Pickfords’ Move Monitor reveals Dubai as the most popular international city for UK residents looking to relocate – but Australian cities still dominate the top ten.
Pickfords, the UK’s largest international removal company, has released this and other findings in their latest Move Monitor. The annual report highlights the top ten international cities for individuals who are planning to move abroad. It’s based on data collected from approximately 11,060 Pickfords customers who relocated overseas in the past year.
The results reveal that in 2022, Australian cities were highly sought-after destinations among their customers. Approximately 15% of Pickfords’ customers moved to Australian cities, such as Perth, Sydney, and Melbourne – making Australia the most popular international destination. These numbers are similar to Pickfords’ results from 2021, which found that 12% of customers moved to these cities.
Given Australia’s status as one of the world’s leading countries for quality of life, it’s no surprise that its cities continue to be a popular choice for individuals looking to relocate. In 2022, five Australian cities, including Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide, secured their positions in the top ten of the rankings. Adelaide, in particular, climbed from fifteenth place the previous year.
Adelaide’s average rent is almost 45% lower than Sydney, making it one of the most affordable capital cities to live in. This makes it an attractive destination for families, students, and business-minded entrepreneurs alike.
According to Pickfords’ research, in 2021 Sydney was identified as the most popular international city to move to. However, Dubai surpassed Sydney in 2022, with Perth securing the second spot and pushing Sydney into third place.
Dubai’s tax-free salaries and attractive climate make it an appealing destination for those seeking to build their future. For many expats, the absence of income tax means higher earnings and increased wealth, making Dubai a compelling choice for those seeking greater opportunities.
Around 100 more customers relocated to Dubai in 2022 than in the previous year, and there was also a significant increase in the number of people moving to Perth. Pickfords’ data suggests that there were relatively fewer people moving to Sydney in 2022, but the difference was not significant.
Perth is recognised as one of the most cost-effective capital cities in Australia, providing a substantially lower cost of living along with a higher average hourly income rate compared to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide.
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Pickfords’ spokesperson Sophie Gower isn’t surprised to see that Dubai has topped the list and that it’s becoming an increasingly popular destination. “More and more people are moving to Dubai, as it is one of the best places for expats to build a future. Most expats move there to seek greater employment opportunities and are often attracted to the tax-free income.”
