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Home › Feature › Is Sydney a Good Place to Live?
Yes, Sydney can be one of the best places to live in the world, but whether it’s right for you depends on your lifestyle, budget, and how much commuting you can tolerate. It offers stunning beaches, a thriving job market, and world-class dining, but it also comes with high living costs and competitive housing
Key Takeaways Sydney is stunning but pricey. It is one of the most beautiful cities to live in, but housing and daily costs are among the highest in Australia. Career opportunities are strong. Sydney’s economy leads the nation, with jobs in finance, tech, healthcare, and education drawing both locals and expats. Culture and lifestyle thrive, from multicultural food and big festivals to outdoor fitness and sport, the city offers variety every week of the year. Safety and services are reliable. Sydney is generally safe, with good healthcare, quality schools, and plenty of green space for families
Key Takeaways
Sydney regularly ranks as one of the most liveable cities in the world and for good reason. Its mix of natural beauty, strong economy, cultural diversity, and quality services make it appealing to people from all walks of life. Below are the main reasons people choose to call Sydney home.
Sydney is often described as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and it’s easy to see why. The city is built around a sparkling harbour, with ferries connecting suburbs to the CBD and giving commuters views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge every day.
For beach lovers, Sydney has something for everyone from the world-famous Bondi Beach, with its surf schools and café culture, to the laid-back family-friendly shores of Coogee and Manly. If you prefer quieter spots, the Northern Beaches and Cronulla offer more space and fewer crowds.
Nature is never far away. The Blue Mountains (a World Heritage site) are just two hours west and offer bushwalking, waterfalls, and mountain towns. To the south, the Royal National Park provides coastal hikes and camping, while even within the city, locals enjoy big green spaces like Centennial Parklands and the Botanic Gardens. With more than 300 sunny days a year and mild winters, Sydneysiders spend much of their free time outdoors like swimming, walking, playing sport, or simply relaxing by the water.
If you’re someone who loves fresh air, being close to water, and having outdoor adventures within reach of the city, Sydney offers a lifestyle that’s hard to beat.
Sydney is the economic heart of Australia, home to many of the country’s largest companies and international headquarters. The CBD, Barangaroo, and North Sydney are major business hubs where finance, law, and professional services dominate.
The job market is diverse:
Salaries are typically higher than in other Australian cities, which helps offset the higher cost of living. Many expats also move to Sydney for career opportunities, as it’s seen as a gateway city for Asia-Pacific business.
If career growth and good job prospects are a priority, Sydney offers opportunities in almost every field.
Sydney is one of the most multicultural cities in Australia. This shows up in its food, from authentic Asian eateries in Chatswood to Italian in Leichhardt and Middle Eastern cuisine in Western Sydney. Cultural events like Vivid Sydney, Chinese New Year, and Sydney Festival bring the city to life. Sport is also huge, with world-class venues for rugby, cricket, and football.
Whether you’re a foodie, art lover, or sports fan, Sydney offers something exciting every week of the year.
Sydney has some of Australia’s most prestigious universities, including the University of Sydney, UNSW, and UTS. These institutions attract students from around the world and contribute to the city’s young, multicultural vibe. Vocational training is also strong, with TAFE NSW campuses across the city offering practical courses.
For families, Sydney provides a mix of public, private, and independent schools. School catchment areas are important to consider when choosing a suburb, as they can affect enrollment options.
Healthcare is reliable and of high quality. Major hospitals like Royal Prince Alfred, St Vincent’s, and Westmead are leading centres for treatment and research. Medicare covers most public hospital care, while private health insurance helps reduce wait times and gives access to private hospitals.
Students, families, and professionals can all feel supported, knowing Sydney offers excellent education options and a trusted healthcare system.
Moving to Sydney isn’t just about choosing a suburb, it’s about making sure your everyday life feels affordable. From rent to groceries, transport to childcare, the bills can add up quickly. But not everyone spends the same. A student in a shared house, a young couple renting near the city, and a family with a mortgage in the suburbs will all have very different budgets. Understanding the cost of living is about matching your lifestyle with the parts of Sydney you can comfortably afford.
If you can live near a train/metro line, you’ll save time and money. Ferry corridors offer the most enjoyable (and reliable) harbour commutes.
Sydney is generally safe by global standards. Like any major city, experience varies by suburb and time of day.
If you’re deciding whether Sydney is the right city for you, it often helps to compare it with other capitals. Sydney has the glamour of the harbour and the strongest job market, but also the steepest housing prices. Melbourne shines with its culture and coffee, Brisbane offers warmth and more space for your dollar, and Perth delivers beaches and a slower pace. It’s not about which city is “better”, it’s about which one feels like home for your stage of life.
Sydney is best for water lovers and high-earners, while Melbourne suits culture seekers, and Brisbane appeals to those chasing affordability and sunshine.
Answer yes/no to these:
If you ticked 7 or more “yes”: Sydney is likely a great fit.
Sydney is an incredible place to live if you have the budget, value water and sunshine, and are comfortable with big-city energy. But if affordability and shorter commutes matter most, another Australian city may suit you better.
Yes, Sydney has excellent schools, green parks, and family-friendly suburbs like Castle Hill and Sutherland Shire. The trade-off is higher housing costs and longer commutes in these areas.
Overall, Sydney is very safe. Like any major city, some suburbs have higher risks, especially late at night, but using common-sense precautions keeps most residents safe.
Singles often need $80,000+ annually to live comfortably, while families usually need a combined income of $150,000–$180,000. Lifestyle and housing choices will affect this.
Not always. Inner-city residents rely on trains, buses, and ferries. Families in outer suburbs often find a car essential due to limited transport.
Sydney has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of sunshine. Expect 10–17°C in winter and 20–30°C in summer.
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