Moving from Canada to Australia
Thick, salty, black, slightly bitter and meaty flavoured paste...Sounds questionable, right? Forget the maple syrup and welcome vegemite - Aussies’ ultimate breakfast choice! It is hard to not feel excited when moving to Australia from Canada. Sunny Australian beaches sound way more appealing when 6 months of winter is actually the hottest days.
When moving from Canada to Australia you will not only enjoy living on the coast of the coral sea but an impressive amount of job opportunities, higher salaries, and lower crime and tax rates. But before buying that one-way ticket, you must understand what truly calls you to move overseas. Whether it is an alluring Australian accent or simply higher living standards, Hercules Moving Company will become your trustworthy companion to safely pack and ship your home for a move.
Canada vs. Australia
If in Canada your closest neighbours are foxes, raccoons and geese, in Australia it is kangaroos, lizards and centipedes. Despite the stereotype, they are not as dangerous as believed to be. Statistics show that in 2021 there were 1,123 deaths due to car accidents compared to 514 animal-related from 2001 to 2017, which is about 32 per year.
At Hercules Moving Company we set side by side 6 major life aspects that hopefully will assist you in your decision-making. Consider selecting the preferred county in each topic to determine which gets more points in the end. Let’s dive right in!
Ethnicity, Religion and Language
The second biggest county in the world at almost 10 million km², Canada sits at the top of the North American continent. This huge territory is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories. The majority of the population lives in close proximity to the US border - the only land border of Canada. The capital city of Canada is Ottawa.
The Canadian temperate climate, in which most of the country lies, is characterized by harsh, cold winters with lots of precipitation in the form of snow and cooler summers. The average temperature in January ranges from -15°C to -35°C in the northern regions, in summer the average temperature ranges from +20°C to +30°C in some regions.
Thanks to the immigration system and historical events Canada is filled with different ethnic groups and cultures. According to Worldomenet, the Canadian population, as of May 2022 is about 38.4 million with only 32% identifying as Canadians and 4.9% as Indigenous people. The rest of the population claims ancestry from England (18%), Scotland (14%), France ( 13.6%), Ireland ( 13.4%), German ( 9.6%), China (5.1%) and others.
Christianity is the biggest religion practised in Canada, more than 63.2% of the population practices it. Other minor groups are Muslims (3.7%), Hindus (1.7%), Shirks (1.4%), Buddhists (1.1%) and others.
There are 2 official languages in Canada: English and French. However, there are more than 100 other languages spoken daily.
The average Canadian’s lifestyle can not be called lavish or extra. Everyone does their jobs, raises a family in the suburbs, goes to Niagara Falls during the summer or visits the mountains in Vancouver during the winter. People choose to immigrate to Canada to have a new start and achieve goals that would not be possible back home. The community thrives on opportunities and changes. It is a great palace to get started.
Have you ever heard that Canadians are polite? Well, they weren't lying. When you bump into a Canadian, he or she is likely to apologize, although you were the one who crossed their way. Canadians extol collective culture, team playing is a big thing once you emerge into the corporate scheme. Canadians, as a society, accept differences and respect them. People feel free to express their opinion and fight for their rights, politely, of course.
Canada has one of the top best undergraduate and graduate establishments in the world. Canada’s most famous universities are the University of Toronto, The University of British Colombia, the University of Montreal and the University of Alberta. You will get a great education that will allow you to flow into the work world easily.
On average, coming as an international student, you will pay an average of $14,000 CAD per year for a diploma program, $18,000 CAD - $20,000 CAD per year for a bachelor and anywhere from $30,000 CAD - to $65,000 CAD per year for a master’s degree. Education for domestic students is not free, however, significantly cheaper. There are many scholarships and grants available for both.
International students are allowed to work part-time (20h/week) during their studies and full-time during the breaks.
To live comfortably as a single person you need to earn at least $2,450 CAD per month. About $1,200 CAD - $1,500 CAD you would spend on a studio or a 1 bedroom apartment, $120 CAD for public transportation monthly pass, $200 CAD - $250 CAD on groceries (depending on your diet), $180 CAD for utilities and home internet, entertainments and other expenses.
Coming to Canada as a family of 3-4, the monthly expenses would be more than $5,600 CAD - $6,500 CAD depending on the province you live in. The most expensive cities are Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa. The average salary throughout the county working full-time is about $45,000 - $50,000 CAD per year.
In 1967, Canada became the first country to introduce and implement the points-based immigration system. Prior to the “race and county” preference selection, Canada has moved to prioritize younger professionals with language efficiency. In 2015, the federal government launched an Express Entry program that allowed the system to process the application quicker and more efficiently with higher-scoring candidates.
You can receive a Canadian PR outside of the county if you meet all the criteria. Upon gaining Canadian PR you will become eligible to apply for Canadian Citizenship after 1,095 ( 3 years) of living within the county out of 5 years. Being a resident you will be able to receive free health care through OHIP and domestic students’ tuition rates.
Ethnicity, Religion and Language
Australia is the only continent that is governed by a single county. At 7.69 million km² it is the smallest continent on earth taking the 6th palace in the world chart after Brazil. The largest island belonging to Australia is Tasmania. Its total area is 68,401 km² and it is an Australian secret holiday destination. Australia is divided into 6 states and 2 territories spread into 3 time zones, the capital city is Canberra.
Because Australia is south of the equator, winter begins in June and summer in December. 90% of the population is located on the coasts of the mainland. The harsh climate and high temperatures in the summer make the central part of Australia uninhabitable. Otherwise, there are no sudden temperature fluctuations or extreme weather conditions on the coasts.
The present-day ethnic structure of Australia is very different from that of the pre-colonial period. Non-indigenous people now sum up about 3/4 of the county’s population: about 30% are English, 25.4% are Australians, 7.5% are Irish, 6.4% are Scottish, 3.3% are German, 3.2% are Chinese, 1,4% Indian, 1.4% Greek, 1.2% Dutch, 5% and others.
Almost half of the Australian residents, which is 25.69 million, identify as Christians. The next minor groups are Muslims at 2.6%, Buddhists at 2.4%, Hindus at 1.9% and others.
The official language in Australia is English. Other languages widely spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Viettitlese, Italian and Greek.
The first thing you will notice when you arrived is how welcoming and warm the people are. Who would not be happy living in a sunny, full of beautiful nature and stunning beaches country? Australians take advantage of their surroundings and spend their free time surfing, exploring the spirit of the outback and mesmerizing landscapes. All the great resources the country provided for its citizens like high average income, free health and great education leave the majority of the population satisfied.
Aussies are friendly and easy-going, to say the least, they are the souls of the company. A stranger is their mate to whom they have not been introduced just yet. They love to get together for occasions and without one. Australians are relaxed and said to have a “no-worry” attitude, however, do their best at work and personal life.
Australian university degrees are highly regarded around the world. Four of the country's universities are in the top 50 of the prestigious QS World University Rankings 2021. Students pursuing higher education in Australia have excellent research facilities. Some of the highly demanded courses are in nursing, teaching, hospitality, engineering and architecture.
Higher education in Australia is at a slightly higher range due to the overall country’s economy. The average price for an undergraduate and postgraduate program would be from $24,000 CAD - to $30,000 CAD per year. The tuition fees are calculated per unit (course) so the price varies depending on students’ circumstances. Another price factor would be the location, university and program.
Living costs in Australia are about 8% higher than in Canada. We recommend saving up a minimum of $6,000 CAD to feel secure during the first few weeks while seeking work in Australia. Living as a single person in Australia you need to have a minimum income of $2,880 CAD. Renting a 1 bedroom apartment is around $1,300 CAD - $1,700 CAD, utilities with the internet are $220 CAD, $138 public transportation monthly pass and $280 CAD on groceries.
In Australia, a family of 4 is estimated to spend on average $4,450 CAD without rent, a 3-bedroom apartment could cost $2,100 CAD to $3,000 CAD. These higher prices are explained by the higher salaries. The minimum wage in Australia is the highest after taxes in the world. The average salary in Australia is over $54,000 CAD working full-time.
Australia was the second country after Canada to adopt a point-based immigration system that helps to select young, educated and skilled individuals to boost human capital and the country’s economy. One of the programs for work visas is the “Work and Holiday visa” allowing young skilled workers to come to explore the county while working for up to 2 years. A Visa application can take up to a few months.
It has become more difficult to obtain an Australian permanent residency due to changes in the immigration system. There are 2 main ways to gain the PR: The family stream and the Skill stream. In 2020-2021 more than 160,000 received the Australian PR compared to 405,000 PRs given in Canada. The numbers speak for themselves.
Read our article All You Need To Know Before Moving To Australia for immigration tips.
Immigration to Australia as a Canadian Citizen
When immigrating to Australia from Canada do not forget the next:
- Explore visa options to find out what visa fits you best.
- A work and holiday visa is the easiest visa to get with a few requirements. Eligibility criteria: 18 - 30 (35 for some countries) years old, a citizen of an eligible county, must not be accompanied by a dependent child and not have entered the county with 417 or 462 visas.
- You can open a bank account in Canada and transfer money from your home country through TransferWise before you move. The Bank of Commonwealth Australia is a great choice.
- Research and get medical health insurance prior to moving day.
Moving from Australia to Canada
Many decide to move to Canada from Australia because they feel isolated and cut off from the rest of the world. And no one can blame them after all. The shortest flight to the mainland is no less than 6h-8h or 14h to the US. Which, in the opinion of many, might be the biggest disadvantage of relocating to Australia, unless you are an introvert, of course.
Moving from Australia to Canada will provide you with an opportunity to be in the center of business deals, the world’s biggest modern inventions, unpredictable changes and great poutine, perhaps. No matter where or from you are planning to move, Hercules Moving Company can provide a Free Estimate to help you understand how much it will cost to ship your valuables. If you can not wait to know, Call your moving coordinator at (844) 462-6683 Now!
