A young Australian woman has explained why she swapped the comfort of Melbourne for a costly, cramped apartment in New York, where she believes the city’s opportunities and unapologetic attitude towards success make the sacrifices worthwhile.
Madison Stefanis, 26, pays US$4,500 (AUD$6,395) each month for rent and around US$1,800 (AUD$2,560) on food. She has also had to navigate an unfamiliar healthcare system, where even booking a routine appointment can involve complicated insurance requirements.
Living thousands of kilometres from her family, Madison has missed major milestones back home and been forced to build an entirely new social circle.
Even so, she says that while daily life in New York can often be more challenging than necessary, she has never seriously thought about moving back to Australia.
Madison is one of thousands of young Australians pursuing opportunities overseas. Many are attracted by the possibility of advancing their careers, embracing new experiences and living in places where ambition is discussed more openly.
Australia offers comfort, established support networks and access to universal Medicare. But Madison believes living in a city where people speak freely about money, career ambitions and success has reshaped her understanding of what she can achieve.
‘Living in New York completely changed my definition of what is normal and what is possible,’ she told the Daily Mail.
‘The goals I have now wouldn’t even have occurred to me two years ago, and the people I brush shoulders with in coffee shops or meet on street corners are living proof that anything I want to achieve is possible.’
A young Australian woman has revealed why she traded the comfort of Melbourne for an expensive, cramped apartment in New York
Madison Stefanis, 26, grew up in Melbourne and spent her early twenties building a camera business, 35mm Co
Madison grew up in Melbourne and spent her early twenties building a camera business, 35mm Co, which generated $2million in direct-to-consumer revenue during its first year.
By 24, she had established a successful company and a comfortable life surrounded by family and friends. But she had begun to wonder what living somewhere different might do for her ambitions.
Having never visited the United States, she spent 12 months navigating the visa process before booking a one-way flight to New York in 2024.
She was particularly interested in the city’s entrepreneurial culture, where she felt ambitious people were encouraged to speak openly about what they wanted to achieve.
‘There’s an interesting conversation to be had about tall poppy syndrome in Australia, and the tendency Australians have to feel uncomfortable with people openly discussing their ambitions or achievements,’ she said.
Madison believes Australians can sometimes be reluctant to celebrate their own success or discuss financial aspirations, although she stressed that the country has no shortage of talented entrepreneurs.
She said the contrast had been particularly noticeable in the people she encountered casually, whether in coffee shops, at events or simply walking around the city.
For Madison, the appeal of New York is being surrounded by people whose achievements have challenged her assumptions about what is realistic.
Having never visited the United States, Madison spent 12 months navigating the visa process before booking a one-way flight to New York in 2024
In Melbourne, she had friends she could call spontaneously, family nearby and an established routine. In New York, even finding someone to have coffee with required effort
But the lifestyle she has chosen is considerably less comfortable, and far more expensive, than the one she left behind.
Madison pays US$4,500 (AUD$6,395) a month for accommodation alone, while health insurance costs another US$470 (AUD$668). Her gym membership is US$365 (AUD$520), and she spends approximately US$1,800 (AUD$2,560) a month on food.
She eats breakfast at home but usually orders lunch and dinner, having found that buying groceries and cooking for one is not necessarily cheaper in New York.
Transport is one of her few modest expenses, at approximately US$50 (AUD$71) a month, because she walks almost everywhere or uses the subway.
Altogether, those expenses amount to US$7,185 (AUD$10,212) a month, or US$86,220 (AUD$122,541) a year, before other personal spending.
And even those prices do not guarantee the comforts many Australians would expect from an expensive home. Madison said it was common to pay thousands for a fifth-floor walk-up apartment with no washing machine or central air conditioning.
‘You’re often paying considerably more for a lifestyle that involves less space and convenience than you’d be accustomed to in Australia,’ she explained.
The inconveniences extend beyond accommodation. Simple tasks such as opening a bank account, establishing a credit history, finding an apartment and arranging health insurance became major undertakings after she arrived.
‘The healthcare system has been one of the biggest adjustments,’ she said.
‘In Australia, we’re incredibly fortunate to have Medicare, and I don’t think I fully appreciated how straightforward accessing healthcare could be until I moved overseas.’
She also found herself dealing with the less obvious difficulties of starting a new life in a foreign country.
In Melbourne, she had friends she could call spontaneously, family nearby and an established routine. In New York, even finding someone to have coffee with required effort.
Because she runs her own business, she did not have colleagues to introduce her to new people or provide an immediate social circle.
‘I’ve had to become much more intentional about making friends, whether that’s reaching out to people on social media, attending events alone, complimenting a stranger in a coffee shop, connecting with other founders or saying yes to invitations where I might not know anybody,’ she said.
Being on the opposite side of the world has also complicated her relationships back home. The time difference makes arranging phone calls difficult, while birthdays, family occasions and spontaneous gatherings can pass without her being there.
Despite the difficulties, Madison said the experience had made her more independent and pushed her to develop a life beyond her business.
Despite the difficulties, Madison said the experience had made her more independent and pushed her to develop a life beyond her business
She founded 35mm Co at 21 after leaving her entrepreneurship and marketing degree at RMIT University to pursue the company full-time.
She started with $50,000 of her own savings and spent much of her early twenties handling everything from manufacturing and product development to marketing.
In 2023, she turned down a $300,000 investment offer from Robert Herjavec on Shark Tank Australia, choosing to retain full ownership.
As the business expanded into the United States, she decided that relocating would allow her to develop relationships and explore opportunities in a larger market.
But she said the decision was as much about her personal development as it was about work. During the early years of running the company, Madison had devoted almost all her time to the business, often sacrificing other parts of her life.
Since moving, she has become more conscious of the importance of friendships, new experiences and having an identity outside work.
‘I’ve learned that working constantly doesn’t necessarily translate to better outcomes, and that having a fulfilling life outside of the business is equally important,’ she said.
She also believes that the discomfort of starting over has been valuable in itself.
‘There’s a lot of independence that comes with starting over, which I’ve really enjoyed, but it also means navigating the more challenging moments without the familiarity and support of having everyone you love close by,’ she said.
For Madison, the biggest attraction remains the people she meets and the ambitions they encourage her to pursue.
‘I don’t think the value of living in New York is measured by square footage. For me, it’s access to people, opportunity, energy, and a city that challenges me.’
She acknowledged that the lifestyle is financially out of reach for many young Australians and that relocating overseas is no guarantee of professional success.
‘I recognise that this is a significant amount of money, particularly at 26 years old, and I’m fortunate to be in a position where I can make these choices,’ she said.
However, she believes a change of environment can alter the way people think about their futures.
Two years after leaving Melbourne, Madison said she feels settled in New York and has no immediate intention of coming home.
She would consider returning to Australia later in life, particularly to be closer to her family, but does not believe anything needs to change about the country to convince her.
‘Right now, New York is simply where I want to be, personally, professionally and aspirationally,’ she said.
Madison would consider returning to Australia later in life, particularly to be closer to her family, but does not believe anything needs to change about the country to convince her
But she’s not the only one…
An Australian nurse is preparing to leave the country for good after deciding New York offers better career opportunities, higher salaries and the lifestyle she has always wanted.
Liv Halliwell, 26, who previously lived in London, is planning to relocate to the United States after falling in love with New York during a three-day visit.
The prospect of earning significantly more money as a nurse is one of her biggest motivations, but there’s another reason she’s particularly excited about leaving Australia: she believes her future partner is waiting for her in America.
‘I truly believe my future soulmate lives there. I do not enjoy dating Australians and I don’t enjoy the culture of our life,’ she said.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Liv explained that New York appealed to her for several practical reasons, particularly when compared with London.
‘The salary is a big one, it’s a genuine step up,’ she said.
‘I also just wanted a different lifestyle, the skyscraper city that never sleeps energy is such a contrast to London. New York also puts me in a much better position to travel around the Americas, which I’m excited about.’
Liv’s decision began with a short holiday to New York, where she spent just three days exploring the city.
An Australian nurse is preparing to leave the country for good after deciding New York offers the lifestyle she has always wanted
Despite having travelled extensively throughout Europe, she said she had never experienced such an immediate desire to relocate somewhere.
She was particularly drawn to the city’s nightlife, busy streets, restaurants and the constant activity that has made New York one of the world’s most recognisable destinations.
‘I just fell in love. I love city life. I love how bustling it is – the bars, the vibes, the people. I can’t even look at people living there because I get really jealous.’
But unlike Australians who can move to certain countries on working holiday visas and pick up casual jobs, Liv’s move to the US requires considerably more preparation.
‘To become a registered nurse in New York, I need to have my Australian nursing qualifications and registration verified by the relevant US licensing authorities.
‘I then need to meet New York’s specific requirements and pass the NCLEX-RN, the US nursing registration exam.
‘Once my credentials have been assessed and I’ve met all the requirements, I can obtain my New York nursing licence.
‘In terms of nursing, the nurses in America make so much more than we do. Almost double our salary. Even just normal ward nursing because it’s a private system.’
Liv Halliwell, 26, who previously lived in London, is planning to relocate to the United States after falling in love with New York during a three-day visit
Why she prefers dating American men
Beyond her career, Liv believes moving overseas could improve her romantic prospects.
She admitted she hasn’t enjoyed dating Australian men and is looking for a relationship with more romance and traditional gestures.
‘I want something more. I want more chivalry. I want romance, which I have experienced,’ she said.
‘I have dated an American, completely different type of partner. He would open the car door for me, and I’d be shocked, because no Australian man is doing that.
‘This one might also be a controversial take but I also prefer that a lot of Americans tend to have a more provider mindset.
‘I’m going to be a nurse, I don’t expect myself to never work. I want to work. But I prefer dating someone who has that kind of a mindset. I don’t know any Aussies who are like that.’
Her comments reflect a broader frustration expressed by some Australian singles, particularly women who feel the country’s relaxed dating culture can sometimes translate into a lack of effort or romance.
Liv also believes New York would suit her long-term priorities because she doesn’t feel particularly drawn to marriage or motherhood.
‘I feel like New York is probably the perfect place because I feel like a lot of people aren’t doing that there,’ she said.
Beyond her career, Liv believes moving overseas could improve her romantic prospects
‘Australia has a really big issue with tall poppy syndrome’
Liv’s frustration with Australian culture extends beyond dating.
She believes the country’s tendency to cut down people who express big ambitions can make it difficult to feel encouraged when pursuing unconventional goals.
‘We have a really big issue with tall poppy syndrome. I didn’t notice how bad it is until I moved to London.’
Tall poppy syndrome is a term commonly used in Australia (and New Zealand) to describe a social phenomenon where people who achieve notable success, stand out, or show ambition are criticised, resented, or ‘cut down’ by others.
She recalled becoming aware of the difference while dating an American man, who questioned why she was so quick to dismiss ambitious ideas.
‘Why are you just shutting down these ideas I have?’ he’d ask her.
‘What do you mean? I’m just being realistic,’ she’d respond.
Liv explained that she had grown accustomed to a more cautious approach, where enthusiasm was sometimes met with scepticism.
‘I just wasn’t really used to how much Americans hype each other up. You could have an idea and they’re like, “Yeah, you’re so smart, do that”. So it took a long time to get that trait out of my brain.’
And while she will miss her loved ones, she doesn’t feel a strong desire to return permanently.
‘I see myself living there for probably the rest of my life,’ she said.