Why relocating from Melbourne to Perth is a rewarding move for GPs

Open the doors to a life with more opportunities, better earnings and more purchasing power by going West.

Here are 5 compelling reasons why Perth is highly attractive to doctors currently employed in Melbourne GP jobs.

#1 Better Earnings

According to Payscale, General Practitioners in Melbourne earn 3% less than the national average. Perth based GPs on the other hand earn 10% more than the national average.

Our 2018 GP Salary Survey has shown that the national annual average salary of a GP working 33-38 hours per week is $229,125 (gross).

Interestingly, Seek have found that salary growth for GP jobs in Perth is 5% whereas Melbourne’s growth rate was at 3%. Melbourne’s slower salary growth is likely to do with a growing supply of GP job positions and less demand compared to Perth.

#2 Lower property prices

Despite of falling property prices in Melbourne, economists largely agree that the Melbourne market is still overpriced. Median Perth house prices are 36% cheaper than in Melbourne and apartments are 30% cheaper in Perth.

Below comparison is based on data from Domain’s house price report:

Median Perth apartment price: $347,089 (30% cheaper than Melbourne)
Median Perth house price: $544,609 (36% cheaper than Melbourne)
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Median Melbourne apartment price: $496,260
Median Melbourne house price: $852,980

#3 Better access to Europe and Asia

Perth is much closer to Asia and Europe compared to Melbourne. Here a few more reasons why Perth is an attractive hub for travel destinations:

Direct, non-stop flights now operate between Perth and London and the flight time is roughly 17 hours.
Perth is the easiest departure port for trips to the UK, Asia or India
Non-stop flights to Bali take as little as 3 hours 15 minutes and cost as little as A$120 (one way) – a great weekend away!
Flights from Perth to London cost on guestimate about A$359 less than from Australia’s East Coast cities and a return flight can cost as little as A$960.

#4 Weather

Western Australia is the state with the country’s best weather and clearest skies.

According to Bureau of Meteorology data, Perth is the sunniest State capital with 3,200 hours of sunshine per year – This is higher than any other major Australian city. Melbourne has the least amount of sunshine with 2,200 hours of sunshine per year.

Perth summers can be very hot – 30-40 degrees C. On these hot days we welcome the ‘Fremantle Doctor’, a frequent westerly breeze, that helps cool you down. Even in winter, on most days the Perth weather sits at a comfortable 16-20 degrees C during the day, allowing you to walk around in shorts and a t-shirt.

#5 Laid back lifestyle

Melbourne has received many accolades for being one of the world’s best cities to live in. But big city life also has its downside. It’s crowded and bears notorious traffic jams. Due to the city’s size, it’s more impersonal and life tends to be fast paced which has an impact on the overall stress level in the population.

In contrast, Perth is known to be more relaxed and laid back. People have a friendly attitude, they are independent and have a resilient outlook on life.

Have you thought about moving west?

Perth has a much higher demand for GPs compared to Melbourne and therefore GPs enjoy better earnings.

If you’re not from Perth and lack intricate knowledge about the GP landscape, it can be incredibly difficult to find a practice that ticks all your boxes.

Have you considered visiting Perth to get a feel for the market over here? Let us know as we can show you around and advise you on all questions you might have.

Alecto Australia has a high standard of practices we consider working with. This is to uphold our reputation and promise of connecting the best GPs with the best practices.

Please get in touch if you would like us to find a perfect practice match for you.