13 Best Places To Live in Australia

Moving to Australia has always been a popular choice for expats, and who can blame them? With near-endless sun, a relaxed and welcoming culture and abundant job opportunities, moving to Australia is the dream for many people.

Relocating to a new country requires time and thought, so we’ll break down some of the best places to live in Australia for work opportunities, for families, singles and more.

Let’s start by looking at some of the best places to live in Australia.

Sections

Best Places To Live In Australia

City	Reason
Sydney	Best for work
Adelaide	Best for affordability
Hobart	Best for families
Perth	Best for immigrants
Sunshine Coast	Best for retirement
Brisbane	Best for young adults
Melbourne	Best for students
Sydney and Melbourne	Best for food and nightlife
Newcastle	Best for singles
Sydney, Darlinghurst	Best for the LGBT+ community
Perth	Best for weather
Gold Coast	Best for beaches
City of Blue Mountains	Best for mountains

Best Places To Live In Australia for Work

Australia has a whole range of job opportunities both for skilled and unskilled work. The opportunities in bigger cities are catered for skilled professionals, while hospitality and labour jobs can more easily be found in rural areas.

Sydney is one of the best locations for an expat looking for work opportunities. Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and Australia’s most populous city – as such, it’s an incredibly convenient place to live with a large number of local amenities.

The employment rate in Sydney is under 6% and as a trade hub, many different industries operate in the city like financial services, information technology services, and the banking industry. As well as large-scale corporations there are smaller local and international businesses that also contribute to the job market.

Australia’s capital, Canberra, is another fantastic choice for immigrants looking for work opportunities. The main industries in Canberra with employment options are IT, consulting and tourism.

Cheapest Places To Live In Australia

Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and is a walkable city that is renowned for its museums. A coastal city, Adelaide has a great culture of arts with regular festivals, as well as a thriving wine and bar scene.

Another benefit of living in Adelaide is that the city is remarkably cheap in comparison to other large Australian cities. Adelaide has lower rent, food and public transport costs and this contributes to the city’s relaxed culture.

Cairns, which is a city in North Queensland is another affordable city famous for being a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Those who want a more relaxed and spacious lifestyle on a budget would benefit from considering Cairns.

Best Places To Live In Australia for Families

Hobart is one of the best cities in Australia for people moving to the country and looking to relocate their families. Hobart is the capital of Australia’s island state of Tasmania.

There are many family-friendly resorts in Hobart, including museums, wildlife excursions and lots of big, natural parks. Hobart is particularly good for families wanting to spend a lot of their time in the great outdoors.

Hobart has a range of good schools and a very efficient transport system that runs through the city, making travel easy. Hobart also has an airport with an international and national terminal.

Perth is one of the most isolated Australian cities and is another good spot for families, attracting hundreds of new expat families each year. There are also a range of good and safe schools in Perth.

Best Places To Live In Australia for Immigrants

Perth is the capital of Western Australia and is located alongside the Swan River and the southwest coast. As a remarkably isolated city, Perth has a strong economy, which is very useful for those immigrating with families.

Perth also has a large expat community, with some claiming that immigrants make up one-third of the city’s population. Perth also has a strong healthcare system and efficient public transport.

Perth enjoys lovely warm weather and receives more sunshine than other Australian cities. It is also near the coast, which is popular for those who enjoy water sports or lounging on the beach.

Another good Australian city for expats is Sydney – it is classified as being highly livable and is home to over 5 million residents.

Best Places To Live In Australia for Retirement

Australia is often on people’s lists as a dream country to retire to. With lots of sunshine and plenty of activities, Australia has a range of valleys and coastlines that are favoured by retirees.

The Sunshine Coast stretches for more than 60km along the Queensland Coast. It’s located about two hours north of Brisbane and is popular due to its beautiful beaches with clean white sand, it’s hideaways and natural parks.

Peregian Springs, for example, is one of the districts that has become a favourite with retirees as it is only ten minutes from various beaches.

Melbourne is also a recommended city for retirees as the cost of living is reasonable and there is a good range of amenities.

Best Places To Live In Australia for Young Adults

Lots of places in Australia are good for young adults due to the country’s culture for relaxation and fun – young adults moving to Australia get to pick from laid-back coastal cities, fast-paced central cities or more rural locations.

Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and is located on the Brisbane River. It’s a large city with notable interactive exhibitions at the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre.

Brisbane is a safe city that is particularly good for those who enjoy spending time outdoors. Common activities available in Brisbane are waterskiing, hiking and bird watching.

Brisbane is also close to some of the most famous beaches in Australia, such as the Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island). It also has many restaurants, bars and clubs that stretch along both sides of the Brisbane River.

Housing in Brisbane is affordable and there is an active job market in a range of industries such as tourism, healthcare and IT.

Melbourne is another Australian city that’s good for young adults – there is a large young adult community, plus plenty of housing and activities such as watersports.

Best Places To Live In Australia for Students

Melbourne is Australia’s best city for students, housing some of the best universities in the country like the University of Melbourne, RMIT University, Swinburne University of Technology, and Melbourne Business School.

Melbourne is the coastal capital of the southeastern Australian state of Victoria and is home to over five million people.

It has been globally recognised as one of the best student cities for categories such as desirability by students, affordability, diversity, safety, and employment opportunities after graduation.

Sydney and Brisbane are also good university cities and both are home to a large student population, with multiple university options and student accommodation available.

Best Places To Live In Australia for Food and Nightlife

Australia has some incredible cuisine, adopting culinary cuisines from a variety of different cultures and countries. Most can be experienced in the cities or you can head to the beaches for a classic Australian barbecue!

Sydney has been named one of the best cities in Australia for food with a wide range of choices when it comes to cuisine. There are lots of ‘foodie influencers’ in Sydney, giving opinions and guidance on the best places to eat in Sydney.

When it comes to nightlife, Melbourne is repeatedly named one of Australia’s best cities. The atmosphere of Melbourne is relaxed with lots of clubs and laneway bars (bars hidden in the alleyways that are perfect for drinking, dancing and relaxing).

Melbourne’s nightclubs and music venues provide space for all different kinds of music and entertainment – you can enjoy partying all night long or have a more relaxed evening in a local pub.

Best Places To Live In Australia for Singles

Newcastle is located in the state of New South Wales and is a harbour city perfect for singles. Over half the population is single making it the perfect spot for those looking for love or to form new connections.

The city is great for art lovers – there are more galleries per capita than anywhere else in Australia. There are also lots of bars and pubs which are fantastic meeting spots for couples and singles.

Newcastle also has a reputation for being a tourist town, increasing the opportunity to meet new people. The downtown district is the best for nightlife, with some single bars.

Melbourne and Cairns are also brilliant cities for singles as they’re known university towns with active nightlife scenes, affordable housing and plenty of fun attractions.

Best Places To Live In Australia for the LGBT+ Community

Australia is one of the most LGBT+-friendly cities in the world, with laws in place protecting the LGBT+ community and the country is known for its welcoming and accepting culture.

Sydney has one of the largest queer communities in the country and there are a range of gay neighbourhoods in the city for LGBT+ members to find community, friends and romance.

Darlinghurst is Sydney’s main gay community and home to Oxford Street which has a variety of gay bars, restaurants and shops. You’ll find queer neighbourhoods throughout Sydney such as Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay and Surry Hills.

Adelaide and Melbourne are also welcoming cities for the LGBT+ community, but you’ll find most areas in Australia are accepting of LGBT+ members.

Best Places To Live In Australia for the Weather

Australia is an exceedingly hot country and it’s likely that whether you choose to settle will be unable to escape the heat. The southern coast has the best climate with mild winters and warm summers, while the weather in the north is tropical with a wet season and the potential for cyclones.

Perth has the best climate in Australia with a temperate Mediterranean climate; it also has the most sunny days out of the year of all Australian cities.

The summers are hot and dry and while the winters are mild, there is the potential for rain and thunderstorms.

The Gold Coast, Queensland, is another great spot for those looking for stand-out weather for their home. While the summers are warm, there is the potential for rainfall during the hot season.

Best Places To Live In Australia Near Beaches

If there’s one thing Australia isn’t short on, it’s glorious beaches. You have your pick of the bunch when it comes to Australia’s coastline.

The Gold Coast is a coastal region and city south of Brisbane. It’s a primary tourist destination, with hundreds of people flocking to the spot for its surfing opportunities and the delicious restaurants lining the seafront.

There are various attractions on the Gold Coast, including theme parks and shopping centres, plus the 44 miles of beautiful coastline to play or relax on.

Sydney is also a fantastic option for beach lovers. Bondi Beach is famous for its dramatic waves and having the oldest swimming club.

Best Places To Live In Australia Near Mountains

Surprisingly, there are few mountains in Australia despite the size of the country. In New South Wales, the City of Blue Mountains is a government region and city that’s nestled in the heart of the Blue Mountains.

The city has breathtaking scenery and easy access to the great outdoors, perfect for those who like hiking or mountaineering. The Blue Mountains also have brilliant trails for those who like to walk or cycle.

You could also consider the Australian Alps if you’re hoping to settle near snow-capped mountains or take advantage of easy access to snow sports.