WHAT’S THE BEST CITY IN AUSTRALIA TO LIVE IN?

What’s the best city in Australia to live in? That’s a hell of a question, right? Funnily enough, there’s no right or wrong answer. It all depends on your own needs, and expectations. Would you rather live in a vibrant metropolis that never sleeps or in a calmer, laid-back city without all that hustle and bustle? Do you prefer higher or milder temperatures? Good news is that Australia has it all, so it’s a matter of your choice. In this blog post, I’m going to present you with the pros and cons of living in the 8 largest Australian cities. Let’s go!

SYDNEY

Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales, and Australia’s largest city with an estimated population of 5.3 million. Ela, a Sydney blogger, has been living there for 4 years. Ever since she arrived, the city felt like a perfect match for her. Here’s what she has to say about living in Sydney: “Best thing about Sydney is having access to big city advantages, but at the same time being so close to nature. I love beaches in here, and nearby national parks, especially the beautiful Blue Mountains region. There are lots of opportunities for education and work as well. On the other hand, the big city life comes with disadvantages such as high rent, and heavy traffic.”

• Location: 4/5
• Weather: 3/5
• Beaches: 3/5
• Entertainment: 5/5
• Recreation: 5/5
• Nightlife: 4/5
• Rental prices: 3/5
• Public transport: 4/5

Rated by Ela | Instagram: twoluggagetrip

MELBOURNE

Melbourne is the state capital of Victoria, and Australia’s second-largest city with a population over 5 million inhabitants. I had the pleasure to live there for 7 months, and this is how I remember this city: “Melbourne is well-known for its many laneways full of fine restaurants, tiny cafés, hidden bars, live music venues, and street art. The city has gained its recognition as Australia’s cultural capital, became famous for excellent coffee, and iconic graffiti. There are plenty of parks close to the CBD, and great public transport in place. Unpredictable weather may be an issue though. They say Melbourne gets four seasons in one day, and there’s a reason for that.”

• Location: 5/5
• Weather: 3/5
• Beaches: 3/5
• Entertainment: 5/5
• Recreation: 5/5
• Nightlife: 5/5
• Rental prices: 4/5
• Public transport: 5/5

Rated by myself | the author of this blog

BRISBANE

Brisbane is the state capital of Queensland, and Australia’s third-largest city with a population of 2.2 million. Karolina, a Polish blogger, moved to Brisbane 10 years ago, and she loves living there: “Brisbane is close to many natural attractions, such as beaches in Gold Coast, waterfalls in Mount Tamborine, and walking tracks in Springbrook. It takes only a short ferry ride to get to North Stradbroke Island, where you can spot kangaroos, koalas, and even dolphins. The CBD is loaded with bars, restaurants, and parks. There are also heaps of playgrounds, and free activities for kids. The only downside I can think of is an extremely hot and humid summer.”

• Location: 5/5
• Weather: 4/5
• Beaches: 1/5
• Entertainment: 3/5
• Recreation: 5/5
• Nightlife: 4/5
• Rental prices: 4/5
• Public transport: 3/5

Rated by Karolina | Instagram: moja_australia_i_swiat

PERTH

Perth is the state capital of Western Australia, and the fourth-largest city in the country with a population of approximately 1.9 million. After leaving Melbourne, Perth became my home for another year. Let me tell you more about it: “Perth is the most isolated city not only in Australia, but also in the entire world, so the interstate flights are long, and expensive. But honestly speaking, that’s about it. I can’t think of any other cons of living there. I love Perth for its great weather, beautiful beaches, laid-back attitude, and a huge 4WD culture. One of my favourite weekend getaways is Rottnest Island with sandy beaches, blue waters, and adorable quokkas.”

• Location: 3/5
• Weather: 5/5
• Beaches: 5/5
• Entertainment: 3/5
• Recreation: 5/5
• Nightlife: 2/5
• Rental prices: 4/5
• Public transport: 4/5

Rated by myself | the author of this blog

ADELAIDE

Adelaide is the state capital of South Australia, and the fifth-largest city in the country with a population of 1.3 million. Darek and Zosia, Polish travel bloggers, moved from Sydney to Adelaide in 2020. Here’s what they have to say: “If Sydney is like an exciting one-night stand, Adelaide is like a woman you want to settle down with, and there is some truth to it. The city is relatively small and quiet, some might even say boring, but we think it hits the sweet spot between opportunities of a big metropolis, and a laid-back vibe of a small town. What we don’t like here is winter season. It brings low temperatures, and months-long city hibernation. Also public transport could be better. Trains don’t cover the whole city area, and buses take too long to get you from A to B.”

• Location: 4/5
• Weather: 4/5
• Beaches: 4/5
• Entertainment: 3/5
• Recreation: 5/5
• Nightlife: 3/5
• Rental prices: 3/5
• Public transport: 3/5

Rated by Darek & Zosia | Instagram: przedeptane

CANBERRA

Do you know what the capital city of Australia is? Is it Sydney or maybe Melbourne? The correct answer is actually Canberra, a city located in the Australian Capital Territory. How’s life there? Órla, a born and bred Canberran, answered this question for me: “Canberra has all the big city things without insane crowds and horrible traffic. There are green spaces everywhere, and heaps of natures reserves. No access to the ocean might be an issue for some, but you get three beautiful lakes for water sports instead. Unfortunately, public transport is not great, so you need a car to properly see things. Another con of living in Canberra is our small community. I think it’s hard to make new friends if you don’t have those connections. It’s also quite expensive to fly in and out.”

• Location: 5/5
• Weather: 4/5
• Beaches: 1/5
• Entertainment: 4/5
• Recreation: 3/5
• Nightlife: 3/5
• Rental prices: 2/5
• Public transport: 3/5

Rated by Órla | Instagram: orlaa.gray

HOBART

Hobart is the state capital of Tasmania, Australia’s smallest state. The city’s population has reached 224,000 in 2022. Jessika, an artist, and founder of Polkafolk, has been living there for over 2 years. This is how she finds Hobart: “It’s definitely my kind of place! One of the biggest advantages of living in Hobart is easy access to everything, beaches, bushwalking, and any other outdoor activities. I personally love Hobart’s charming historical vibe, the port, the streets, and the Saturday Salamanca market. It feels like Europe in some spots, especially during the winter months. I wish it was just a tiny bit warmer sometimes, but at least we get snow here.”

• Location: 4/5
• Weather: 3/5
• Beaches: 5/5
• Entertainment: 4/5
• Recreation: 5/5
• Nightlife: 3/5
• Rental prices: 3/5
• Public transport: 3/5

Rated by Jessika | Instagram: polkafolk

DARWIN

Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory with a population of approximately 132,045. Marlena, a Polish Instagrammer, lived there for 8 months. Here’s what she thinks about it: “People often say Darwin has nothing to offer. I don’t agree with that. The city is quite isolated from the rest of the country, much smaller than Sydney or Melbourne, but it has some advantages. Darwin experiences only two seasons, the wet, and the dry season, so it’s warm the entire year. It has a relaxed, holiday vibe, and gets the most beautiful sunsets in Australia. Mindil Beach Sunset Market is one of the coolest things to do here, and also my favourite. What about cons of living in Darwin? Well… there are crocodiles, so unfortunately swimming is not always possible, and safe.”

• Location: 2/5
• Weather: 4/5
• Beaches: 3/5
• Entertainment: 3/5
• Recreation: 4/5
• Nightlife: 3/5
• Rental prices: 3/5
• Public transport: 3/5

Rated by Marlena | Instagram: marlenasadventure

These are the pros and cons of living in the 8 largest Australian cities. What’s the best city in Australia to live in? Let me know by leaving a comment below!

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Hey, it’s Karolina, the author of this blog. If you find my content valuable and helpful, I would be more than grateful, if you could support my work, and buy me a coffee. I do love writing my blog, and creating content for you guys. Thank you!