Moving to the Sunshine Coast in 2026: Queensland's Fastest-Growing Region Explained

The Sunshine Coast has grown from a string of beach towns into a genuine metropolitan region with over 350,000 residents. University of the Sunshine Coast, a private hospital network, a light industrial base and a tourism economy built around consistently good weather have made it one of Queensland's fastest-growing regions.

Why the Sunshine Coast

The lifestyle is the headline: hinterland ranges behind, 60km of beaches in front, warm winters and hot summers. The Noosa end is premium; Caloundra in the south is more affordable and family-focused. Maroochydore in the middle is the commercial hub and has improved significantly with new CBD development.

Cost of living

The Sunshine Coast is less affordable than it was before 2020 but remains below Brisbane for many suburb comparisons. Hinterland towns like Maleny and Montville offer acreage at prices unavailable anywhere near the coast in QLD.

Transport

The Bruce Highway is the main link south to Brisbane — about 90 minutes to the CBD. The Sunshine Coast Airport at Maroochy connects to major capitals. A rail extension from the existing line at Beerwah to Maroochydore is underway. Most residents drive. The bus network covers the main corridors.

Jobs

Tourism and hospitality are the largest sectors. Health, education and construction are growing. The USC, Sunshine Coast University Hospital and a growing professional services cluster mean a wider range of careers than the beach-town image suggests.

This article was compiled by AI from the sources linked above and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.