There's no single "best" city, but Melbourne often leads for culture/livability, Adelaide for happiness/affordability, Sydney for iconic lifestyle, Perth for beaches/outdoors, and Brisbane for warmth/growth, with Canberra being safest, depending on your priorities for lifestyle, cost, culture, or safety.
Sydney – A Top City to Live in New South Wales
Sydney is Australia's largest city and considered the best by many families and professionals. It boasts some of the best beaches, world-class dining, and cultural attractions like the Opera House and Harbour.
There's no single "nicest" city, as it depends on preference, but Adelaide often wins for happiness and liveability, Melbourne for culture, Sydney for iconic sights, Brisbane for friendliness, Hobart for relaxed charm, and Perth for beautiful beaches and access to nature, with each offering unique vibes from vibrant culture to laid-back living.
Canberra is officially Australia's #1 safest city, with a crime index rating of 26 out of 100. That places it as the 49th safest city in the world. This ranking comes from Compare the Market Australia, which analysed 6 years of public data from Numbeo's crime index.
Adelaide has been ranked as the most liveable city in Australia. If you want to know why, check out the News Corp's Future Adelaide feature. https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/future- adelaide.
Adelaide is often regarded as the cheapest place to live in Australia, with lower living costs compared to major cities. Regional areas are becoming more popular due to remote work opportunities, making them affordable choices.
Toorak – The Undisputed Richest Suburb in Melbourne
From multi-million-dollar mansions to elite private schools and exclusive shopping strips, it has long been regarded as the richest area in Melbourne. Toorak is also home to Australia's wealthiest business leaders, celebrities, and international investors.
Adelaide has been ranked Australia's happiest city in the global Happy City Index, scoring highly across 82 measures of liveability and wellbeing.
These are Australia's 10 most liveable suburbs for 2025
There are many safe cities in the U.S. Large cities like Irvine, CA and Virginia Beach, VA rank among the lowest (83.97 and 92.28 per 100,000, respectively). Other sizable cities, such as Gilbert, AZ, Plano, TX and Honolulu, HI also report crime rates well below the national average of 361 per 100,000.
Perth has been named as the sunniest capital city in Australia with clear skies 70% of the year. The average yearly temperature is 21ºC and there are an average 24 rainy days annually. Let's take a look at what the weather is like across each season.
While both Sydney and Melbourne are two of the largest cities in Australia, each offers their own unique experiences. For starters, Sydney is an ideal destination for those who love sunshine, coastal adventures, and scenic walks.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is one of the most beautiful places to live in Australia with stunning beaches and a growing economy. It's a great choice for those looking for a laid-back yet prosperous city.
Top 10 places to retire in Australia
Sydney is the most expensive major city in Australia and the most expensive city overall. Townsville is 43% less expensive than Sydney, it is the least expensive city in the country. Insurance and financial services saw the largest increase in average prices from October 2023 to October 2024.
1. Adelaide: The Affordable Festival City. It should also be noted that Adelaide is one of Australia's least expensive large cities. The living expenses in Adelaide are relatively cheaper than in Sydney and Melbourne for rent and other necessities.
The best cities for the real estate market in India include Gurgaon, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, and some tier 2 cities like Jaipur, Kochi, and Indore.
For those seeking affordability and a slower pace of life, Perth and Adelaide are excellent options. Both cities offer affordable housing, strong community connections, and a close-knit atmosphere. Perth and Adelaide both saw a significant portion of Kiwis choosing to relocate in 2024.
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.
Looking for the easiest place in Australia to find a job? As of October 2022, the answer is Canberra! That's according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which releases its figures for vacancy rates around Australia every quarter.
Australia's Quiet Places
One of the more popular areas for China's new rich, in addition to the old money suburbs of Vaucluse, Bellevue Hill and Point Piper, is Hunters Hill.
In the centre of Sydney's east, some of Sydney's most awe-inspiring properties are nestled within Bellevue Hill's green hills. It takes out the title as the most expensive suburb in Australia, and for good reason. A meander through the suburb's spectacular streets says it all.