Why I’m Seriously Considering Moving to Brisbane (and Why You Might Be Too)
A Deep Dive into Migration, Growth, and Opportunity in 2025–2027
If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be considering leaving Sydney, I probably would have laughed. I’m an IT professional, and Sydney has always felt like the heart of Australian tech. But over the last 12–18 months, as property prices have shot through the roof and the city’s “buzz” has started feeling more like a “drain,” I found myself glancing north. It turns out, I’m not alone.
Lately, I’ve been crunching the numbers—habit of the trade!—on what’s really happening with migration into Brisbane. If you’re also wondering whether Queensland’s capital could be your next move, this article is for you. Let’s take a real look at the stats, the trends, and what it might all mean for people like us.
Brisbane’s Population Boom: What’s Actually Happening?
Here’s what you’ll find if you dig through the latest ABS releases and media coverage (yes, I did the legwork so you don’t have to):
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In 2023–24, Greater Brisbane’s population jumped by nearly 73,000 people. That’s about a 2.7% growth rate—which, trust me, is huge by Australian standards.
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That brings the city’s total to roughly 2.78 million people. Not small-town, but still far from Sydney’s relentless sprawl.
Where’s everyone coming from? The answer is interesting:
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Net overseas migration: +44,300
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Net internal (interstate) migration: +15,600
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Natural increase (births minus deaths): +13,100
It’s clear—most of Brisbane’s recent growth is powered by people arriving from overseas, but a decent chunk is folks like me, packing up from other states.
Who’s Heading to Brisbane? (And Why)
The International Story
You might not be surprised to hear that the most common countries of birth for Brisbane’s newcomers are:
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New Zealand
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England
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India
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China
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The Philippines
There’s a growing tech presence from India and China, and strong communities from New Zealand and England. You feel this on the ground—food, events, and even the local business culture reflect it.
The Great Sydney Escape
The part that hits home is interstate migration. According to the latest numbers, Sydney (and New South Wales in general) is bleeding people—about 41,000 net departures last year—with a big slice landing in Brisbane. I see this anecdotally all the time: friends, colleagues, people on tech forums. When house prices and traffic jams become daily stressors, Queensland’s appeal is obvious.
The Big Picture: Australia’s Migration is Slowing (But Brisbane is Still Winning)
On a national level, migration is easing up. Net overseas migration peaked at an eye-watering 536,000 in 2022–23, but it’s already dropped to about 340,800 as of the most recent stats. That’s government policy at work—visa caps, student quotas, you name it. The Albanese government is clear: by 2026–27, the goal is to pull that number down to about 235,000 a year.
Here’s the thing, though: Brisbane is still getting a bigger slice of the pie than almost anywhere else, thanks to affordability, jobs, and lifestyle.
So What’s the Future Hold? (2025–2027 Projections)
Let’s get real for a second. If you’re planning a big move—new job, new house, maybe uprooting your family—you need to know not just what’s happening now, but what’s likely over the next couple of years.
My Take on the Numbers
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Overseas migration to Brisbane: Expect it to ease—from 44,300 in 2024, down to around 30,000 by 2026–27.
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Interstate migration: Should stay steady, in the 15,000–17,000 range. Sydney’s property crunch isn’t going anywhere fast.
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Natural increase: About 13,000 per year—basically steady.
Here’s a quick table I whipped up (yes, I like tables):
| Year | Overseas | Interstate | Natural | Total Growth | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | 44,300 | 15,600 | 13,100 | 72,900 | 2.7% |
| 2024–25 | ~35,000 | ~16,000 | 13,000 | ~64,000 | ~2.3% |
| 2025–26 | ~30,000 | ~16,000 | 13,000 | ~59,000 | ~2.1% |
| 2026–27 | ~30,000 | ~16,000 | 13,000 | ~59,000 | ~2.1% |
Projections are based on federal migration targets, ABS trendlines, and some informed guesstimates.
What’s This Mean for Us? (A Sydney Techie’s Perspective)
The Housing Question
This is the elephant in the room for any Sydneysider. Yes, Brisbane is getting more expensive—but it’s still not Sydney. The median house price is about $850,000, compared to $1.4 million in Sydney. That difference matters, especially if you’re raising kids or hoping to actually enjoy your home, not just survive the mortgage.
Work and Opportunity
The IT job market in Brisbane is heating up. There are more remote roles, but also more local demand: fintech, healthtech, AI, and cloud services are expanding. It’s not just big firms; plenty of nimble startups, too. People relocating from Sydney and Melbourne are part of this—injecting new ideas, connections, and, let’s be honest, raising the bar for everyone.
The Quality of Life Factor
This part is tricky to measure, but it’s something I keep hearing from people who’ve actually made the move—and a few things I’ve noticed myself on visits:
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Commutes can be shorter, but not always. If you’re living and working near the city, you’ll probably save some time compared to Sydney traffic hell. But if you end up in the outer suburbs (where a lot of the affordable housing is), the commute can still be a grind. Public transport is decent in the inner areas, but there’s room for improvement if you’re further out.
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The weather is definitely warmer, but the humidity is real. Some people love the endless summer vibes, others find the sticky, stormy summers hard to handle. Winter, though, is pretty much perfect.
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There’s more sense of space—but it depends where you settle. Brisbane does have great parks, riverside walks, and more greenery than Sydney’s inner burbs. Actual beaches are a bit of a drive (the city itself is river-based), but the Gold and Sunshine Coasts are close enough for day trips or weekends away.
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Community can feel more welcoming, especially if you’re new. There’s a genuine “new arrivals” energy, probably because so many people are transplants from elsewhere. It doesn’t mean instant best friends, but it does mean most people are open to newcomers, and there’s a lot of mixing between locals and newcomers.
The Risks and Unknowns
Look, I’m not trying to sugar-coat things. Brisbane is booming, but that comes with growing pains:
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Housing supply isn’t keeping up. Rents are rising, and it’s not as easy as it was five years ago to just find a place in West End or New Farm.
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Infrastructure is playing catch-up. Roads are busy, public transport has some gaps, and local councils are scrambling to keep up with demand.
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The IT market is smaller than Sydney or Melbourne, which means you need to network, and some roles may be more competitive (though remote work softens this).
My Takeaways (And Maybe Yours)
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If you’re burned out by Sydney’s cost of living but still want city energy, Brisbane is worth a serious look.
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Migration is set to slow a bit, but not dramatically—especially not from Sydney. There’s still momentum here.
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For IT professionals, the opportunity is real. You get big-city career prospects with more affordable living and, arguably, better work-life balance.
If you’re on the fence, here’s what I’d recommend:
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Visit first—ideally for a couple of weeks. Try working remotely from Brisbane, check out local meetups, and talk to people who’ve made the move.
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Crunch your own numbers. Everyone’s situation is different; model out your mortgage, rent, or school options.
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Think long-term. Brisbane is investing in infrastructure (2023–2032 Olympic build-out, anyone?), and the tech scene is growing—not just hyped.
Final Thoughts: Why I’m (Probably) Moving
If there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that Brisbane’s not just “the next Sydney”—it’s carving out its own future. Migration will stay strong, the IT scene is on the rise, and the lifestyle change is real. I might still miss Sydney’s beaches and the hustle sometimes, but the balance of career, community, and actual living is tipping north. Maybe I’ll see you there.
Got more questions? Curious about specific suburbs, salary bands, tech events, or even the best coffee in Brisbane? Reach out—I’ve probably researched it already!
Sources used include:
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CoreLogic, Property Price Reports
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News.com.au, ABC News (on interstate migration trends)
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[Latest QLD Government projections & planning statements]
(Note: All numbers checked as of June 2025)
