Which city in Australia is best to live?

[MMDown Under]

Adelaide - food and drink

Brisbane - best for rural escapes

Canberra - best for families

Hobart - best for property affordability

Melbourne - best for culture

Perth - best for climate

Sydney - best for job opportunities 

 

Do you agree?

 

Had to laugh at Brisbane - best for rural escapes! 

[possum52]

18 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

Adelaide - food and drink

Brisbane - best for rural escapes

Canberra - best for families

Hobart - best for property affordability

Melbourne - best for culture

Perth - best for climate

Sydney - best for job opportunities 

 

Do you agree?

 

Had to laugh at Brisbane - best for rural escapes! 

What is this from Marion?

[lyndarra]

Best of everything city not listed. Same population as Hobart but I'm not saying where.😉

 

[valantine80]

Live near Brisbane. Used to think I could live in Perth until we had to spend July there in 2021 while my husband was in hospital. Rained for 26 days that month plus very windy so that ended my thoughts of living there.

[Kristelle]

no  I dont agree OP - other than property affordability,  it is all totally individual and subjective.

[yarramar]

I suppose this list was construed as a reaction to the recent "worlds most liveable city" list. Melbourne got 3, Sydney - 4, Perth & Adelaide 12th while Brisbane got 16th

[Obilix]

In my view there is not much to separate all  Australian capital cities based on the factors raised on your list. What one may lag behind in in one respect, it can make up for in others. It is a case of choosing what you are after, and fitting it into your budget, not just judging a city based on your own particularised criteria, which may be peculiar to your own needs at any given time. 

 

Sure some are different to others, based on geography, demographics and size, but all cater well for reasonable human needs. And you can always get what you want if you are prepared to pay for it, no different to anywhere else in the world.

 

Having said all that, I'd rather be looking for a good job in Perth than in Sydney at this time!

[arxcards]

As capitals go, Darwin misses the list but beats them all, mostly as it doesn't feel like a capital city. I will stick with Newcastle over any of those, as it is a really good match against most of those criteria, and I don't need an e-tag to drive on the local highways.

[SinbadThePorter]

4 hours ago, yarramar said:

I suppose this list was construed as a reaction to the recent "worlds most liveable city" list. Melbourne got 3, Sydney - 4, Perth & Adelaide 12th while Brisbane got 16th

 

I bet in all those lists they are equating Sydney with the Harbour. Once you take away the waterviews there is not much left.

[GUT2407]

Not a huge fan of cities at all, except Lake Macquarie. If we limit it to capital cities, Hobart and Adelaide probably top my list but both have gone down hill ove4 the last 20 or so years.

[Kristelle]

1 hour ago, SinbadThePorter said:

 

I bet in all those lists they are equating Sydney with the Harbour. Once you take away the waterviews there is not much left.

well ,not really - since Sydney was rated best on job opportunities - most of which would have nothing to do with the harbour

 

But I still think the list is vague and meaningless.

[MMDown Under]

6 hours ago, possum52 said:

What is this from Marion?

It just came up on my computer and made me laugh, esp Brisbane.  

FWIW, this is my opinion -

I think Brisbane has the best quality of life to bring up a family, best weather.  

Canberra and Perth best for education.

Melbourne - Culture and Sport 

Adelaide for festivals and perfect size for a small city.

Sydney for harbour, beaches, rock pools, city walks.

Hobart for small size, best wharf and the B-Annual Wooden Boat Festival 

Darwin for best diversity of people and Asian food.  

Perth has everything, just too far from family "back East", every second year is long haul "back East" to visit family, every other year you just collapse at Mandaruh to recover. 

[OzKiwiJJ]

There are so many factors that make up liveability for every individual person but they can probably be loosely grouped - young singles would have one set of criteria, young professional couples another, couples with kids yet another, then empty nesters, then seniors. 

 

We like our small part of Sydney. We bought there because it was handy for our jobs but it was a quiet suburb back then, almost boring. It's changed a lot in the past 25 years and is much more vibrant and interesting. It has a village feel but is close to two major shopping centres and the CBD. 

Edited June 27, 2023 by OzKiwiJJ

[MMDown Under]

Just now, OzKiwiJJ said:

There are so many factors that make up liveability for every individual person but tgey can probably be loosely grouped - young singles would have one set of criteria, young professional couples another, couples with kids yet another, then empty nesters, then seniors. 

 

We like our small part of Sydney. We bought there because it was handy for our jobs but it was a quiet suburb back then, almost boring. It's changed a lot in the past 25 years and is much more vibrant and interesting. It has a village feel but is close to two major shopping centres and the CBD. 

You live in a lovely part of Sydney.  We had relatives who lived at Winston Hills and never went to CBD, the Harbour nor the beautiful beaches.  Rather a waste of living in Sydney, 

I visit Sydney for live theatre and love riding the ferries to the beaches and Parramatta for $2.50!

[OzKiwiJJ]

54 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

You live in a lovely part of Sydney.  We had relatives who lived at Winston Hills and never went to CBD, the Harbour nor the beautiful beaches.  Rather a waste of living in Sydney, 

I visit Sydney for live theatre and love riding the ferries to the beaches and Parramatta for $2.50!

It is indeed lovely although there are some serious public transport issues at the moment. The previous state government privatised the bus services, signing contracts that don't penalise the private companies enough for cancelled or late services, and it has become a serious issue due to driver shortages. 

[Ozwoody]

Most city's leave me blah, but I do really love visiting Sydney, absolutely love visiting there.

It makes me realise just how very lucky I am to live in Brisbane....😁

[MMDown Under]

20 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

It is indeed lovely although there are some serious public transport issues at the moment. The previous state government privatised the bus services, signing contracts that don't penalise the private companies enough for cancelled or late services, and it has become a serious issue due to driver shortages. 

Public transport shouldn't be privatised in my opinion.  

[OzKiwiJJ]

1 hour ago, MMDown Under said:

Public transport shouldn't be privatised in my opinion.  

I agree, and our local council voted against it but was in the minority. 

 

Luckily it doesn't affect us too much as most of the issues are during peak hours, but it is affecting those who have to travel into the city for work every weekday.

[Porky55]

I love visiting cities, but wouldn't live in one.
 

We have lived all over Australia and found large regional towns far better for kids, families, buying homes, playing sport, public schools, retirement villages, public transport, parks and gardens etc etc.  Everything is within 15 minutes and when/if you need big cities for specialist medical or whatever, it's an hour flight away. 

 

So …… I don't think any of these cities are any better than the next, each has good points and bad. A place is what we make of it … much like a cruise ship 😉

 

Rose 🌹

[MMDown Under]

1 minute ago, Porky55 said:

I love visiting cities, b aut wouldn't live in one.
 

We have lived all over Australia and found large regional towns far better for kids, families, buying homes, playing sport, public schools, retirement villages, public transport, parks and gardens etc etc.  Everything is within 15 minutes and when/if you need big cities for specialist medical or whatever, it's an hour flight away. 

 

So …… I don't think any of these cities are any better than the next, each has good points and bad. A place is what we make of it … much like a cruise ship 😉

 

Rose 🌹

I was born in Brisbane and worked all my life in Brisbane.  Interstate people used to say Brisbane was like a big country town.  I took that as a compliment.  Sadly those things are all gone now.  

[MMDown Under]

5 minutes ago, Porky55 said:

I love visiting cities, but wouldn't live in one.
 

We have lived all over Australia and found large regional towns far better for kids, families, buying homes, playing sport, public schools, retirement villages, public transport, parks and gardens etc etc.  Everything is within 15 minutes and when/if you need big cities for specialist medical or whatever, it's an hour flight away. 

 

So …… I don't think any of these cities are any better than the next, each has good points and bad. A place is what we make of it … much like a cruise ship 😉

 

Rose 🌹

I know what you mean.  My relatives lived in Mackay and on an island and we used to visit every summer.  When we were told to visualise a favourite place, I always visualised the North.  I doubt anyone visualises a city!

[fishtaco]

10 hours ago, valantine80 said:

Live near Brisbane. Used to think I could live in Perth until we had to spend July there in 2021 while my husband was in hospital. Rained for 26 days that month plus very windy so that ended my thoughts of living there.

I have lived in Perth since 1972 and I have to say I have never experienced anywhere near 26 days of rain in a single month lol I have worked "Outside" So I can confidently say your mood set your tone! 

Windy is in Summer not winter lol

[Bubbeh]

15 hours ago, Ozwoody said:

If at first you don't succeed then skydiving is not for you - ROTFLMAO!!!!

 

[Bubbeh]

What a shame the list is limited to capital cities. 

 

We moved from Perth down to Mandurah when we retired.  We now live in a 3 bedroom shoebox (apartment) on a beautiful sea water canal.  From what I see of real estate prices across the nation, what we have and the lifestyle that comes with it would be pretty much unaffordable for all but the very wealthy in Melbourne or Sydney. 

 

I think my favourite capital cities would have to be Canberra or Hobart, Adelaide is a close second.  For me, Sydney is just too big and bustling but probably great for career development, Melbourne is wonderful on a cultural and sporting level but, why on earth does everyone wear black?  Brisbane and Darwin are great but too humid for me.

 

[ceeceeDee]

Although I lived in Sydney for 20 odd years, I am definitely not a city mouse. Really enjoy our little corner of the Gold Coast and of course the weather.

However my absolute favourite place is Upper Crystal Creek NSW. Only an hour or so drive from the Gold Coast but a great get away from it all spot.