What's shaping the way Australians relocate
As we move through 2025, a range of new patterns is emerging across the Australian moving landscape. From shifting migration habits to evolving housing preferences, Moving Industry Trends 2025 is more than just a buzzword; it reflects the larger social, economic and demographic movements that are reshaping where and how Australians choose to live.
These shifts don’t just affect the housing market and infrastructure planning; they also play a key role in shaping demand for removalist services, particularly for those planning to engage a mover interstate.
Understanding these trends can offer a broader perspective on the factors influencing relocation decisions from interstate city-hopping to the continued interest in regional areas. Let’s take a look at the most prominent developments and what they might mean for the industry as a whole.
Regional resurgence continues
The ongoing appeal of regional Australia has held strong into 2025, following the post-pandemic trend of people leaving major capitals in search of more space, affordability, and lifestyle perks. According to the Regional Australia Institute’s March 2025 Regional Movers Index, migration from capital cities to regional areas remains above pre-pandemic averages, with Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne seeing the largest outflows.
In the March 2025 quarter moves from the capital cities to the regions rose by 10.5%. There has been a 20.5% higher migration each quarter into regional Australia post-COVID than pre-COVID. Areas like the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, and regional parts of New South Wales continue to draw new residents, often young families and professionals who have retained flexible work arrangements.
This growing interest in regional living has been reinforced by supporting infrastructure, such as improved digital connectivity and transport links. It also reflects a broader re-evaluation of lifestyle priorities, particularly in relation to space, housing costs and proximity to nature.
For a mover interstate, this trend has translated to demand for removals from metro areas into outer-regional zones that previously saw only modest growth.
Brisbane’s population shift gains momentum
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Brisbane is currently experiencing one of the most significant population shifts in decades. According to the RSM Brisbane 2025 Leading Cities Report, the city is attracting an influx of residents from both interstate and overseas. In fact, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that Brisbane has had one of the highest annual growth rates among capital cities in 2024, bolstered by net internal migration.
Much of this movement is driven by Brisbane’s relative affordability when compared to Sydney and Melbourne, along with lifestyle factors like climate and close proximity to the best beaches in Australia, education and job opportunities in emerging sectors. There’s also growing interest in the outer suburbs and satellite towns of South East Queensland, where housing remains more affordable and accessible.
For those planning to move interstate from southern states, Brisbane and surrounding areas are increasingly on the radar not only for affordability but also for long-term growth potential. One of the leaders in migration to regions has been the Sunshine Coast up until the beginning of 2025, running only second now to Geelong in Victoria.
National population pressure and infrastructure gaps
One of the more pressing elements shaping moving industry trends in 2025 is the strain placed on urban infrastructure due to record population increases. As highlighted by the Institute of Public Affairs, Australia recorded historically high immigration numbers in early 2025, leading to rising demand for housing, public services and transport in already-congested capital cities.
This influx, while economically beneficial in the long run, has also led to higher rental prices and pressure on housing supply, prompting many to consider moving to less saturated markets. As major cities become more expensive and complex to navigate, a mover interstate may be increasingly called upon to support relocations not just between capital cities, but from cities to regional hubs where the cost of living is more sustainable.
Younger Australians are driving relocation
Another notable trend is the demographic shift in who is moving and why. According to data from the University of Sydney’s Urban Housing Lab, there has been an uptick in younger Australians making the decision to move, especially those under 40 seeking affordability and lifestyle balance. Many of these moves are being made from large urban areas to regional centres that offer better housing affordability, lower commuting stress, and a growing sense of community, along with city-comparable educational opportunities for their children.
Interestingly, the availability of remote work continues to support this flexibility, as individuals no longer feel bound to capital cities for employment opportunities. For the moving industry, this means that relocation patterns may be more dispersed, less focused on city centres and more likely to involve logistics across greater distances and into less urbanised areas.
Technology, flexibility and customer experience
From an operational perspective, one of the subtle but significant moving industry trends in 2025 involves the rise in consumer expectations around convenience and service. Customers planning a move, whether locally or as a mover interstate are now accustomed to on-demand services, transparent pricing, and digital communication. Removalist companies that offer flexible bookings, real-time updates, and streamlined quote systems are better positioned to meet this evolving demand.
Additionally, with more complex moves taking place, often involving remote locations or hybrid local/interstate transitions, there’s growing demand for full-service providers who can handle packing, storage, and even temporary warehousing.
Housing supply and rental pressure remain high
According to the ABS, capital cities have seen continued strong population growth into early 2025, with many areas struggling to keep pace in terms of housing construction. This supply lag, combined with high rental demand, is contributing to price pressure and ongoing housing insecurity in some metro regions.
In response, some families and individuals are exploring home ownership or rental options further afield. This often means engaging a removalist to help relocate to markets with more favourable conditions. In some cases, people are moving and temporarily renting in a new city or regional area while evaluating whether to buy, which may increase demand for short-term storage services as well.
Outlook: A more mobile, more selective Australia
Taken together, these insights paint a picture of an Australia in motion driven by a range of economic, lifestyle and demographic factors. While housing affordability, infrastructure and employment opportunities remain top-of-mind for many movers, it’s also clear that Australians are becoming more intentional about where they live and why.
Whether it’s a family seeking a better quality of life in the regions, or a professional choosing a mover interstate to gain a new job or to escape the cost pressures of city life, the 2025 relocation landscape is one of both challenge and opportunity.
For the moving industry, this means staying agile, offering flexible services, understanding broader trends, and continuing to adapt to a more mobile and discerning population. As 2025 unfolds, being aware of these patterns is key to providing not just transport, but support for the next chapter in Australians’ lives.
