Australia is known for its sunny climate and laid-back culture, making it a popular choice for many expats. With a growing expat population across all states and age groups, from young students to mature retirees, it is no surprise that moving to Australia is a dream for many. Although permanent migration can be challenging due to the country’s strict requirements, obtaining a student or working visa is relatively easier.
Australia is an expensive country to live in, ranking 12th in the world, but it remains a popular choice due to its increasing job opportunities and high wages. In this article, we will look at the 6 best places to live in Australia based on factors such as cost of living, availability of schools and universities, employment opportunities, and things to do.
1. Darwin
Darwin is home to around 100,000 people and a multicultural mix of expats, making it a welcoming environment for new migrants. This city is best suited for those who want to live somewhere with a relaxed pace of life. Darwin offers stunning natural scenery and well-planned urban areas, a fantastic climate, a buzzing nightlife, plenty of job opportunities, and outstanding universities. Although not the biggest city, Darwin is somewhat expensive due to its competitive real estate market and its geographical isolation, which means that you can expect to pay more for certain goods and services.
2. Cairns
For those who enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, Cairns or the surrounding area is a great place to live. This city is a popular travel destination, best known for being the gateway to the world-famous Great Barrier Reef. Cairns is surrounded by the perfect natural playground for those who enjoy sports, nature, and adventure activities. In the city, there are plenty of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and markets to keep residents entertained. The housing property in Cairns is relatively cheap, with a single person able to live comfortably with a monthly budget of $1000.
3. Canberra
Australia’s inland capital, Canberra, has a sophisticated atmosphere that comes to life when the country’s parliament assembles. With fewer than 400,000 residents, it has an almost small-town charm with its pretty tree-lined streets. In recent years, Canberra has become more interested in cultural activities and may soon create more jobs in the cultural sector. Although not Australia’s business hub, Canberra has low unemployment and the highest average full-time income in Australia, making it an enviable place to work. Another surprising feature is that housing is very affordable, with a wide variety of styles and sizes of properties available.
4. Perth
The amazing climate is one of the reasons people choose to relocate to Perth, as this city has the most hours of sunshine per day compared to anywhere in Australia. Perth is also a fantastic place to live for those working in the tech industry, as the proximity to Asia means that the tech market is contributing to the fast-growing economy of the city. There are excellent schools that appeal to families, and the pristine beaches provide a range of leisure opportunities. The downside of this city is that it is relatively isolated and a three-hour flight from the nearest city.
5. Hobart
Nestled in the beautiful surroundings of Tasmania, Hobart is a city that is renowned for its relaxed pace of life and stunning scenery. Unlike the fast-paced cities of Sydney or Melbourne, Hobart offers a more tranquil and peaceful way of life, making it a popular choice among families and those who prefer a slower pace of life. The city is surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, including the scenic Mount Wellington, which provides residents with a range of outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and scenic walks.
In addition to its natural beauty, Hobart is also well known for its rich cultural heritage and history, with numerous museums and galleries showcasing the city’s rich heritage. The city is home to a vibrant arts community, with numerous art galleries, theaters, and cultural events taking place throughout the year. The famous Salamanca Market is a popular attraction, offering a wide range of local produce, arts, and crafts.
Hobart is also a hub of culinary excellence, with a range of top-notch restaurants and cafes that offer a diverse range of cuisines, from local seafood dishes to international flavors. The city is also home to numerous vineyards and wineries, which produce some of Australia’s finest wines.
Despite its tranquil and relaxed atmosphere, Hobart is still a bustling city, with plenty of employment opportunities and top-rated schools and universities. The cost of living in Hobart is relatively affordable, with a wide range of housing options available to suit all budgets. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful escape from city life or a vibrant and thriving city, Hobart has something to offer for everyone.
6. Adelaide
Adelaide, South Australia is another city that can be considered as one of the best places to live in Australia. With its rich history, culture, and natural beauty, Adelaide has a lot to offer to both residents and visitors. The city has a population of over 1 million people and is known for its cultural diversity, welcoming atmosphere, and attractive living conditions.
Adelaide has a stable and growing economy, with a number of industries contributing to its growth, including technology, health and medical research, education, and tourism. As a result, the city has a high employment rate and offers many job opportunities for new arrivals. Additionally, Adelaide is home to many excellent schools and universities, making it an ideal place for families and students to live.
The cost of living in Adelaide is relatively low compared to other major cities in Australia, making it an attractive option for those who want to live in a city with a good standard of living without having to pay exorbitant prices. Housing is also reasonably priced, with a wide range of options available to suit different needs and budgets.
Finally, Adelaide is surrounded by stunning natural beauty, including rolling hills, beaches, parks, and gardens. This makes it easy for residents to escape the city and enjoy outdoor activities, such as hiking, swimming, and picnicking, whenever they like. Overall, Adelaide is a city that offers a high standard of living, excellent job opportunities, and an attractive combination of urban and natural beauty, making it a great place to live in Australia.
Conclusion
In conclusion, moving to Australia is a popular dream for many expats due to its sunny climate and laid-back culture. The country is known for its high cost of living, ranking 12th in the world, but it remains a popular choice due to its job opportunities and high wages. From the multicultural city of Darwin to the natural beauty of Hobart, there are many fantastic places to live in Australia. These cities offer a range of benefits such as stunning natural scenery, well-planned urban areas, excellent schools and universities, vibrant cultural scenes, and plenty of job opportunities. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful escape from city life or a thriving urban hub, there’s a place in Australia that can offer something for everyone.
As a migrant of 10years in Australia, we’ve settled in Adelaide. Started in Sydney (financial trap and rat race) went to Brisbane, then Cairns- probably the most lush part of the country, locals come first in terms of employment opportunities which is fair enough, just something to be aware of. Then moved to Perth- best beaches by far, way too sprawled out for me though when public transport isn’t nearly as frequent as other states, takes too long to get from A to B with no traffic! Moved to Broome – if you’re unsettled/ backpacking, try do a stint here! It’s the Bali of Australia, tropical style resorts, beautiful beaches and the most laid back place on the continent. Lots of hospitality employment options too that include accommodation. Then went back to Sydney for family connections of my partner and we started a family. The new family dynamic is what made us choose Adelaide. More like a big country town but with all the amenities you could need, great schools, property prices a fraction of the bigger cities and plenty of employment opportunities in all sectors with little to no difference on income expectation compared to the big cities.
Something to note is that five of the cities in this list are among the top 20 least affordable cities in the world for housing, with Sydney and Melbourne in the top 5. Brisbane and Hobart used to be nice alternatives to Sydney and Melbourne but then their house prices jumped by more than 30% during 2021. So if you’re the average person you can’t afford to buy in any capital city unless you make heavy compromises.
Sydney is beautiful but very expensive and the traffic is atrocious – definitely a place to visit but not live. Brisbane is not an exciting or charismatic city but does have a nice lifestyle and the weather is usually very nice (notwithstanding the recent floods). Would have been cool to see some smaller cities on this list.
So i’m Aussie living in western Sydney and I have to mention that you generally want to avoid living in the city due to high housing cost and you’ll be forced to live in an apartment which some people prefer but i highly dislike because you’ll be cramped. I know this because my uncle bought a tiny apartment in a large building for about $1.5 million AUD which I thought was a ripoff since it’s tiny and pathetic and you have to deal with neighbours and the only upside is that there’s a beautiful view of the city but in my opinion it isn’t worth it, so I recommend to stick with suburbs and an actual house if you plan to move to Australia. Cheers
I lived in Australia from 1970 to 1979 and it was wonderful. Beautiful beaches, good food, Mediterranean in that you take your basket with you after work and visit the fruit market, butcher, baker and have a one on one relationship with them. Free medical, great transportation. I lived down at Palm Beach and you have busses that take you to Sydney so you can shop or take the ferry or hydrofoil across the bay from Manly Warf. Magical place. You are indeed fortunate to live there. My mom is Australian and she married a Yank.
Melbourne & Perth by far have the highest living standards and best quslity of life. Both have been the best since the 1850s.
Victoria has the lowest electricity, gas and water costs in Australia and the best produce, best events and sporting venues, best universities and libraries, best restaurants, best transport system, best roads, best workplaces, best entertainment.
Perth is not far behind.
I hate Adelaide as a young person because the only things we do on the weekend with friends is hang out at their place or eat at overpriced restaurants. Our night clubs are on one road only and the nightlife experience is 4/10 if best and inside is small. The weirdos don’t only come out at night because in the day time around the city creeps, meth heads and alcoholics come up to me when I don’t want to talk to them. Rent around city is cheap BUT anything under $400 a week will only give you a place that is only 1% better than living on the street (and my rent for my crap place just increased by $30 a week, why??). If I could I would get out of here as fast as I can. Of course if you’re from a big city and coming to study in Adelaide you will love it because it’s shiny and new and you will inevitably just go home to your better city after you graduate, so while you’re here make sure to tell locals like me how much you loooove Adelaide every time :))))
There is no lifestyle in Australia unless you are rich who doesn’t care about living cost or you are living on the bare minimum – eat potatoes and onions.