Moving to Brisbane offers a blend of sunny weather, riverside parks and thriving cultural scenes that appeal to families, professionals and investors alike. From family-friendly suburbs with top-rated schools and a dynamic job market in tech, health and education, Brisbane, Queensland, showcases an appealing and balanced lifestyle.
Investors have also noted steady growth in property values and ongoing infrastructure projects, including preparations for the 2032 Olympics. Meanwhile, professionals enjoy a lower cost of living compared to Sydney or Melbourne, as well as close connections to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
With that in mind, this article will explore everything on Brisbane you need to know about to help you prepare for your big move to the River City.
First-homebuyers: Ready to move to Brisbane? Our Brisbane mortgage brokers at Zest will crunch the numbers, compare hundreds of home-loan options and tailor a finance package to suit your budget. Call (07) 3461 6499 or visit www.zestmortgagesolutions.com.au to get pre-approved today!
Best Brisbane Suburbs for New Residents
Deciding where to call home in Brisbane really sets the tone for your everyday life, whether that’s weekend barbecues by the Brisbane River or quick hops to the Brisbane CBD for work. Each suburb comes with its own personality, amenities and investment potential.
Below are the top picks for families, property investors and young professionals.
Top Family-Friendly Suburbs
- New Farm – Riverside parks, excellent public schools and the Brisbane Botanic Gardens on your doorstep.
- Carindale – Huge shopping centre, leafy streets and easy TransLink bus links to the city.
- Camp Hill – Quiet streets, local markets and catchment to highly rated state schools.
- Redcliffe Peninsula – Coastal vibes with beaches, bike paths and a laid-back seaside community.
- Indooroopilly – West-side convenience, riverside shopping and good private-school options.
To learn more about our top picks on Brisbane suburbs for families, please visit this guide: 10 Best Suburbs for Families in Brisbane
Top Suburbs for Property Investors
- Bowen Hills – Major development corridor, new apartment towers and proximity to Fortitude Valley’s nightlife.
- Teneriffe – Trendy riverfront warehouses-turned-flats, café culture and short CityCat commute.
- Newstead – Ongoing residential projects, high-end retail and restaurants at Gasworks precinct.
- Woolloongabba – Home to The Gabba stadium, student rentals near QUT’s main campus and upcoming light-rail plans.
- North Lakes – Rapid growth in Moreton Bay region, master-planned estates and major shopping hubs.
Visit this guide here to explore more about our top suburbs choices for property investors:
14 Best Brisbane Suburbs for Property Investment
Top Suburbs for Young Professionals
- Fortitude Valley – Nightlife capital, live-music venues and direct train lines into the CBD.
- West End – Eclectic cafés, multicultural services and a short CityCat ride from South Bank.
- South Brisbane – Steps from QUT, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and riverside dining at Eagle Street Pier.
- Kangaroo Point – Cliff-top walks, Story Bridge access and quick CityCat trips.
- Milton – Sport-lovers’ paradise near Suncorp Stadium, craft breweries and strong café scene.
Getting Around: Public Transport & Driving in Brisbane
Brisbane’s transport network, run by TransLink, spans the entire metropolitan area so that you can reach most suburbs without a car. Trains, buses and ferries run frequently during both peak and off-peak hours, and the TransLink app delivers real-time schedule updates and disruption alerts.
Fares are now a flat 50c per trip when you tap on and off with a Go Card, TransLink’s reusable smart card. There are no more daily caps or separate day-pass tickets; every journey costs 50 cents, regardless of the distance travelled or the mode of transportation used.
Driving is straightforward on major roads like the M1, Gateway, and Pacific Motorways, although bridges such as the Story Bridge and Victoria Bridge can become bottlenecked during rush hour.
For areas beyond the reach of fixed routes, Council Cabs and ride-share services fill the gaps, and an expanding network of bike paths provides a cost-effective and healthy transportation option.
Available Public Transport in Brisbane:
- Buses – Extensive routes linking suburbs to the Brisbane CBD and key hubs
- Trains – City network across five main lines, including the Airtrain link to Brisbane Airport
- CityCat Ferries – High-speed catamarans serving terminals along the Brisbane River
- CityFerry Services – Short-hop river ferries to precincts like New Farm and Holman Street
- Airtrain – Queensland Rail service between the city centre, South Bank and Brisbane Airport
- On-Demand Council Cabs – Bookable minibuses for low-density suburbs outside core routes
- Bike Share – Public hire bicycles across docking stations in inner-city areas
- Taxis & Ride-Share – Licensed taxi fleet plus Uber, 13cabs, nd other app-based operators
Find out more about how to get around Brisbane in this article: Brisbane Public Transport Guide.
Relocating to the River City? Zest’s Brisbane mortgage brokers guide you from pre-approval right through settlement, handling deposit strategies, lender comparisons and paperwork so you can focus on unpacking. Chat with us on (07) 3461 6499 or drop by www.zestmortgagesolutions.com.au for a free consultation.
Brisbane Job Market & Economic Opportunities
Brisbane’s jobs market is humming along, with about 780,000 folks in work; that’s a healthy 2.8% jump from last year.
In terms of pay, full-time Queenslanders take home around $87,000 a year on average, and if you’re in the inner-city suburbs you can be looking at closer to $92,000.
The state budget for 2024–25 even reckons GDP will grow by 3.4%, and unemployment should slip to around 4.0% by mid-2025, thanks in large part to all the Olympic-related infrastructure coming our way.
So, what’s driving all this momentum?
Healthcare leads the charge. Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital alone employs over 7,500 people, while education and the “knowledge-services” space continue to expand.
Around QUT, UQ and the co-working hubs in Fortitude Valley, professional, scientific and technical roles are up about 5.2% each year, thanks to a boom in biotech, fintech and digital-media startups.
And if you’re into construction, you’ll be pleased to know that building jobs are set to climb by roughly 3.8% annually through 2025 as more than $4 billion in projects kick off.
If you’re on the hunt for your next job, check out Queensland Government employment services or swing by networking events like the Fortitude Valley Tech Meetup and the Brisbane Jobs Fair to meet employers face-to-face.
Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Queensland Treasury, Brisbane Economic Development Plan
Education & Healthcare in Brisbane
Brisbane’s education and healthcare run smoothly in the background. A robust public school network, backed by top state schools, sits alongside diverse private and faith-based options, while its universities offer world-class research and campus life.
On the health front, Queensland Health’s public hospitals provide coverage for emergency, specialist, and community care, complemented by a strong private sector, including bulk-billing GPs and advanced surgical suites, which fill every gap.
Together, they guarantee top-quality schooling and medical services citywide.
Top 3 Universities in Brisbane
- University of Queensland (UQ) – Established 1909; ranked in the world’s top 50; flagship St Lucia campus
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT) – Urban campus at Gardens Point; strong industry links and entrepreneurship programs
- Griffith University – Multi-campus model; renowned for environmental research, health sciences and arts faculties
Top 3 Hospitals for Healthcare in Brisbane
- Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital - Queensland’s largest public hospital, providing 24/7 emergency and trauma care, advanced cardiac and neurosurgical services, and comprehensive women’s and neonatal health.
- Princess Alexandra Hospital - A major tertiary hospital offering a state-of-the-art trauma centre, specialised burns unit, renal dialysis and rehabilitation for both routine and complex cases.
- Mater Misericordiae Private Hospital - A leading private hospital offering maternity, oncology, cardiology and orthopaedic services, with modern surgical suites and personalised patient support.
Eyeing that perfect Brisbane property? Our local Brisbane mortgage brokers know the market inside out and will negotiate the best interest rates, uncover government grants and streamline your approval process. Call (07) 3461 6499 or head to www.zestmortgagesolutions.com.au to lock in your dream home loan.
Brisbane Cost of Living vs Sydney & Melbourne
One of the biggest perks of moving to Brisbane is the noticeably lower cost of living compared with Sydney and Melbourne.
In the Brisbane CBD, you’ll find one-bedroom apartments renting for around $480 per week, while the same digs in Sydney will set you back about $650 and in Melbourne roughly $600.
Groceries, which include staples like a litre of milk or a loaf of bread, tend to be cheaper here. Your monthly essentials (electricity, gas, and water) average around $180, compared to $230 in Sydney or $210 in Melbourne.
Here’s a quick breakdown comparison:
- Average rent (1-bed city unit/week):
- Brisbane: $480
- Sydney: $650
- Melbourne: $600
- Brisbane: $480
- Groceries:
- Milk (1 L): Brisbane $1.40 | Sydney $1.70 | Melbourne $1.60
- Loaf of bread (680 g): Brisbane $2.50 | Sydney $3.20 | Melbourne $3.00
- Milk (1 L): Brisbane $1.40 | Sydney $1.70 | Melbourne $1.60
- Utilities (electricity, gas & water/month):
- Brisbane: $180
- Sydney: $230
- Melbourne: $210
- Brisbane: $180
Please note that these are averages based on the current price and usage. These values tend to change over time, depending on economic conditions.
Understanding Brisbane’s Climate & Weather
Brisbane enjoys a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters.
In summer (December–February), Brisbane’s daytime highs hover around 28–30 °C, dropping to about 21 °C at night, while winter (June–August) brings milder days of 20–22 °C and nights near 10 °C. Spring and autumn deliver pleasantly warm, lower-humidity weather, perfect for exploring the River City or taking a weekend trip to Mount Coot-tha or Moreton Island.
Rainfall is heaviest between November and March, often falling in intense afternoon storms, so you’ll want to keep an eye on the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts during the wet season.
Because those summer storms can swell the Brisbane River, low-lying suburbs and flood-prone pockets around the CBD and Moreton Bay islands need extra caution, always check local flood maps before settling in.
Packing for life here means light, breathable clothing, a reliable rain jacket and a wide-brimmed hat, plus reef-safe sunscreen and insect repellent for beach days.
Come winter, you might throw in a light jumper for crisp mornings, but you won’t need bulky coats once you’ve swapped grey skies for our famous sunny days.
Ready for your Brisbane adventure? Let our dedicated Brisbane mortgage brokers at Zest fast-track your home-loan approval, negotiate premium rates and manage lender requirements, so you can focus on enjoying city views instead of paperwork. Contact us at (07) 3461 6499 or visit www.zestmortgagesolutions.com.au/ for a free chat!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What do I need to know before moving to Brisbane?
Factor in Brisbane’s subtropical climate, hot, wet summers and mild winters, and its relaxed riverside lifestyle. Get familiar with TransLink’s Go Card, pick suburbs that suit you, and budget for moving costs, rental bonds and initial setup.
What salary do you need to live in Brisbane?
To cover basics, such as rent, utilities, groceries, and public transportation, a single person will usually need around $60,000–$65,000 per year. Couples or small families often seek combined incomes of around $90,000 to feel financially comfortable.
Is it worth it to move to Brisbane?
Brisbane’s lower living costs, year-round sunshine and easy escapes to the Gold or Sunshine Coast, coupled with booming health, tech and education sectors, make it a smart pick for balance and value.
How much money do you need to move to Brisbane?
Expect to set aside roughly four weeks’ rent for a bond (around $2,000–$2,500), plus the first week’s rent upfront, removalist fees ($1,200–$2,000 for a 3-bed move) and initial living costs—so budget at least $6,000–$8,000 before you arrive.
What is a livable salary in Brisbane?
A “livable” income, enough to rent a decent one-bed apartment in the CBD, eat out occasionally and cover utilities, usually starts at around $75,000 per year. Hitting $85,000–$90,000 gives more flexibility for savings, travel or family life.
Which is the best suburb to live in Brisbane?
It depends on your needs, but New Farm often tops the list: riverside parks, cafés, top schools and easy CityCat access. For families you might also consider Kangaroo Point or Indooroopilly; young professionals often favour Fortitude Valley or West End.
What are the types of home loans available for first-time buyers in Brisbane?
You can choose from variable-rate loans, fixed-rate loans, split loans (part fixed, part variable), interest-only options, low-deposit loans and guarantor loans. Plus, don’t forget government schemes like the First Home Owner Grant and shared-equity programs to help you get into your first property.
Moving to Brisbane: Key Takeaways
By now, you’ve got the lay of the land. From cost-of-living perks and top family, investor and professional suburbs to our sunny, subtropical climate, public transport options, booming job market and excellent schools and hospitals.
Moving to Brisbane truly means embracing a lifestyle that balances work, play and affordability. If you’re ready to call the River City home, our Brisbane mortgage brokers at Zest Mortgage Solutions are standing by with a free consultation to tailor a home loan just for you. Give us a call on (07) 3461 6499 or visit https://www.zestmortgagesolutions.com.au/ to get started today!
