An increasing number of Sydneysiders are ditching the Harbour City for greener pastures, as families and retirees alike seek a more relaxed lifestyle, according to new data.
Port Macquarie, Mudgee and Newcastle have been revealed as the most popular new destinations for Sydney’s regional relocators, based on a three-year trend analysis of inbound relocation demand by removalists Muval.
Port Macquarie West showed a 0.055 per cent growth in relocation inquiries since 2023, the highest of any region in NSW according to Muval.
Port Macquarie has been revealed as the NSW town to have grown the most in. Picture: iStock
While housing affordability and the cost of living were major detractors around the country for relocating, Muval CEO James Morrell said lifestyle actually edged out affordability as the key reason for people moving to regional NSW.
“Sure, cheaper housing is a draw compared to Sydney’s sky-high prices, but the bigger pull seems to be the coastal lifestyle, beaches, a slower pace and all the perks of regional living,” he said.
“Many Sydneysiders are happy to trade a bigger mortgage or longer commute for that lifestyle upgrade, which suggests that quality of life is really what’s driving the move, with affordability just adding a little extra incentive”.
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NSW’s biggest relocation suburbs. Source: Muval
Of Port Macquarie, Mr Morrell noted that it “hits all the right notes” for people looking to leave Sydney.
“It’s a beautiful coastal town, but it still has plenty of access to amenities like schools and healthcare,” he said.
“Housing is generally more affordable than in the city, which makes it appealing for families, retirees, and even remote workers.”
Compared to other capitals, Mr Morrell said Sydney stood out for moves that are lifestyle-oriented.
“People are packing up and heading to coastal and regional hotspots like Port Macquarie, Ballina, and Newcastle,” he said.
“By contrast, in Melbourne and Brisbane, most moves are happening closer to home, in outer suburban growth areas like Mickleham and Rockbank, where it’s more about new housing and affordability than chasing a long-distance lifestyle change.”
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This home in Mortons Creek, in Port Macquarie’s West, sold for $1.2m in March 2026
Retirees Graham and Karyn Burchell-Thomas made the move from Sydney’s Blue Mountains to Yamba, in the Northern Rivers region, just four months ago.
Ms Burchell-Thomas said they were drawn by the “slower pace” of living in the region.
“We love the lifestyle,” she said.
“We can go on lovely, safe walks every morning overlooking the ocean, and we’ve got bushlands nearby too.”
The couple sold their large freestanding home in Winmalee before relocating to Yamba, a town 671km from Sydney with a population of 6,405 as of the 2021.
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Retirees Graham and Karyn Burchell-Thomas made the move from Sydney’s Blue Mountains to Yamba, in the Northern Rivers region, four months ago. Picture: Isabella Borriello
Ms Burchell-Thomas said a number of their friends were also considering downsizing to a regional area.
While unable to comment on specific demographic information from their data, Mr Morrell said it was a “reasonable assumption” to make that retirees were a strong contributor to the NSW’s intrastate relocation figures.
“The strong appeal of lifestyle, coastal living and slower-paced towns suggests that over-55s and retirees are likely a large part of the movement, looking to trade city stress for lifestyle and convenience,” he said.
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