Deciding where to live

Australia is a vast country. Lay a map of it over one of the U.S. and it will cover most of it — the same can be said of Europe.

The centre is a predominantly desert and rocky land and, as a result, the vast majority of the population live on the coasts. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, for every square kilometre of land, there are three Australians (similar to Canada and Iceland) and 64% of people live in cities.

When considering where to live, there are several things to think about:

• Employment – from the financial centre in Sydney, to the seat of government in Canberra, to the mining industries surrounding Perth, your employment prospects may vary from place to place.

• Cost of living – where the wages are higher, so very often are the rents, house prices and other budgetary burdens. Alongside the details of each major city below, you will find its placing on the Mercer Cost of Living index out of 230 major world locations.

• The country is huge so if you already have friends or family living in Australia, unless you want a timely and costly air journey to see them, think about locating somewhere close by.

• Tropical and hot further north, more temperate in the south, think about what kind of climate is best for you and your family. The trendier areas are also more expensive: bear in mind that there are equally as beautiful places to live away from the bright lights and popular beaches.

• Quality of life – based on factors such as effective transport links, social stability, educational facilities and health care, the Mercer Quality of Living ratings are also included next to each city, to provide an indication of how comfortable and safe it is to live there.

Australia has many major cities. This is a pick of the largest and most popular:

Brisbane (Queensland):

• Mercer’s Quality of Living Ranking: 37 (out of 231 cities)
• Mercer’s Cost of Living Ranking: 84 (out of 209 cities)

The capital of Queensland, Brisbane is Australia's third largest city and its fastest growing one, with a population of around two million. Built on the Brisbane river, there is a man-made lagoon at South Bank Parklands for fun and leisure, along with the buzzing nightlife of Fortitude Valley and trendy New Farm.

The centre of the city is compact but has plenty of pleasant open spaces. The coast is mainly mangrove with mud and trees, but it's only just over an hour's drive away from the famous Sunshine and Gold Coasts.

Employment: A city on the move, finding suitable employment shouldn’t be a problem. Key growth areas are in business services, construction, education, finance, government health, manufacturing, mining, retail, and transport.

Cost of property: Much less than Sydney or Melbourne and even less expensive than Perth.

Property is much cheaper than London and New York to buy or rent.

Climate: Subtropical climate with warm or hot weather for most of the year. Summer temperatures average around 30°C. Winter 17°C, falling to 11°C on cooler mornings but still mild. It’s best to describe the seasons as hot and wet or cool and dry. November to May is the wet, hot half of the year and there can be tropical cyclones.

Sydney (New South Wales):

• Mercer’s Quality of Living ranking: 10 (out of 231 cities)
• Mercer’s Cost of Living ranking: 29 (out of 209 cities)

Australia’s financial hub, Sydney is a cosmopolitan city enjoying a high standard of living. A stone’s throw away from beautiful parks, stunning coves, sandy surf beaches, and outdoor pools carved out of the cliff, you can even go whale watching along the coast from May to November. Known as Australia’s most beautiful city, it’s home to the Sydney Opera House, the famous New Year fireworks, the Vivid festival, and a vibrant Mardi Gras and it is a great place to enjoy Aboriginal art and culture. From cricket to sailing, Sydney is home to world-class sports teams and tournaments, and with a mild climate, it’s a great place to enjoy getting active outdoors throughout the year.

Employment: The major employment sectors in Sydney are professional, scientific and technical services, financial and insurance services, accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance, and retail trade. One-third of Australia's financial sector workforce are employed in the city and the Australian Stock Exchange and Reserve Bank are both based there.

Climate: Sunny, Mediterranean climate all year-round with over 340 days of sunshine. Rainfall is spread evenly throughout the year with a hot, humid season from December to February with temperatures around 26°C and a cooler winter season around June to August with average temperatures around 16°C.

Cost of property: The cost of living and property in Sydney is much more expensive than other parts of Australia. However, the standard of living tends to be higher. There is cheaper property out in the suburbs, and Sydney is well known for its excellent transport services.

According to reference site Numbeo, the cost of property to buy or rent is much cheaper than London and New York.

Canberra (New South Wales)

• Mercer’s Quality of Living Ranking: 30 (out of 231 cities)
• Mercer’s Cost of Living Ranking: 77 (out of 209 cities)

Australia’s youngest territory capital is home to the federal houses and many of the country’s cultural institutions. The seat of government, it also has the National Gallery of Australia and the National Portrait Gallery, housing the nation’s art collections as well as the Australian War Memorial. Australia’s largest inland city is also home to the National Museum. Further afield, there’s the bushland of the Namadgi National Park, the white sands of Jervis Bay and the snow-capped Australian Alps to explore.

Employment: Industries on the rise in Canberra include construction, professional, scientific, and technical services, and education, but the vast majority of people in the city are employed in public administration. With the best-educated workforce in Australia, it’s no surprise that it attracts the highest per capita incomes in Australia. The seat of the Commonwealth Government (as the Australian government is known), it is the largest employer, and a great deal of the economic activity in the city is based around it.

Climate: Canberra has warm to hot summers and at the height of summer, in January, average temperatures are around 28°C. Winter sees average temperatures of around 11°C, dipping to below freezing at times. Mainly dry, October is the wettest month. During winter, snow falls on the nearby Australian Alps.

Cost of property: The average cost of a house in Canberra is less than half of that in Sydney, but the city’s housing market is on the rise. House prices to buy and rent are much less than they are in London and New York.

Melbourne (Victoria):

• Mercer’s Quality of Living ranking: 16 (out of 231 cities)
• Mercer’s Cost of Living ranking: 58 (out of 209 cities)

Fun and cosmopolitan, Melbourne has one of the best shopping districts in the country and is known as Australia’s fashion capital. Home to people from over 140 nationalities, a third of the population speak a language other than English and nearly half of those who live there were born overseas. It's a beautiful city with European-style historical buildings, cobbled lanes, and picturesque parks and gardens but it’s also young at heart, being a hub for nightlife, culture, cafes, sport, and cuisine. It sits a few kilometres inland on the south coast, on the north bank of the Yarra River.

Climate: A more changeable climate. Melbourne enjoys warm to hot summers (December – February) with temperatures averaging around 25°C. Mild, temperate springs and autumns. Cool winters (June – August), with temperatures dipping to an average of 14°C. Rainfall is highest from May to October.

Employment: Manufacturing and the professional, scientific, and technical-related sectors are the largest employers in Melbourne, and the state of Victoria offers a great opportunity for those who would like to live in smaller towns and cities while benefitting from great job prospects. Telecommunications, construction, financial services, the retail industry, and food services are also major employers. The engineering trade in Victoria employs some 70,000 people, with a constant need for more specialists.

Melbourne workers get a day off on the first Tuesday in November for the Melbourne Cup and may take leave from the Friday prior, returning to work the day after the race.

Cost of property: The cost of both renting and buying is cheaper in Melbourne than it is in New York and London. It’s also cheaper than Sydney and slightly cheaper to rent but more expensive to buy than Brisbane.

Perth (Western Australia):

• Mercer’s Quality of Living ranking: 21 (out of 231 cities)
• Mercer’s Cost of Living ranking: 61 (out of 209 cities)

The capital city of the largest state in Australia, Perth sits on the Indian Ocean. A mix of colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers, it’s a striking city, proud of its history with an eye on the future. Well known for its cafes, bars, and shopping, it’s also home to the Western Australian Museum and an extensive collection of indigenous art at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Just along the coast lies the historic Port of Fremantle and head north for miles of beaches, coral reefs, fishing towns, and national parks along Western Australia's Coral Coast. Explore the canyons of Cape Range National Park and encounter the whales, manta rays, turtles, and sharks of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area.

Perth is isolated, compared with the other major cities in Australia, as it sits on the south-west coast, so it can be expensive in terms of imported goods and international travel. It has a down-to-earth, sports-orientated culture and is the perfect place for young people with families. With sunny weather, an excellent quality of life and laid- back atmosphere; it's no wonder it's a popular destination for expats (British expats for example make up 10% of the population).

Climate: The south-west of Australia has mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. During February, temperatures average around 31°C with a prevailing breeze called the ‘Fremantle Doctor’ providing some relief from the heat. Winters (June – August) are cool in comparison with average temperatures around 18 – 21°C. Rainfall is highest between May and September, but the city is said to have sunnier days than any other Australian capital city.

Employment: Major sectors are professional, scientific and technical services; public administration and safety; and mining. In total, these three areas employ over 50% of the workforce.

Cost of property: Cheaper to rent and buy than London or New York. More expensive than Brisbane but cheaper than Sydney.

With schools, commuting, local facilities, and local house prices to consider, deciding where to live in a new country can be a tough thing to do. The last thing you need to worry about is health care, so give our friendly team a call today to talk through how you are going to ensure you and your family's well-being as you settle into your new home.

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