The R2G Moving Index 2026

Australia’s migration landscape is being reshaped by an extraordinary collision of forces: persistent inflation, a housing supply crisis, global conflict driving energy costs, and the long tail of pandemic-era lifestyle shifts. Within this environment, Queensland continues to stand apart as the nation’s premier destination for interstate movers.

This report brings together the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), Queensland Government Statistician’s Office (QGSO), and leading property research firms to deliver a clear picture of who is moving, where they are going, and what it costs in 2026.

Internal migration across Australia has slowed to a nine-year low. Rising living costs, limited housing availability, and broader economic uncertainty are making Australians more cautious about uprooting their lives. Approximately 180,000 to 200,000 Australians change states each year, but the net flows between states tell a more revealing story.

Only two states recorded positive net interstate migration in the most recent data period: Queensland and Western Australia. Every other state and territory — including New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia — experienced net losses. New South Wales has now recorded 14 consecutive quarters of negative net interstate migration, losing residents primarily to Queensland and WA.

The slowdown in total migration volumes does not diminish the significance of the directional trends. The people who are moving are making deliberate choices — and overwhelmingly, they are choosing Queensland.

Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics, National, State and Territory Population, September 2025.

The net interstate migration figures paint a stark picture of where Australians are heading — and where they are leaving. Queensland leads all states with a net gain of 21,595 interstate migrants, while New South Wales continues its exodus with a net outflow of over 24,000 residents.

The data reveals a clear east-coast realignment: residents are moving north from NSW and Victoria into Queensland, while Western Australia attracts migrants from across the country on the back of its resources-driven economy. South Australia shows a marginal positive, driven primarily by international migration rather than interstate flows.

Queensland recorded a total population increase of approximately 98,000 people in the 2024–25 financial year — a growth rate of 1.8% that outpaces the national average. Of this growth, migration accounts for roughly 79% of the total, with natural increase making up the remainder.

The state has maintained positive net interstate migration every year since the early 1980s, a streak unmatched by any other Australian state. International migration is also surging: net migration from New Zealand alone increased 80% in recent years, reaching approximately 14,200 per year — with a large share settling in South-East Queensland.

South-East Queensland Population Growth (5-Year Change)

The Gold Coast leads all SEQ corridors with an astonishing 68,000 additional residents in five years, followed by Logan and Ipswich. The Sunshine Coast continues its trajectory as one of Australia’s fastest-growing regional areas, adding 47,500 residents during the same period.

Sources: Queensland Government Statistician’s Office (QGSO), Population statistics; ABS Regional Population Growth; Adept Economics, SEQ Growth Analysis 2024.

The consequence of sustained migration into South-East Queensland is a housing market under severe strain. Brisbane dwelling prices have risen 14.5% year-on-year, driven by demand that far outstrips the rate of new supply entering the market.

Brisbane’s rental vacancy rate sits at just 0.8% — the lowest of any Australian capital city and well below the 3% threshold generally considered a balanced market. The national vacancy rate stands at 1.1% as of February 2026, underscoring that this is a nationwide challenge, but Brisbane is the most acute pressure point.

The median weekly rent in Brisbane has reached $726.75, up 8.5% year-on-year. Nationally, Australians are now spending 33.4% of their pre-tax income on rent — a record high that exceeds the widely accepted 30% threshold for rental stress. To rent without experiencing financial strain, a household now requires an annual income of at least $112,667.

For Brisbane removalists and moving companies, these conditions create intense seasonal demand spikes — particularly at the start of each quarter when leases turn over. Early booking is essential for anyone planning a move in the Brisbane market. Many movers are also turning to Brisbane storage solutions as a buffer while they search for permanent accommodation in this ultra-tight rental market.

Sources: Domain, Rental Report Q4 2025; Cotality (CoreLogic), Home Value Index; SBS News, Housing Affordability Report 2026.

How does Brisbane stack up against Australia’s other major capital cities? The comparison reveals why Brisbane remains such a powerful migration magnet despite its own affordability challenges. While Sydney commands the highest rents, Brisbane’s combination of the lowest vacancy rate and strongest price growth makes it the most pressured market in the country for both renters and buyers.

Perth mirrors many of Brisbane’s dynamics — low vacancy, strong price growth driven by resource-sector demand — but lacks the lifestyle and climate appeal that draws families and remote workers to Queensland. Melbourne, in contrast, offers the highest vacancy rate (1.7%) and weakest price growth (1.1%), explaining its ongoing population losses to both Queensland and WA.

Sources: Domain, Rental Report Q4 2025; Cotality (CoreLogic), Home Value Index, February 2026; SQM Research, Residential Vacancy Rates.

The macroeconomic backdrop adds further complexity to the migration picture. The Reserve Bank of Australia has flagged persistent inflation as a key concern, with underlying inflation running at 3.7% and headline CPI at 4.2% — both above the RBA’s target band of 2–3%.

Geopolitical instability, particularly ongoing conflict in the Middle East, is disrupting global energy supply routes and driving oil prices higher. These energy cost pressures flow through to transportation, logistics, and ultimately household budgets — including the cost of moving services.

GDP grew 0.8% in the December quarter — an economy running hotter than ideal in the context of inflation-fighting efforts. Interest rate rises remain on the table for 2026, and housing costs continue to be a major driver of the CPI basket.

Paradoxically, these economic pressures are accelerating certain types of moves. Australians facing rental stress in expensive markets like Sydney are increasingly making strategic relocations to more affordable regions. The cost of not moving — in the form of excessive rent — is outweighing the one-off cost of hiring interstate removalists.

Sources: Reserve Bank of Australia, Statement on Monetary Policy, February 2026; ABS, Consumer Price Index, December 2025; CBA Economics.

Survey data from PropertyBuyer and Home in Place reveals that Australians are moving for a blend of aspirational and necessity-driven reasons. The desire to upgrade remains the top motivator, but cost-of-living pressures are a close second — reflecting the economic conditions outlined above.

A striking finding from the data: 53% of Australians aged 18 to 35 report they would consider moving overseas entirely if housing remained unaffordable. While actual emigration at that scale is unlikely, the sentiment underscores just how acute affordability pressures have become for younger Australians.

Remote and hybrid work arrangements continue to enable moves that would have been impractical five years ago. Workers are relocating from high-cost capitals to regional centres where they can maintain their salaries while dramatically reducing their housing costs — a trend that shows no sign of reversing.

Sources: PropertyBuyer, Annual Housing Survey 2025; Home in Place, Housing Trends Report 2026.

National data reveals a consistent pattern: Australians are gravitating toward coastal lifestyle destinations, affordable regional hubs, and growth corridors on the fringes of major cities.

Top Trending Destinations Nationally

In Queensland

Within Queensland, the strongest growth continues in the established SEQ corridors: the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, and Logan. These areas combine relative affordability (compared to Brisbane’s inner suburbs) with strong transport links and established amenities.

In the Brisbane metro area specifically, suburbs seeing increased demand include Archerfield, Springfield, and North Lakes — areas that combine development momentum with comparatively affordable entry points.

Further north, the Cairns region continues to attract lifestyle migrants and remote workers drawn by tropical living and significantly lower property prices compared to South-East Queensland. Regional centres like Townsville are also emerging as affordable alternatives for families seeking a slower pace of life without sacrificing access to services.

Sources: Timeout Australia, Best Places to Live 2025; KPMG, SEQ Population Report 2025.

The 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games remain a generational catalyst for the region. Queensland’s population is projected to reach 6 million by the time the Games commence, with an additional 530,000 people expected in the Greater Brisbane area by that date.

The infrastructure investment is staggering: $7.1 billion in direct Games-related spending, the 10.2-kilometre Cross River Rail project (including a 5.9km underground tunnel connecting key inner-city stations), and a total construction pipeline that is expected to grow from $53 billion to $77 billion by 2027.

Suburbs located near Olympic venues and major transport upgrades are already seeing increased buyer and renter interest. The construction boom is also generating employment growth, which in turn attracts more migration — creating a self-reinforcing cycle of demand.

For the moving industry, the Olympic effect is translating into sustained high demand. Workers relocating for construction roles, families moving to be near improved infrastructure, and investors positioning ahead of the Games are all contributing to elevated booking volumes. Those planning a move to or within Brisbane should request a quote early to secure preferred dates.

Sources: Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, brisbane2032.com; The Urban Developer, Queensland Infrastructure Pipeline Report 2025.

The structural drivers behind Queensland’s migration dominance are deeply entrenched and unlikely to reverse before the 2032 Olympics. Based on the data analysed in this report, we project the following trends for the coming years: