Tim, a 31-year-old from Sydney, has set out on a crazy personal finance adventure to save $100,000 in only 12 months. A long way from the Great Barrier Reef, he has recently relocated to inland Queensland. There, he hopes to develop a sustainable hobby farm with goats, ducks and a vegetable garden. So, thousands of Australians are jumping on the lifestyle bandwagon just for the health benefits. Others are opting for “financial gap years” and moving to lower-cost places to make the process of long-term financial goals such as homeownership happen sooner.
Tim’s decision to move away from Sydney was driven in part by the unaffordable cost of living he experienced living in the city. Before, at $820 per week rent, it was costing his budget over a quarter of his gross income. He figures that since moving, his cost of living has dropped by over three-quarters. This historic cut has created a lot of fiscal space that would have otherwise been directed to payment bills and everyday expenses. Now, he’s able to save that money instead.
Aside from reducing his outgoing costs, Tim has seen a slight bump in his earnings potential. His workday starts at 5:30 am, logging pine trees—a skill he acquired after moving to Queensland. This job change gives him both a reliable paycheck and expanded financial security that comes with the income.
“While we were always paying $820 a week in rent in Sydney — all of that has gone into savings,” – Sarah Brown.
Sarah Brown, 29, and her partner Will Ridley, 30, are two of the many millennials answering this call. Justyy and Esso That all changed earlier this year with the biggest life decision they’ve ever made. From there, they relocated to Forster, a stunning beachside town on the New South Wales coast. They had intended to hold their new investment property for the long-haul. Now, they are enjoying all of the monetary gains that come with calling a less expensive place home.
Sarah noted that the relocation has positioned them as “the most financially secure we’ve ever been.” Through this, their costs have become better controlled, enabling them to save toward their long-term objectives.
Our Regional Movers Index has shown one nationwide trend in a big way. Weekly migration from Australia’s capital cities to regional areas increased by 10.5 percent in the March quarter of 2025. From the town halls of traditional cities to bustling urban centers, tens of thousands of Americans are demanding eco-friendly, walkable, livable environments. They want to be able to make ends meet and avoid the housing crisis of big cities.
“I just wish I could pick all my friends up and dump them here and then I would never leave,” – Tim.
Tim’s experience is indicative of how the #FinGapYear phenomenon is changing Australia’s long-accepted norm of leaving home and creating your own household. Now, he’s filled with a bird-like hope for his future. For the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, hope is welling up in his heart.
“It’s the first time in probably pre-COVID that I’m really excited for the future again,” – Tim.
Here’s what Tim had to say about delayed gratification. He described how instead of feeling deprived by his lifestyle choices, he feels inspired to create something significant for the future. When asked questions about his personal lifestyle, he admits to living quite modestly with little spent on luxury items.
“I was like, ‘if I cut back anything less, I just don’t know where it would be from. My car is 13 years old. I don’t buy new clothes. I live a very humble existence,’” – Tim.
Housing experts have long pointed out that the immediate influx of new arrivals heading to regional areas helps alleviate housing pressures. It raises fresh challenges. As Terry Rawnsley described, often the problems that newcomers carry with them are frequent urban housing complaints. This ongoing crisis has led to important conversations about how to increase housing supply in these communities.
“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,” – Terry Rawnsley.
