1. Vienna, Austria. Having topped this list in 2018, 2019 and 2022, Austria's capital city continues its reign on top as the best place to live in the world.
Key Points. Melbourne is the world's third most liveable city, and Sydney is the fourth.
Culture and environment
Sydney is the Australian city that arguably offers the best balance of environment and cultural delights, and it has a wonderful climate. With some stunning beaches and sea pools, plus surrounding bushland, it's heaven on earth for outdoor types.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has released its Global Liveability Index for 2023 and Australian cities have made a major comeback after tumbling down the list last year. Melbourne rocketed back up the list to third – below first-place Vienna and Copenhagen – and one spot ahead of Sydney in fourth.
The seven best places to live in Australia are: Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. We've worked out which place is best depending on what you care about most, from culture and climate to job opportunities.
As a breakdown of the 2022 index results, Sydney came third overall in its size category for quality of life, behind only table-topper Washington and third-placed San Francisco. Melbourne was only one point behind in the same measure, improving its score by six points.
The world's third most liveable city*
Set around the world's largest natural harbour, Sydney is home to beautiful golden beaches, world-class museums and art galleries, delicious fresh food, and a calendar of exciting events and festivals.
Beautiful beaches, incredible nature scenes, a thriving nightlife – there are countless amazing reasons to live and study in Sydney.
People from all over the world move to Sydney for various reasons: its temperate climate with warm summers and mild winters; its proximity to some amazingly beautiful countryside and national treasures like the Great Barrier Reef; its outdoorsy lifestyle; its prominent cultural and academic position within Australia; ...
Dover Heights is an affluent neighbourhood that hugs the top of the cliffs overlooking the Tasman Sea, meanwhile, Vaucluse is known for being an incredibly affluent area with peninsular and harbour views unlike any other. The entire suburb is home to some of Sydney's highest property prices and largest pay packets.
Blacktown has the fastest growing population in Sydney and the second fastest growing suburb population across Australia, according to a new report, with many buyers favouring the area for its larger land sizes and affordable homes.
Out of 200 global cities, Tokyo has been named the most 'future-ready', followed by Hangzhou, Helsinki, Tallinn and Taipei. Durham, Aberdeen, Sapporo, Boulder and Madrid round out the top ten. The analysis was carried out by research firm ThoughtLab in partnership with consultancy Hatch Urban Solutions.
The world's best country to live in is Sweden, as it ranked highest on the world report Quality of Life Index that measured attributes ranging from economic stability and progressivism to innovation and geographical attractions.
We're here to answer the question, Should I Visit Melbourne or Sydney? Both cities offer a unique Australian flavour, yet they are so different. Melbourne is considered the cultural capital of the country, while Sydney's undeniable landscapes, weather and nature always remains an allure to travellers.
While the harbour and beaches are beautiful, many have opted to leave Sydney due to the high cost of living, long commutes and poor work life balance. Meanwhile, COVID-19 has shaken up workplaces and more Australians are working from home than ever before.
Sydney is a great place to live; it is ranked 5th most livable city in the world and is one of the best cities with so much to offer. With beautiful golden sand beaches, great outdoor activities and some of the best restaurants in the world, it is easy to see why Sydneysiders love living here so much.
Sydney City
Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world due to its high quality of life and unique landmarks like the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House, Sydney is often the starting point for many travelers who arrive by this city to start their vacation in Australia.
Sydney is best known for its iconic landmarks. It's also and is one of Australia's largest cities. Sydney has incredible architecture and many beaches. No trip to Sydney is complete without visiting a beach and seeing the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
The ranking is based on a global survey of over 15,000 people, conducted in April 2023 in 20 countries on all continents to measure perceptions of the world's top 100 cities. “Sydney has earned a reputation as one of the world's most desirable cities to live in.
Sydney is considered an alpha world city, according to Loughborough University's globalisation and world cities research network, which measures the connectivity of cities in terms of position and influence.