The 8 best cities to live in Australia

As a lifelong Sydneysider, it pains me to put Melbourne at the top of this list – but sadly we can’t argue with the data. While Melbourne may be less photogenic that showy Sydney, it was given the title of ‘most liveable city in Australia’ in 2023, and ranked third in the entire world on the Global Liveability Index. Plus, it’s 36 per cent cheaper to live, rent and eat than Sydney, which makes up for the lack of beach. Even though it isn’t the cheapest Aussie city on the block, it is a world-class hub packed with seriously incredible food, gazillions of independent cafés, and a uniquely electric cultural scene, meaning you get bang for your buck. Plus, you get secret gardens and bush swimming holes, and a gateway to the many wonders of the Great Ocean Road. Want a big city with a small-town feel? Go for Melbourne. It’ll treat you (and your savings account) right. 

Sydney is special, and I’m not just saying that because I grew up there. It has its fair share of haters, and to be fair, the hate isn’t unwarranted. By far the most expensive city in Australia, Sydney makes it hard to live a cost-free life. However, on the flip side, this blue water city was ranked as the fourth best place to live in the world, and the second-best in Australia by the Global Liveability Index 2023.

With its excellent weather, abundance of employment opportunities, solid social infrastructure and mix of globally renowned food, culture and nature in one turquoise-hued place, we tend to agree. Plus, depending on your location, you can go for a mind-blowing swim before, after or even during work. How’s that for a good time?

Adelaide is a secret that South Australian locals like keeping. Ranked as the 12th best city to live in the world by the Global Liveability Index in 2023, this is the cheapest major city to live in Australia, with the cost of living and housing a wild 49 per cent less than Sydney. Snugly located right next to one of the world’s leading wine regions, Adelaide is perfect for those who value relaxed daily living, a delightful family-friendly atmosphere, and very good wine.

Unemployment is the highest in Adelaide, out of all major Australian cities, and you aren’t going to get the same pumping city pace you would in Sydney or Melbourne. You do, however, get a 9.4 kilometre botanical garden, oodles of buzzy bars and restaurants, and fresh locally-grown produce. Plus, the climate is temperate year-round, and the city is fringed by pristine beaches. What more can you ask for? 

Brisbane is Australia’s most misunderstood main character, in that if you asked the general Sydneysider or Melburnian their thoughts, they may not be all that complimentary. Turns out a lot of Brisbane locals are totally fine with this arrangement, because it means they get the place to themselves. Ranked as the 16th best city to live in the Global Liveability Index 2023, they scored a perfect 100 for healthcare and education.

Brisbane offers up green spaces galore, family-friendly vibes and all the buzzy benefits of a big city, without the bad bits (read: crazy traffic congestion). It is also peppered with some incredible tropical swimming spots, is two hours from Byron Bay, and is a gateway to the countless natural wonders of Queensland. However, with the cost of living in Brisbane being only one per cent cheaper than Sydney, it isn’t necessarily the best place to live Down Under, with it failing to make up for its higher prices with the same levels of world-class food, culture and nature offered by Sydney or Melbourne. 

Canberra doesn’t have the best rep Australia-wide. Abundant in politicians, it’s where all of the nation’s biggest cats live – and where the rules get made. But, if you can overlook that little detail, Canberra could be what you're searching for. With one of the strongest economies in the country, employment in both government and the private sector is super high, and the cost of living is still 12 per cent cheaper than Sydney (but still more expensive than Hobart, Adelaide or Darwin).

An incredibly chilled out city with a distinctly small-town feel, Canberra offers up amazing food, booze and culture – along with access to the snow and the beach. You can ride your bike around town, don’t have to deal with traffic, and everything is delightfully close together. Expect excellent social infrastructure, schools and good times, but without the price tag of Australia’s most well-known cities. Canberra. Maybe it really is the place to be.

Are you someone who likes rocky coastlines, emerald forests and rugging up in cosy scarves? It’s time you met Hobart. Tasmania's capital, Hobart bubbles with a special kind of magic. As Australia's cheapest capital city to live in, Hobart is a safe and small city full of affordable rent, close-knit communities and a vibrant underbelly of alternative food, art and culture. 

This being said, employment can be a bit of a struggle in Hobart for more speciality professions, with there being far fewer opportunities compared to the mainland. However, if you do land work, it's an excellent place to call home. Ringed by stunning wilderness, Hobart is for the outdoorsy type who also likes cosy pubs and quality produce. Plus, there’s Dark Mofo – a witchy, pagan festival that transforms the city every winter, including a nude winter solstice swim. You don’t want to miss out.

Perth is a bit of a dark horse as far as Aussie cities are concerned. Is it very quiet? Yes. Is it ludicrously far away from the rest of the country? Yes. Is it perfect? No. This all aside, Perth was given equal 12th place with Adelaide in the Global Liveability Index in 2023. The cost of living in Perth is 20 per cent cheaper than Sydney, but only two per cent cheaper than Melbourne, which further validates putting Melbourne in first place. However, what Perth does have is a rich economy, fair job opportunities, and a coastline that looks like a postcard.

Think pure white sand and turquoise waters, combined with an abundance of good food, green spaces, family-friendly infrastructure and long, empty roads that cleanly connect the city together. Plus, when you can hop on a one-hour ferry and end up next to a quokka on an achingly beautiful beach, we reckon there’s not much more one can ask for.

A florid tropical paradise that sits in summer year-round, Darwin is full of mammoth frangipani trees, rainbow birds and zesty food. Formed by the vibrant influence of the local Larrakia people and a vivid mix of cultures from all over the world, Darwin is unlike anywhere else. You get amazing diverse communities, incredible food, vibrant festivals and a general eternal holiday vibe that you can only find in the tropics.

Darwin loses points because of its generally higher cost of living compared to other major cities, lack of diverse job offerings and also because its harbour is totally unswimmable due to an abundance of saltwater crocs. You can't have it all.