Today we’ll be talking about the best Australian Capital cities to live in: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. If you’re moving down under and not be sure which Australian city is the best for you. This should tell you what to expect from each of these cities.
I want you to find the best Australian city to live in. Plant your feet in your new home home in the land down under.
Choosing where you want to live in a foreign country will largely depend on:
- The lifestyle you want
- Your budget
- If you plan to buy a property here.
- If you want to be by the beach or prefer a city vibe
- If you’re moving alone, with friends or with a family.
Disclaimer: I am not saying one city is better than the other. They all are amazing in their own way and for different reasons.
Since moving from Ireland to Australia in 2020 I have predominantly lived in Sydney. I LOVE Sydney! However, like all good cities there are pros and cons to them all.
I have visited all the cities I’m going to mention here. I will give you the good, the bad, and the ugly. This way, you can decide which one will be your new home.
Is Sydney the Best Australian City to Live in?
Sydney is one of the world’s most iconic cities. Sydney has beautiful landmarks: The Opera House, The Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach. It truly is an amazingly city. Over 5 million people choose to call Sydney home.
It is the most populated city in Australia which in turn makes it the most expensive city to live in.
Many backpackers in Sydney choose to live in the Eastern Suburbs. It’s close to beaches like Bondi, Bronte and Coogee. I swear there are more Irish in Coogee than Australians. Every 10 steps you can hear a different accent.
Let’s Talk About the Pros
Its an Outdoor Lifestyle
If you’re an outdoorsy person who loves to get up early. You love to go for a run or have a swim before work then Sydney could be your new home.
The early bird definitely catches the worm here. There are so many communities for fitness, run clubs, beach volleyball and much more. I personally hosted a run club for 6 months last year which was an amazing way to meet people.
There are so many options for activities on the water. There are also endless coastal walks and beautiful bush walks in the national parks.
The city is so well set up for outdoor living. The public facilities are great. They include public toilets, free public pools, BBQ facilities, picnic areas, and plenty of playgrounds.
The Weather
The weather is also a big plus. In the winter, the coldest it gets is about 8-10 degrees. In the summer, temperatures typically range from the early twenties to early thirties.
Towns and Attractions Nearby this Australian City
It’s also close to many coastal towns. You can visit them on the weekend. These towns include Jervis Bay, Port Stephens, and Kiama.
Public transport is really good and well connected. There are trains, trams, metro lines and buses which run really frequently.
Now The Cons
It’s Expensive
Sydney is EXPENSIVE! It is becoming more and more expensive the longer I have lived here. I live in the Eastern Suburbs near Bondi so rent is inevitably more expensive than the outer suburbs. It’s the price a gal has to pay for living near the beach.
If you’re relocating with a family, you might struggle to secure a place in the city. It may also be challenging if you intend to buy a house near the beaches. I can’t stress enough just how expensive it is to buy accommodation in Sydney. A 2 bedroom apartment in Bondi can sell from 1.5 million AUD.
Nightlife
Also a word of warning, the nightlife in Sydney is just not up to scratch. Compared to many other international cities I have visited. There’s no real “vibe”.
Lockout Laws
Years ago, the government introduced laws which meant a lot of the nightclubs and bars had to close early. This had a knock on effect on the city’s overall nightlife culture. A lot of places have to shut “early” around 1.30 on a Saturday.
Sydney is really strict with the sale of alcohol and many places don’t sell shots.
This is a good thing for our hangovers the next day!
If you’re moving here and love to party late, then Sydney is probably not the best place for you.
You can find some places that are open later, but it’s not the busiest place for a late night.
With that being said I have still had many fun nights out, gone dancing. And ended up with a very sore head the next day. So it’s not completely dead.
If you love getting up early for a coffee or love an active lifestyle, then this is the best Australian city to live in. It is also ideal if you enjoy chilling by the beach.
Is Melbourne More Your Vibe?
Melbourne is known for the best coffee in Australia. When I think of Melbourne I think fun and quirky. It’s a city full of culture and an “artsy vibe”. There is an age-old debate Sydney versus Melbourne and which is the best Australian city to live in.
The Good
Cost of Living in this Australian City
Rent and property is a lot cheaper than living in Sydney. There’s not a big difference on eating out and groceries between Sydney and Melbourne..
Nightlife
Melbourne’s nightlife to me was the total opposite of Sydney. There are heaps of places to eat, drink and go clubbing. There is a place called “Revs” on Chapel Street which is basically a 24hr rave all weekend.
As Melbourne doesn’t have the same amount of beaches that Sydney has, they really make the most of their nightlife. Many of my friends live in Melbourne and they love it! They’re always going out and catching up midweek for dinner. It’s a really social city.
Public Transport
The public transport is also amazing, there is a really good tram network setup here. It is set up like a grid and takes you all over the city. the trams run really regular.
Sport
Melbourne is the sports capital of Australia. They get two public holidays for sports alone; the Friday before the AFL Grand Final and a day for The Melbourne Cup. How good is that?
St Kilda is a popular beach in Melbourne 6km away from the city centre.
Attractions Nearby
The Great Ocean Road is also only 2 and a half hours away from Melbourne. It’s the perfect stop before you set off on your travels.
If you love a bustling nightlife with a good atmosphere and meeting friends throughout the week, Melbourne may be the best Australian city to live in for you.
The Cons of Living in This Australian City
The Weather
The thing Melbournians complain about is the 4 seasons of weather in one day. It could be a glorious summer’s day or chucking down rain 5 minutes later. Bring your umbrella just in case!
Overall though in the summer the temperatures are good and mainly sunny with little rain.
Traffic is bad in the city but considering there is really good public transport it may not bother you that much.
If you value a city full of artistic culture and nightlife then this one’s for you.
Perth
Perth is an absolutely beautiful city with pristine beaches. It has a more relaxed chill vibe and they really strive for work life balance.
The Pros of Living in this Beautiful Australian City
Cost
Perth in my opinion is a really great place for families. It’s less expensive than Sydney for the overall cost of living.
Houses are more affordable here and there are so many good parks and playgrounds for children.
Perth is definitely a quieter city and things tend to shut early here.
Western Australia is the wealthiest state in Australia largely due to the mining industry. If you’re planning to work in the mines, Perth is a great place to stay while doing FIFO work.
Attractions Nearby
Perth also has Rottnest Island just a half hour ferry ride away which is home to the Quokkas. These animals are native to Rottnest Island. It’s the perfect day trip. You can cycle around for the day exploring all the beaches, the Quokkas and stunning views.
Margaret River is a beautiful small town south of Perth and has fantastic breweries and wineries. Definitely worth a visit!
If You Live in this Australian City You Can Enjoy Milder Winter’s
The weather is also fab nearly all year with mild winters and hot summers. Perth is great, if you’re a young family and working in the corporate word. But love that easy going laid back lifestyle.
There is a lovely Irish community out here with GAA Sports. Definitely get involved in the local sports if you come.
An amazing added bonus is its proximity to Bali. You can catch yourself lounging by the pool in your private villa after a 4 hour flight
The Cons
Perth is a very isolated city. In fact it’s one of the most isolated cities in the world. Adelaide is the closest capital city to Perth which is a 28 hour drive away.
Please don’t think that there is absolutely nothing near Perth. I travelled the entire West Coast and it is truly breathtaking. The West Coast is not as popular as the East Coast. Purely due to its remoteness and lack of accessibility with airports.
But do not pass up the opportunity to at least visit! To be honest the more I sit here and think about what Australian city is the best to live in. Perth is looking pretty good. Maybe sooner than I thought we could be saying goodbye to Sydney.
Brisbane: an Australian City in The Sunshine State
Brisbane has 2.5 million people.
I wasn’t in Brisbane for very long but it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. It just seemed like another large city. But, take what I say with a pinch of salt. I have not experienced the full culture of the city.
The Pros
What I do know is the city has good infrastructure with good public transport and great weather.
Unfortunately Brisbane doesn’t have any natural beaches like Perth or Sydney. But it does have a man made beach in South Bank in the CBD. There are lots of museums, art galleries and really good theatre shows here.
It’s in a great location. Its only 2 hours drive away from Noosa which is an amazing coastal town. It’s a 1 hour drive from the Gold Coast. So, although Brisbane itself doesn’t have beaches it’s close to some of the best.
There were also really good restaurants and cute bars when I visited with a good atmosphere. Brisbane may be the best Australian city to live in if you want to hustle in the skyscrapers. And sit back and relax in the Gold Coast on the weekend.
The Cons
The humidity in summer can be a tough one so definitely make sure you have air con.
Being apart of the Sunshine State Brisbane doesn’t have daylight savings like Sydney. There’s unfortunately no added benefit of an extra hour of daylight in the summer.
So Have You Decided Yet Which Australian City is the Best to Live in Yet?
It all really boils down to what you value and the lifestyle you want to create for yourself. If worst comes to worst, you don’t like the city you can move. Nothing in life is permanent.
If you’re still not sure, you can do a test run. Try one of the cities out for 6 months. Take some holidays in the others before making any hard financial decisions.
Let’s not forget the rest of Australia, these are by no means the only places to live in Australia.
There’s so many beautiful rural towns and we haven’t even mentioned Tasmania. If only we could teleport ourselves to a new place every week and enjoy the benefits from them all.
I hope you have a better idea of what these Australian cities have to offer. Understand which one is be best suited to your individual needs.
If you need help with those life admin tasks when you arrive, like setting up a super account, be sure to check out my post.
If you need to send over belongings, I recommend Send My Bag. They collect your bag from your home. You can collect it a few weeks after you land in Australia. It can save you a lot of money on paying the airlines.
