Home / Business and Economy / Aussie Millionaire Quits $100K Job, Flees 'Suffocating' Australia for Dubai's Tax-Free Allure
Aussie Millionaire Quits $100K Job, Flees 'Suffocating' Australia for Dubai's Tax-Free Allure
18 Nov
Summary
- Aussie woman earning $100,000 quits job, moves to Dubai for better pay, lifestyle
- Sydney had become 'way too expensive' with high costs and poor value for money
- Dubai offers no tax, better wages, cheaper rent, and more opportunities
In November 2025, a 33-year-old Australian woman named Louise Starkey made the decision to leave her $100,000-a-year job in Sydney and move to Dubai. Starkey, who was working as a head of social media, found living in Australia had become "suffocating" due to the high costs of living.
Despite her six-figure salary, Starkey was only taking home $79,000 after taxes in Sydney, where she was paying around $35,000 a year for a studio apartment without a parking space. Frustrated by the lack of value for money, Starkey felt "capped" at work and decided to make the move to the Middle East.
Now settled in Dubai, Starkey has found the city offers a stark contrast to the situation in Australia. With no income tax, she is able to keep her full $100,000 salary. Rent is also more affordable, and Starkey says the overall lifestyle and opportunities in Dubai are far more appealing than what she experienced in Sydney.
"Dubai is exciting. People are ambitious. Success is encouraged instead of torn down," Starkey explained. She has since established herself in a new role as head of social and personal branding at a marketing firm. While the workplace culture can be intense at times, Starkey has no regrets about her decision to leave Australia behind for the tax-free allure of Dubai.
