Adelaide, South Australia has been crowned the most beautiful city in the world by the Architectural Digest. From its rolling hills to stunning beaches, this Australian city is sure to be on everyone's bucket list in 2024 and beyond.
What is the most beautiful city in Australia?
12 Most Beautiful Cities in the World to Explore Entirely on Foot
For Iconic Landmarks and Beaches: If you are looking for iconic landmarks, natural beauty, and outdoor activities, Sydney may be the better choice for you. The city's breathtaking views and famous beaches are perfect for those who enjoy a laid-back vibe combined with urban energy.
It's big, has soul and culture and an energy that you don't find in Sydney. If you work in finance and love to surf move to Sydney. For everyone else, Melbourne will welcome you with open arms. Great culture great shopping great restaurants and cafes awesome sport and just a wonderful vibe!
Quick answer: The best cities to live in Australia are Sydney (for career opportunities and cosmopolitan lifestyle), Melbourne (for culture and arts), Brisbane (for families and affordability), Perth (for work-life balance and beaches), and the Gold Coast (for coastal retirement).
1. Sydney, Australia. Sydney, often known as Australia's financial hub, consistently tops the list of the wealthiest cities in the region.
U.S. National Ratings. According to the Mid 2025 GCIM, New York is currently the most important U.S. city—followed by Washington, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
It's important to recognise that a $100,000 salary is above the average in Australia. The latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) statistics for the 2022-23 financial year found the average taxable income for Australians was $74,240, while the median was lower at $55,868.
List Of The Top 12 Beautiful Cities In India
Chester named the world's prettiest city ✨ Researchers in 2024 found its buildings match the Golden Ratio (aka nature's formula for beauty) better than anywhere else in the WORLD 🌍 💫 Will you be joining the thousands of runners embracing the world's prettiest city this Sunday? 🏃
The Most Colorful Cities In The World
Adelaide has been ranked Australia's happiest city in the global Happy City Index, scoring highly across 82 measures of liveability and wellbeing.
Did you know, Australia has its own Hawaii! 🌸 beautiful, relaxed and remarkable- this is Lord Howe island, the perfect bucket list destination, just 2 hrs from Sydney!
As the most-visited destination in Australia, Brisbane is set to continue its upward trajectory in the tourism industry, especially in the lead up to the 2032 Olympics.
The 10 largest Australian cities
1. London. The “Capital of Capitals” claims the throne atop the World's Best Cities ranking in 2026 for an incredible 11th consecutive year. It secures the top position in three of our 34 subcategories (the most of any city), and ranks 1, 2 and 3 in our Prosperity, Lovability and Livability indexes, respectively.
Mungallala Methodist Church was built in 1964. It has now closed. In 2016, the Australian Taxation Office listed Mungallala as having the lowest mean taxable income by postcode, making it the poorest town in Australia, which led the ABC to do a documentary on the town for their online "storyhunters" program.
More billionaires from the list live in the elite Melbourne suburb of Toorak, five kilometres southeast of the CBD, than any other Australian suburbs. Toorak boasts gated cul-de-sacs, privacy hedges, tree-lined streets and 22 of Australia's richest people.
Melbourne is Australia's most liveable city (as ranked by Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Liveability Index for 2022) and is popular among sport lovers and art enthusiasts alike.
Canberra, the capital city of Australia, is considered the safest city. According to Numbeo, its safety index is 73.6, which is higher than other cities in Australia. It also ranked as the 49th safest city in global rankings.
Where do most Brits live in Australia? British expats are spread across Australia, but the majority choose to settle in major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. Melbourne, in particular, has a significant British community, accounting for a notable portion of the city's population.
The Verdict: West vs. East Coast. If you're travelling to Australia for the first time, you should do the East Coast, as it's more connected, as well as populated with must-see destinations (from Byron Bay to Noosa to Cairns).