Migration to Regional Australia continues to Outpace Cities

New figures highlight surging inflows to lifestyle and jobs-rich centres even as overall moves fall 15 percent.

Crowds watch on as a surfer rides a wave at Kirra Beach in Gold Coast, Australia, on March 4, 2025. Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Regional Australia is still luring more movers from the capitals than it loses, even as national relocation slows.

There were 26 percent more people leaving capital cities for regional towns than heading the other way, revealed the June Quarter Regional Movers Index (RMI) on Sept. 8, produced by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) and the Commonwealth Bank.