To be safe, stay within the flagged stretches of beach, where lifeguards are always on the lookout and warn swimmers if there is a sighting. Melbourne had the largest increase (806,800), Darwin grew the least (19,700). I've travelled almost the whole Australian coastline and love sharing detailed travel and migration guides to inspire other adventurous souls to travel or move to Australia. Its worth noting that during the pandemic, property prices shot up across much of Australia in an unprecedented way. More bike paths gives more opportunities for cyclist, makes a city more eco friendly and helps to reduce traffic jams. Sydney sits on the southern end of the east coast of Australia, and Melbourne sits on the eastern end of the south coast of Australia. All times AEST (GMT +10). Lower income inequalities indicate a more equal distribution of wealth and better opportunities for the average citizen. This is due, in part, to the Victorian governments more liberal eligibility for skilled migration that accepts a greater range of occupations than Sydney, as well as Melbourne universities very proactive approach to luring international students. Melbourne has a huge Greek, Italian and Vietnam communities Liberal liquor licencing laws translate into an abundance of after-hours options, whether your whim is cocktails-as-art at The Everleigh, or losing yourself in the citys legendary rock scene at the iconic Cherry Bar, once again thriving after its pandemic hiatus. with the rise of the population which can making driving or catching a bus a bit of a nightmare but the city's saving grace is its railway and ferry . The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) defines a city's "significant urban. If youre wondering what living in Sydney vs Melbourne is like, this comparison from an expat will run through differences such as the weather in Melbourne compared to Sydney, nightlife, rental costs, house prices, culture and population. Australia has a superb eating culture, with local as well as international cuisines represented in top restaurants. Public health care is more affordable for an average citizen and usually guaranteed for everyone. As the ABS continued to process the census data, it calculated the population threshold had been reached to expand the citys fringe. The current metro area population of Sydney in 2023 is 5,121,000, a 1.27% increase from 2022. Sustainable travel is all about making a positive impact on the world as you travel. I thought we were having a tornado! We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. In Sydney, Oxford Street is the place for fashion; Darling Street is best for boutiques and bookstores; and Paddys Market in Haymarket is ideal for gimmicky Australian souvenirs to take home. Download Components of population change Population change at the regional level has three main components: natural increase, internal migration and overseas migration. I find them quite different in their vibe and atmosphere, and love both cities, yet would always prefer to live in Melbourne and visit Sydney. Youll eat like royalty in either city: Australians are spoiled rotten with an incredible global dining scene and access to top-notch fresh produce. Tourism is usually a major source of income of a city. Sydney - home to more international guests Melbourne tops Sydney as Australias biggest city on a technicality. The social and physical infrastructure that is being invested in Melbourne creates the opportunity for a more vibrant, diverse and more mature multicultural city, and so Sydney is being left behind. log in. Sydney overtook Melbourne as Australias most populous city around 1902. Your email address will not be published. Sydney had the largest combined area in the high and very high density classes (175 km), followed by Melbourne (51 km) and Brisbane (17 km). Remember, this is just based on my personal observations and experiences, and somebody else might have a totally different opinion to me.Sydneys stunning coastline at Shelley Beach. At night time in the winter, Sydney drops to around 7 or 8 degrees, and Melbourne drops to around 6 degrees. The current metro area population of Melbourne in 2023 is 5,235,000, a 1.63% increase from 2022. Melbourne-Sydney population gap closest since 1930 These free things to do in Sydney will have you swimming and stargazing in Harbour City, Buy the Best of East Coast Australia travel guide, The best places to eat in the world, according to top London zero-waste chef, 13 things to know before you go to Sydney. While migration to Sydney continued, the government operated on the assumption there wasnt going to be a growing population, so there were few infrastructure investments, and those that were made were shortsighted.. All of Australia is worth seeing, but visitors often just get a snapshot of what this country-continent has to offer. In 1926, Sydney became the first city in Australia to reach 1 million residents. Perth is the driest climate in summer. To the north and south, the city is bounded by national parks, to the west the Blue Mountains form a natural barrier to development as well as being a World Heritage Area. Social researcher Mark McCrindle said Melbourne will bounce back after having "lost the glow" with various lockdowns. Sydney has its share of difficulties too. Melbournes leap to the top spot was sudden. In general, cities with possibility of drinking alcohol in public places have more thriving nightlife. Source: Wikipedia, 2023. But it seems fewer people now agree with the former prime ministers assessment of Australias oldest and most populous city. That amalgamation lifted the population of the Melbourne Significant Urban Area to 4,875,400 in June 2021 18,700 more than Sydney. Source: Socialbakers, 2023. Douglas McMaster of Londons waste-free Silo shares his picks for the worlds best restaurants. It's actually cheaper to do jail time to pay down fines!! Youll find links to other city comparisons and city lifestyle overviews. This page is currently only available in English. Generally there are pubs every mile or so. Source: numbeo.com, 2023, 44.22$ cheaper monthly public transport ticket, 697.56$ cheaper rent for a one-bedroom apartment, 1 more big sports facilities (stadiums, arenas, etc. One poor aspect of Aussie culture is bar fights after heavy drinking sessions. Melbourne is set to overtake Sydney and become the nation's largest city with a population of 5.7 million by 2027. This indicates how much of your salary would be allocated to rent expenses, and the general cost of living of the city. Melbourne also has a global reputation for taking brunch and coffee to higher levels: try The Kettle Black in South Melbourne, or Rudimentary in Footscray. Firstly, the reason why I call it as the best is because of the high wages and low expenses which makes a huge gain in savings. Expect to pay at least AU$100 for a mid-range meal for two in either city, and around AU$4.50 for a one-way ticket on public transport networks that are adequate, but well below the standards set in many other cities of comparable size throughout the world. Manage Settings As much as I love Sydney, I personally think that Melbourne has better nightlife, culture and entertainment than Sydney! Source: UNESCO, 2023. New South Wales will remain the most populous state, however, with 9.1 million people by 2032-33, compared to Victoria's 7.8 million. Hobart (253k) 14. Australia Melbourne or Sydney: which city is the best to start your Australian adventure? Greater Melbourne is forecast to reach 6 million by mid-2031 rising to 6.1 million the following year. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-dreamingofdownunder_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0-asloaded{max-width:250px!important;max-height:250px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'dreamingofdownunder_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_7',620,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-dreamingofdownunder_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Being situated on the eastern, more populated, side of Australia, there are plenty of destinations you can drive to from Sydney and Melbourne. If, however, you want to immigrate and live in one of them you might want to consider Melbourne. Numbers aside, both Sydney and Melbourne are vast, sprawling cities with skyscrapers and diverse cultures, suburbs and landscapes.Melbourne CBD. World population bomb may never go off as feared, finds study, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Also, remember that both of these cities are huge and span inland for miles and miles. Pro Tip: Keeping the size of the cities in mind, consider staying in the so-called CBDs, the Central Business Districts. Source: Wikipedia, 2023; UNData, 2023. An update to the bureaus geographical boundaries following the 2021 census quietly changed Melbournes Significant Urban Area to include the district of Melton on the citys northwestern fringe. Thirdly, the weather, Id say the weather here is so pleasant that youd complain whether its cold or hot cause apparently its bearable and when its sunny in summer, youd find every Melburnians surrounding the beaches. Living in inner Melbourne and commuting by bike can be pretty laid back That's where Melbourne really shines over Sydney if you can afford it. From Sydney, its a couple of hours drive inland to the Blue Mountains, which is an absolutely beautiful region of NSW. About half of the people who move from Sydney to Melbourne were born overseas, with the largest contingent being recent migrants from south Asian countries. Source: city's official website, 2023. On paper, Sydney gets more rain, but it tends to happen on consecutive days in the winter rather than a bit at a time, like in Melbourne. Melburnians are proud of their extensive tram network, and vintage trams are a treat to catch around the city center. Three reasons why Melbourne's population will overtake Sydney's within Melbourne, Australia Metro Area Population 1950-2023 Dr Liz Allen, a demographer at the Australian National University and author of the sociodemographic book The Future of Us, says that while Sydney has been the major port and industrial centre of Australia for most of the 20th century, deliberate policy decisions in New South Wales since 2000 have meant Melbourne is seen as the future by potential migrants. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. However they are really very different beasts, appealing to visitors of different stripes. Macquarie University demographer Professor Nick Parr said the main reason for Melbournes faster growth is the difference in net internal migration (that is movements from elsewhere in the country minus movements to elsewhere in the country). Low level of air pollution has a good influence on peoples health and quality of living. Melbourne's population was 4,875,400 at the country's most recent census in 2021, while there were 18,700 fewer people in Sydney, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Newcastle (518k) 8. Source: Wikipedia, 2023. And Melbournes Brighton Beach has the iconic Victorian bathing boxes, adding a splash of color to the seaside. Its definitely more fashion conscious than Sydney, I would say. Dont forget to pop into the little covered arcades, such as the Strand Arcade, as you head toward The Rocks, where you can get gorgeous souvenirs. In general, higher humidity makes climate harder to stand for people. Regional population - Australian Bureau of Statistics Subscribe to Lonely Planet newsletters and promotions. Population growth rates in both Melbourne and Sydney collapsed in 2020 and 2021 due to the disruptions of COVID-19 but are recovering.