is the official language; no barrier for Hebrew-English speakers. |
| Israeli & Jewish community | 3/5 | ~120k Jewish residents; active communities in Melbourne and Sydney. |
| Job market | 4/5 | Strong demand for tech, healthcare, and engineering professionals. |
| Path to PR | 3/5 | Skilled visa holders can apply for PR after 2–4 years depending on pathway. |
| Path to citizenship | 3/5 | Citizenship available after 4 years of permanent residency. |
Key pathways
City spotlight
Strengths
- ✓ Healthcare
- ✓ Education
- ✓ Safety
Watch-outs
- • Visa difficulty
- • Cost of living
- • Housing
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it for Israelis to move to Australia?
Skilled migration is points-based and competitive: you typically need a positive skills assessment, strong English, and enough points from age, education, and experience. The Skilled Independent (189) and state-nominated (190) visas are the main routes.
What is the cost of living in Sydney for a family?
A family of four in Sydney typically spends about $5,500–$8,000 per month including rent, with Sydney among the most expensive cities globally.
Is healthcare good in Australia?
Yes — Medicare provides universal public healthcare and hospitals are world-class, a major draw for relocating families.