Aussies have weighed in on which city is the best place to live as cost-of-living pressures continue to rise, with one destination emerging as a clear favourite.
The discussion began when an Australian posed the question of the “best city” to live in by 2026 on an online forum, prompting hundreds of responses from people across the country.
Adelaide quickly rose to the top of the list, with many commenters describing it as an underrated and well-balanced city.
“Done the big lap and stayed in every capital multiple times. I love living in Adelaide,” the top response read.
“My hot take is that Adelaide is criminally underrated and unfairly maligned,” another agreed.
Several contributors argued Adelaide offered a rare mix of lifestyle benefits without the pressures seen in larger capitals, with one commenter saying it simply “has it all”.
“While Adelaide cannot claim to be the most vibrant city in Australia, it has the perfect balance of nightlife and being chilled out,” one summed up.
Perth also received frequent mentions, though many locals deliberately criticised their own city in what appeared to be an effort to deter newcomers.
“Definitely not Perth, don’t come here, it’s really bad,” one reply read.
“Plus stay away from ‘down south’, totally overrated. Just a bunch of trees, a couple of decent surf breaks, the odd winery or two, meh,” another added.
Some Perth residents openly admitted they were trying to protect the city’s reputation for liveability, fearing it would become overcrowded.
However, others were genuinely critical.
“The city itself really does s*ck; supermarkets close at 5pm on weekends and it’s a ghost town most nights; especially in winter,” one said.
Another agreed, saying they “genuinely didn’t enjoy myself” while living there.
“There was a lot of things that just didn’t make any sense or annoyed me,” they said, citing noise restrictions on weekends, “the worst drivers in Australia” and “cashed up bogans”.
Many expected the debate to centre on Sydney and Melbourne, and both cities were heavily discussed.
While some praised the two capitals, others highlighted significant drawbacks.
“If you want big cosmopolitan city vibes then Sydney or Melbourne. Sydney has better weather and scenery but very expensive. Melbourne has better culture and arts, better nightlife but not as scenic,” one argued.
“The negative stereotypes in both are definitely there,” another explained.
“The plastic Sydney-sider and the hipster insufferable Melburnian.
But Sydney has some stunning natural beauty and Melbourne has some great architecture.
“Nightlife and sporting events are better in Melbourne, day life is probably better in Sydney.”
Sydney’s cost of living and population density were frequently raised as major disadvantages.
“Sydney is nice if you can afford it,” one said.
Melbourne was often praised for its culture, food scene and nightlife, with some describing it as having a European feel while remaining comparatively affordable.
“Melbourne, the epicentre of Australia: culture, fashion, sport. Awesome place to live,” one commenter wrote.
However, others pointed to Melbourne’s cold weather as a major downside.
Canberra was also mentioned as a strong contender.
“Canberra: calm, safe, less humid, and lovely,” one person wrote.
“If Canberra had a coastline, it’d be perfect,” another agreed.
“Not hectic but some cool things about. Love that you get a proper four seasons.”
Hobart attracted mixed reactions.
“Hobart: Mountain, beaches, great food scene, not too big, not too hot, and short commutes,” one reply read.
“Cold, boring, dark and gloomy is how I’d best describe it,” another responded.
Darwin was briefly suggested as potentially the most affordable capital, while Brisbane was defended by several commenters who felt it was overlooked.
“Brisbane’s quietly winning if you want decent weather, lower stress and don’t need big-city chaos every day,” one wrote.
“Nearby Gold Coast beaches, chill CBD, but can get what you need, ferry over Brisbane River, good Asian food in Sunnybank and 50 cent QLD public transport fare,” another added.
Cairns was also proposed by a small number of users, though it was quickly criticised by others.
“Having grown up in Cairns and lived across multiple cities and countries, my view is that Cairns works far better as a tourist destination than as a place to live,” one man wrote.
“While the natural environment and light traffic are genuine positives, they are outweighed by deep social, cultural, economic and lifestyle issues; it feels soulless and culturally hollow.
“There is very little to engage with. The food scene is unremarkable, nightlife is virtually non-existent, and overall the city feels dull and stuck decades behind the rest of the country.”
Ultimately, many participants agreed that the concept of the “best” city was highly subjective, with lifestyle priorities varying widely from person to person – ensuring the debate is likely to continue for years to come.
Images: Shutterstock
