AlbaLink’s Real Estate Investment Forest conducted an attitudinal survey of 257 people with experience relocating from the three major metropolitan areas to regional areas. The results on the advantages and disadvantages of relocating to a regional area and overall satisfaction were published.
The survey was conducted from 30 September to 6 October 2026 among 257 people with experience relocating from the three major metropolitan areas to regional areas. Responses were submitted voluntarily online, with 257 valid responses, including 152 women and 105 men, ranging in age from their 20s to 60s and older.
The most frequently cited benefit of relocating to a regional area was being able to live in a natural environment, at 34.6%. This was followed by lower living costs at 24.5%, less crowding at 19.8% and being able to enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle at 17.1%. The quality of the food, quietness and kindness of the people around them were also positively evaluated.
The most frequently cited regret about relocating to a regional area was inconvenient transportation, at 35.0%, followed by inconvenient shopping at 23.3%, a lack of entertainment at 14.8%, having no acquaintances at 8.2% and the burden of local social obligations at 7.4%. These inconveniences were seen to affect satisfaction with daily life in some cases.
Overall satisfaction among people who had relocated from the three major metropolitan areas to regional areas was 84.1%, a high level when combined with those who were very satisfied. The factors determining relocation and satisfaction with life vary substantially by region, and the source must be identified when using the survey results.