What Makes Melbourne One of the World's Most Livable Cities?
In the Year 2022-2023, Australia’s overseas migration saw a net annual gain of 518,000 people. And a great number of those people set their base in Melbourne. Moving to this
Australian urban hub is a fantastic way to broaden your horizons, meet new people, enjoy high living standards and business opportunities.
The economy in Melbourne is heating up too, with a growth rate of 2.6% that surpasses benchmarks set by South Korea and Singapore. The pace of economic growth in Melbourne and the wider state of Victoria is set to outpace all other Australian states and territories this year too.
But Melbourne isn’t just about work. There’s a reason why it was among the top livable cities in the world for 2023 and is continuing to boom in 2024. This guide explores all that the city has to offer and gives you five compelling reasons to consider living and working there.
Living in Melbourne
Did you know that Melbourne is the second most populous city in Australia after Sydney? Located in the southeastern state of Victoria, Melbourne is a hub of different cultures all surrounding a business district in the center of the city. This makes it one of the best places to move to as an expat or digital nomad, as you’ll find flexible office spaces and traditional employment opportunities all in one place.
According to The Economist’s 2023 Report, Melbourne is the third most livable city after Vienna, Austria and Copenhagen, Denmark. Interestingly, Sydney follows Melbourne as the fourth most livable city. Australia must be doing something right!
The country’s warm climate, stable economy and great infrastructure for healthcare and education earned it these top spots in 2023. But what is living in Melbourne really like? Let’s explore that next and cover the top five reasons you might choose to move to this city on Australia’s southern coast.
5 Reasons to Live in Melbourne, Australia
Our five reasons to move to Australia’s most livable city include the city’s suburbs, beautiful landscape and coastline, thriving job market, and affordable costs for healthcare, raising kids, education and general living.
1. City to Suburbs
The city of Melbourne is just one part of Greater Melbourne, the metropolitan area that covers the city and suburbs. Unlike densely urbanized cities like Singapore (another highly popular destination for expats), Melbourne offers you the chance to live further from the city and enjoy more garden space.
Of course, you can still choose to live closer to the action with many apartments built close to the business district. But it doesn’t really matter where you decide to live in the metropolitan area, as Melbourne has fantastic transport links. Trams, trains and buses (including a night bus) connect the city with popular suburbs including:
• Richmond – known as Melbourne’s home of sports and shopping.
• Footscray – a hub of different cultures and ethnicities with amazing food options.
• Northcote – a neighborhood in the north of Melbourne with a hippy vibe.
• Albert Park – a high-class suburb with terrace housing.
• St Kilda – a beautiful suburb with beach views and great restaurants.
• Yarraville – the artsy neighborhood next to the Yarra River.
2. Natural Beauty
Melbourne is in the south of Australia, on the coastline of Victoria. This area of the country is beautiful! You won’t be missing the shape of the Sydney Opera House when your eyes can feast on Melbourne’s iconic skyscrapers, lush open parks, and gorgeous coastline.
One of the great perks of living in Melbourne is that you can head to the beach whenever you feel like it. Popular beaches within commuting distance of Melbourne include Brighton Beach with colorful bathing boxes and Hampton Beach, which is ideal for swimming and sailing.
Melbourne isn’t all sunshine, however. The area is known to have sometimes erratic weather, with a subtropical oceanic climate that’s impacted by cold airmasses from Antarctica and hot airmasses from the Australian desert. Thankfully, there’s rarely any snow in winter.
3. Thriving Job Market
Melbourne has a thriving job market and welcoming business district. Some of the most dominant industries in Melbourne include healthcare, legal and accounting consulting services, manufacturing, transportation, and professional, scientific, and technological services.
The largest corporations with headquarters in Melbourne include:
• BHP Group – a metals, mining and petroleum company.
• CSL – a biotechnology company with employees across 40 countries.
• National Australia Bank (NAB) – the fourth largest bank in Australia.
• Telstra – Australia’s telecommunications and technology company.
According to the Victorian Government, they are expecting 277,000 new workers by 2026 to live in Melbourne for work.
4. Cost of Living
The cost of living in Melbourne is notably cheaper than other cities that are popular with expats, like Singapore, Dubai, London and even Sydney.
At the time of writing in June 2024 and according to NUMBEO, the cost of living in Melbourne (including rent) is:
• 6.1% lower than Dubai, UAE
• 16.6% lower than Sydney, Australia
• 27.4% lower than Singapore
• 29.6% lower than London, UK
• 47.3% lower than New York, USA
We also found that the monthly costs for a single worker (minus rent) are A$1,578 in Melbourne, compared with A$1,921 in Canberra, A$1,724 in Sydney, A$1,654 in Brisbane, A$1,860 in Adelaide, and A$1,655 in Perth. It’s the cheapest major city.
5. Kid-Friendly
If you are looking for an expat destination that’s suitable for both your career and your family, Melbourne should be on your list of considerations. According to the Victorian Government, Melbourne was crowned the world’s friendliest city by the company William Russell in 2022. It is full of parks, educational opportunities, and safe neighborhoods to raise the kids.
Melbourne is home to the only two Australian universities ranked the World’s 50 best. For younger kids, you have the freedom to choose from government, private, international and specialized schools in the Great Melbourne area.
Healthcare in Australia is also rated as one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Medicare is available to Australian citizens, permanent residents and people from countries with reciprocal agreements.
Is Melbourne Worth It? Pros and Cons
If you’re still wondering if Melbourne is the right city for you, here are some pros and cons to help you decide.
Pros
• Great business opportunities and a thriving job market.
• Suitable for both solo living and family life.
• Perfect for an active, outdoor lifestyle on the coast.
• A popular and affordable place for expats to live and work.
Cons
• The weather in Melbourne can be a little unpredictable, however, you won’t deal with any snow in the winter months!
• Being in the southeastern area of Australia means you’ll have longer transport times if you’re flying abroad for work trips.
Summary
Melbourne is not the largest city in Australia, nor is it the most popular, but it is one of the most livable. Over the past few years, this city has seen expats from around the world join the community to enjoy the job opportunities and laidback lifestyle in this beautiful part of the world.
The city and greater metropolitan area aren’t perfect. The weather can be a little temperamental and you’ll find that travelling around the world for your job is a little more timely compared to the likes of well-connected cities in southeast Asia. But for most people, a move to this livable city is a wonderful experience filled only with positives.