These Are The 6 Best Cities To Live In Australia

It is no surprise that many people decide to become ex-pats in Australia due to the country’s well-known warm weather and laid-back lifestyle. There is an increase in the number of people from all walks of life and all ages who have chosen to live as foreigners in Australia.

Being an Australian resident is a very unique experience as advised by one of our travel team specialists. Life-altering experiences may be found everywhere as there are waves, nice neighbors, and a beachside BBQ. We have produced a list of the best places to live in Australia, so you can decide easily.

Our Recommendation of The Places to Live in Australia

To help you decide where to settle down in Australia, we have compiled this list. Find out which Australian metropolis ranks highest in terms of climate, atmosphere, employment, and cost of living by reading on.

Melbourne

Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital and is truly recommended for someone who is planning to settle in Australia for the long term. Melbourne is home to a wide range of communities, from the ultra-chic to the more modestly prosperous.

Expats, budget travelers, and vacationers have all gravitated to this city for years, making it one of the most culturally diverse places in the world. Melbourne is one of the best places to live in Australia for young expats and digital nomads because of its youthful and hipster feel.

Cost of Living

While not exactly inexpensive, Melbourne is much less so than Sydney. For example, rent for a one-bedroom apartment in a city with a competitive real estate market ranges between A$1500 ($1004) to A$2000 ($1358) per month.

A 2-bedroom apartment ranges between A$2000 ($1352)to A$2500 ($1700). However, Melbourne is an attractive destination to live and work because of its high pay which covers up for the slightly elevated cost of living here. The average salary over here is about A$6000-A$8000 ($4000 – $5400) a month which varies according to the occupation.

Community and Life

Melbourne is one of Australia’s coolest urban wonders while being less glamorous than its flashier northern sister, Sydney. It has a more European feel than any of its cosmopolitan competitors and is home to a booming cultural scene, trendy pubs, and gourmet restaurants.

The city is full of sports fanatics. The Formula One Grand Prix, the Australian Open Tennis Championships, and the Australian Football League Grand Final are among the sporting events that take place in this city. The Melbourne Cricket Ground is considered by many to be the “spiritual home” of Australian cricket.

Hosier Lane, Block Arcade, and Union Lane are home to some of the city’s most impressive street art, and they are just as famous for their abundance of cafes, restaurants, and shops. The trendy coastal district of St. Kilda draws a younger clientele, while the more established neighborhoods of Surrey Hills and Camberwell are favorites among expats with children.

St. Kilda is a great option if you feel the need to be near the water. In this urban-coastal hybrid, you may go window shopping, listen to live music, and breathe in the fresh sea air.

The National Sports Museum is a must-see for sports aficionados, while gourmet eaters should make a beeline for Queen Victoria Market. Parliament House, Federation Square, the City Museum, and the Docklands are all accessible via the free City Circle Tram.

You can visit Phillip Island (only 90 minutes from the city) at sunset to observe hundreds of little penguins marching down the beach. You might also travel the Great Ocean Road, a 243-kilometer route along Australia’s southeast coast that is often considered to be among the greatest road journeys anywhere. We are mentioning all of this to provide you with the idea that Melbourne has a lot to visit and explore.

What’s the Catch?

Melbourne is the costliest city in Australia, behind Sydney. Everything from rent to food is more expensive in the nation’s capital. Despite its status as Australia’s second-largest metropolis (behind Sydney), Melbourne remains mostly cut off from the rest of the globe.

When asked what they detest most about living in the city, many people say the weather. Melbourne is not regarded as having the greatest climate among Australia’s capital cities, despite its fame for experiencing all four seasons in a single day.

Sydney

Sydney, with a population of about 5 million, is Australia’s largest city and the site of the country’s most recognizable landmarks. As the economic center of Australia, with many local and foreign corporations putting up an office here, it provides various professional prospects and job opportunities.

The rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney is well-known. For some reason, many people have a strong preference for either Sydney or Melbourne, so if the former is not your style, the latter probably will be.

Cost of Living

The high cost of living in Sydney may be directly attributed to the city’s status as a global powerhouse. Comparable real estate costs to those of New York City place it among the world’s priciest urban areas. Fortunately, the financial services, communications technology, and creative sectors are flourishing in Sydney’s robust economy, so job prospects are high. Sydney has the highest cost of living in all of Australia.

An average one-bedroom apartment would set you back between A$1700 ($1138) and A$2500 ($1673) each month. Likewise, the prices of a two-bedroom apartment are high as well, soaring up to A$3200 ($2167) a month. The average salary over here is also higher than in Melbourne at about A$7300 ($4950). However, the public transportation system is reliable and reasonably priced allowing many to commute easily and saving bucks on transport.

Community and Life

Surfers will find paradise in New South Wales’s premier city, which also has a glittering harbor and a variety of world-class entertainment options.

Sydney still has enough cultural depth to satisfy history aficionados, from Bondi Icebergs, which are over a century old, to the Royal Botanic Gardens (thought to be the oldest public gardens in the Southern Hemisphere). There is also a lengthy list of icons, which make it the best place to live in Australia, most notably the Sydney Opera House, which was created by the Danish architect Jrn Utzon.

While young foreigners are drawn to the city center of Sydney for its variety of pubs, restaurants, and clubs, many families choose to settle in the suburbs. The Northern Beaches Area is fantastic for families, and Western Sydney is also popular with American visitors and expats.

Sydney’s warmer winters are a big plus compared to Melbourne’s cold ones. Even in the harshest months, when swimming and surfing are out of the question, temperatures seldom fall below 10 degrees Celsius.

Explore Darling Harbor and Sydney Harbor by boat after scaling Sydney Harbor Bridge. The State Theatre, Art Gallery of New South Wales, and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia will keep you entertained while Oxford and William Streets will drain your money.

The Rocks, a historic district on Sydney’s harbor, is not to be missed too. The Blue Mountains National Park, a scenic journey of around 90 minutes from the heart of Sydney, is a must-see for its blue-tinged escarpment and Three Sisters rock formation.

What’s the Catch?

Sydney, the most populous and economically significant city in Australia, is also the second most expensive city in the world, behind Hong Kong. The traffic situation in Sydney is really bad. Sydney was recently named the most congested city in Australasia, with certain highways even slower than New York’s.

Driving in Sydney can make you even more frustrated with other drivers if you do not like being in close quarters. Sydney has the highest median housing costs in Australia, making it tough to become a homeowner there. Even buying a little home may cost you an arm and leg but if you manage to find a good mortgage, the problem is solved!

Perth

Even though it is one of the most remote towns in the world, Western Australia’s young capital has managed to leapfrog its rivals. There are trees and parks in every direction you look in this metropolis. Perth provides everything you could need. In addition to its spotless streets, the city also has some of the world’s most gorgeous beaches and landscapes.

Cost of Living

Perth is much cheaper than other major Australian cities like Sydney and Melbourne, with rent being around half of what it costs in Sydney. The median monthly salary in Perth is A$3990 ($2671), whereas the lower monthly salary for a single individual is A$2973 ($1990).

The monthly rent for a family of three is $2750 ($1841), whereas it is A$1900 ($1271) for a couple. A single person might be able to get an even lower cost of living. The cost of living in Perth varies widely depending on location, with the usual area rent for a flat/house being A$1650 ($1104) per month.

Community and Life

This once-rustic town has now been transformed into a stylish metropolis with trendy wine bars and eateries, expansive parks, achingly cool festivals, superb markets, beautiful beaches, and a skyline that can compete with that of New York.

This developing region of Western Australia provides a plethora of options, from a morning jog in central Perth’s Kings Park to a lazy day on Cottesloe Beach’s pristine white beaches.

Victoria Park and Applecross are popular with families due to their excellent educational opportunities, while Fremantle, on Perth’s southern coast, is popular with tourists and locals alike for its artistic and culinary offerings. Northbridge is a fantastic neighborhood for partygoers and cultural vultures because of its abundance of hostels, pubs, and clubs.

Cottesloe Beach is a great place to set up camp if you are an avid swimmer, snorkeler, or surfer, as well as a true beach bum. For all of these reasons, Perth is among the best places to live in Australia.

The Art Gallery of Western Australia has one of the world’s finest collections of Aboriginal art, and a visit to the Perth Mint will allow you to determine your true gold value. Another must-see is Rottnest Island, a 30-minute boat trip from the city and home to up to 12,000 inquisitive quokkas, beautiful quiet beaches and bays, and excellent cycling pathways.

The Swan Valley and Darling Range are just 20 minutes east of Perth, yet they seem like another universe. It is convenient to get there by car, but a cruise down the Swan River from Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty is the best way to go (a short stroll from the CBD).

What’s the Catch?

Living in Perth, one of the most remote cities in the world may make you feel cut off from the rest of Australia. Perth is also called one of the most racist places in Australia.

Common spaces include hardwood flooring and tiles, whereas bedrooms feature either carpeting or hardwood and seldom have any insulation at all. Most homes’ main problem is a lack of insulation. At 5 pm in the evening, Perth’s stores shut for the day. The traditional division between white-collar and blue-collar work has been flipped.

Brisbane

The sunny capital of Queensland, formerly a prison colony for British convicts transferred from Sydney, is now one of the country’s most up-and-coming towns.

There is a lot more to this sizable metropolis than meets the eye. There is quite a bit of culture to be found in this area, from the Botanic Gardens atop Mt. Coot-tha to the weekend farmers’ markets where you can buy locally grown organic food.

Cost of Living

The average 1-bedroom apartment’s rent in inner Brisbane is A$1868 ($1,266) while in the outskirts of Brisbane, the rent for a 1-bedroom apartment is A$1,327 ($900) per month. In retrospect, a 3-bedroom apartment in the inner Brisbane area costs a monthly rent of A$3,080 ($2,087) while that in the outskirts of Brisbane costs A$2,060 ($1,400). In Brisbane, the average monthly income ranges from A$6,500 ($4,400) – A$7,500 ($5,083) making it a suitable place to live in Australia.

Community and Life

All the action happens on and around the dazzling Brisbane River, where you can rappel the Kangaroo Point cliffs, climb the famous Story Bridge, and rollerblade along the river’s floating walkways.

Away from the lake, though, it is clear that the city is proud of its Brisvegas moniker, not least because of the recent proliferation of posh hotels, art galleries, designer boutiques, and top-notch concert halls that can hold their own with their southern counterparts.

The opportunities for outdoor adventure are vast, ranging from cruising the Brisbane River on a paddle steamer or ferry to lounging in the South Bank’s verdant riverfront parks or cycling through the City Botanic Gardens.

Far from the busy downtown area, Brisbane’s suburbs and surrounding countryside are quiet and picturesque. Expats often choose to live in bustling neighborhoods like Paddington, while families may choose more tranquil districts like Morayfield.

Visitor hotspots include the Stanley Street Plaza weekend market, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, the inner-city beach, and GoMA (Australia’s biggest gallery of modern and contemporary art).

North Stradbroke Island (also known as Straddie) is only a 40-minute drive from Brisbane and a 5-minute boat trip away, making it a fantastic escape from the city for 4WD excursions, kayaking, fishing, whale-watching, sandboarding, bathing in a tea-stained lake, and mingling with local fauna.

In light of these features, Brisbane is undeniably one of the top places to live in Australia. However, one must consider the drawbacks as well.

What’s the Catch?

Even though the sun is wonderful in Brisbane, the summertime humidity may make outdoor activities less pleasant. The average summer day temperature in Brisbane is 26 degrees Celsius, which may be too hot for some people.

It might be difficult, if not impossible, to get a parking spot in the city. Parking on the street in Brisbane is the most expensive in Australia for stays of less than an hour.

This city of Brisbane never stops developing. While it’s exciting to see so many new businesses opening, the resulting increase in building and road projects is a bit of a pain. It may lead to gridlock and other conflicts.

Adelaide

South Australia’s main city, Adelaide, is gaining in popularity as a result of its welcoming rural vibe and reasonably priced housing. The majority of Adelaide’s one million people would rather live in a spread-out suburb than in the city itself. This means being able to afford to settle closer to the seaside and have the city at your doorstep.

Cost of Living

Adelaide has a relatively low cost of living, with the average family spending A$3035 ($2031) and the average bachelor spending A$1710 ($1144) each month. Monthly rent for a studio and 1-bedroom apartment can vary between A$1000 – A$1500 ($677 – $1016). If you plan on going bigger, the rent will also be increased likewise, ranging between A$1800 – A$2700 ($1200 – $1830) for a 2-bedroom apartment. However, the income over here is also low with some records showing an average monthly income of A$5600 ($3800) per month.

Community and Life

Many international families have settled in Adelaide with several of them choosing the affluent neighborhoods of Belair and Banksia Park. There is a rich cultural scene full of art exhibits, concerts, and delicious dining options. Relax on the stunning beaches of Adelaide, or go out to the adjacent wineries of the Barossa Valley for a taste of the great regional cuisine and wines.

The Adelaide Fringe Festival and the city’s vibrant music and theater scenes also contribute significantly to the city’s prominence as an arts hub. On top of that, there is a plethora of outdoor pursuits available, from hiking to surfing and beyond.

Visit Port Adelaide to see some traditional Australian pubs and historic wharves, North Terrace to see the Art Gallery of South Australia and the South Australian Museum, and Adelaide Zoo to see over 1,800 species (including koalas and kangaroos). Some of the greatest restaurants, cafes, and pubs in town can be found on and around Rundle Street, which serves as the nerve center of the hip and trendy East End District.

What’s the Catch?

Finding work in Adelaide is not always easy. In recent years, Adelaide’s unemployment rate has been much higher than the national average. In Adelaide, natural calamities including earthquakes, storms, floods, and bushfires are possible. Finding a place to live in Adelaide has gotten increasingly difficult as a result of the 3.5% annual increase in property prices and the influx of new residents.

Canberra

Canberra, Australia’s capital is known for its refined environment, which comes to life whenever the country’s Parliament meets. Canberra, the nation’s capital, has a population of less than 400,000, giving it a quaint, small-town feel despite its prominence.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Canberra is slightly higher than the national average. For the residents of Canberra, the median monthly rent is around A$2000 ($1355) a month while a bigger accommodation costs you A$2500 ($1700). A small unit can get you down to A$1700 ($1152) as well. However, in Canberra, due to low population but the high demand for workers, the salaries have been quite high. Statistics show that the median salary in Canberra is A$8000 ($5422).

Community and Life

Picnics, bicycle rides, fishing, and sailing are just some of the summertime activities that draw Canberrans to Lake Burley Griffin. The city is home to excellent dining options, exciting cultural landmarks like the National Gallery of Australia, and a wealth of outdoor adventure opportunities in the nearby hills and forests. Due to this, it is considered one of the best places to live in Australia.

The extraordinary buildings of the Parliament House, the Opera House, and the Australian War Memorial provide the desired visual excitement.

You should check out the National Gallery of Australia, which houses more than 166,000 works of art, the National Library of Australia, which houses Captain Cook’s logbook from 1770, and the Lake Burley Griffin Bridge to Bridge Path, which is named after the Chicago-born architect who designed the capital in 1913.

What’s the Catch?

The nearest beach to Canberra is around a 2-hour drive away, so planning a beach day is going to need some planning. It is possible that Canberra will not satisfy your need for frequent exposure to the sun and seawater if you define an ideal weekend as taking unplanned dips in the ocean.

With its recent rent increases, Canberra has risen to the position of the third most expensive city in Australia (behind Sydney and Darwin). Nighttime lows in the winter consistently drop below freezing, and summers are often chilly as well.

Things to Consider Before Relocating to Australia

Be careful to think about the following before making any final decisions about your move to Australia.

• The Sun is Dangerous — When the sun is out in Australia, it is out in full force. Extremely high summertime temperatures (often over 40 degrees Celsius) are common and are predicted to rise to 50 degrees Celsius by the year 2040. It is not only the temperature; however, that poses a threat. The ozone layer over Australia is abnormally low, which is concerning since we rely on it to shield us from the sun’s dangerous UV radiation. This is why the Australian sun is so potent;
• You Must Have Proper Funds — You must have proper funds while you are planning to move to Australia because adults in Australia who work full time earn around $1,634 per week on average when using ordinary time. However, if you do not have a job, you will need to factor in Australia’s high cost of living. Australian cities Sydney and Melbourne are now ranked No. 5 and No. 6 for the highest average housing costs worldwide.
• Healthcare Options — Even though public healthcare is free in Australia, citizens should nevertheless consider purchasing private medical insurance as it covers even major accidental expenses, deliveries, and unusual circumstances.
• Traffic System is Quite Different — Australia has its own unique system of road signs, and you are unlikely to see anything like them anywhere else. If you want to drive while you are there, it is particularly important to familiarize yourself with the local roads and drivers before you go. Australians drive on the left, so keep that in mind. To avoid fines that might cost hundreds of dollars from the Australian government, drivers should be aware of and abide by posted speed restrictions. On the other hand, driving too slowly might result in a hefty fine on key thoroughfares. Therefore, caution is advised.

How Do We Pick Our Recommendations?

We have condensed the list of possible relocation places down to a select few after taking into account aspects such as cost of living, accessibility of facilities, and entertainment options. The opinions of other internationals are considered as well. After a thorough evaluation of the numerous cities in Australia, we were able to devise the 6 most suitable places to live in Australia.

Final Word

All sorts of expatriates may find the type of life they have always wanted in Australia because of the country’s vastness and the variety of its land and lifestyle alternatives. Depending on your motivations for migrating, you may wind up living in a different part of Australia, but wherever you end up calling home, you will not be dissatisfied.