Regional Queensland is growing in popularity for Australians leaving state capitals to escape city rat races.
The latest Regional Mover Index (RMI) found, across the country, 26 percent more people were relocating from capital cities to regional areas than vice versa.
Regional Australia Institute (RAI) CEO Liz Ritchie said top-performing centres such as Albury (NSW), Townsville (QLD), and Bendigo (VIC) were attracting new residents with their affordability, lifestyle, and opportunities.
Ms Ritchie said the Sunshine Coast returned to the number one spot for net migration to Australia’s regions in the year to June 2025, overtaking Greater Geelong.
She said Queensland maintained its position as a leading destination for internal migration, boosting its share of net movement from capital cities to regional areas from 19 percent in 2023-2024 to 31 percent in 2024–25, now second only to New South Wales at 34 percent.
“Across Australia, this quarterly report shows an overall downturn in movement across the country of 15.2 percent, which includes capital to capital relocation.
“However, regional Australia is no longer a second choice – it’s the smart choice. From career opportunities to community connection, the regions are delivering.”
Ms Ritchie said the East Pilbara region in Western Australia led growth hotspots with a 311 percent annual increase in migration, followed by Hinchinbrook (QLD), Murrindindi (NSW), Greater Shepparton (VIC), and Albury (NSW).
Download: Regional Movers Index June 2025
