The London leap: what 500+ young Kiwis and Aussies told us about life abroad

Inside our 2025 survey of Antipodean expats living in London — and what their answers reveal about post-Covid migration, career ambition, and cost of living realities.

At Next Stop London, we work every day with Kiwis and Aussies making the move to the UK. We hear the stories, the excitement, the anxiety — and the real reasons people choose to leave home. But this year, we wanted to go deeper.

So, we surveyed over 500 New Zealanders and Australians currently living in London to find out:

🧭 Why did they move?
💼 What industries are they working in?
💷 How does the cost of living compare?
🌍 Are they planning to return home — or not at all?

Here’s what we found.

🌟 Who we surveyed

• Over 500 respondents
• Ages: Mostly 25–34
• Nationalities: ~60% New Zealanders, ~40% Australians
• All currently living in Greater London

Most respondents had been in the UK for less than 2 years, with a large portion arriving in 2023 or 2024, making this a fresh and timely snapshot.

💼 Why they moved

By far the biggest motivator: career growth.

A full 72% of Kiwi respondents said that professional opportunity was their number one reason for leaving home. Many cited limited progression or industry options in NZ or Australia — especially in fields like:

• Accounting & finance
• Healthcare
• Technology
• Marketing & media

London’s global job market and larger-scale companies offer something different — and they’re taking the leap to get ahead.

💰 Life in London: what’s cheaper, what’s not

We asked: how does the cost of living compare?

While London is infamous for its rent prices, the data challenged some assumptions.

• A large number of respondants said groceries and dining out are cheaper in London than in NZ or Australia
• Many noted public transport is far more affordable and accessible than back home
• Rent was a challenge — but viewed as comparable to NZ’s major cities like Auckland and Wellington

In short: housing is painful everywhere — but day-to-day life in London is often more affordable than expected.

🌏 Will they return?

This is where things get interesting — and concerning for the talent pool back home.

• Only 22% said they plan to return soon
• 45% said eventually, but not for several years
• 33% said they have no plans to return — some plan to stay in the UK long-term or move on to other destinations in Europe or beyond

This signals a potential long-term shift in migration trends — and a possible loss of highly skilled young professionals in sectors that matter.

😌 Was it worth it?

When we asked if they regretted the move, 84% said no.

Most described it as a bold and valuable decision — not just for their career, but for their lifestyle, network, and ability to travel Europe with ease.

“The exposure, the confidence, the career jump — I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.”
– Survey respondent, 27, Marketing

🧠 Key takeaways

• The post-Covid cost of living crisis in NZ and AU is accelerating outbound migration
• London continues to attract young professionals seeking global opportunities
• High rent isn’t scaring people off — many feel life in London is more liveable overall
• There is a real risk of brain drain, with 1 in 3 participants not planning to return home

👀 What’s next?

We’ll continue using this data to support and inform the thousands of young Kiwis and Aussies moving to London every year.

If you're planning your move, or just curious about what life in London could look like, we’re here to help.