Drum roll please…..
Vancouver! Ra Ra Ra!
And the next best city is……..more drums…..
Vienna! More Ra Ra Ra! (at a slightly lower volume)
But I thought this blog was about living in Australia? Well yes, it is. And for those of you who have stuck with this post past the boring bits, that is the bits that are nothing to do with Australia, your reward is here.
And the third and best city in the world to live in is…….. BIG drum roll….. get ready for rapturous applause….
MELBOURNE!
Melbourne
Then in fifth – Perth…..
Perth
Then in joint ninth – Sydney….
Sydney
Then we have Adelaide in 11th place…..
Adelaide
And then Brisbane is 16th…..
Brisbane
That’s ALL of Australia’s top five cities, the ONLY cities we have with populations more than a million, in the top 16 most “liveable” cities in the world. I think that’s pretty good going. We do have other cities, of course, but all with 300,000 people or less. Small cities.
So I’m going to call this result a clean sweep for Australia.
Who decided all this? It was the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2009 Liveability Survey in Britain which assessed 140 cities based on:
- Stability
- Health care
- Education
- Infrastructure
- Culture and environment
I have not been to Perth or Adelaide, yet, but I have been to the other three. For what it is worth, I would certainly not disagree with Melbourne being the best city in Australia. The place has bags of character and a really good feel about it. If I were not living here in Brisbane, which I love, Melbourne would be a top contender for me. Sydney I didn’t much care for. Too busy, too big, too much of what I was used to in England.
Who else is in the list? How did other countries fare? Who cares? Grab your togs, hat and shades… and emigrate to Australia.
Or you could move to Manchester (46th) or London (51st).
Update:
The Economist’s 2010 liveability survey results are now out. Check the latest positions at my post Australia: Far Too Dangerous and Way Too Liveable
Related posts:
- And the Best City in Australia to Live in Is…
- Melbourne: Now the World’s Most Liveable City
- Where to Live in Australia?
- Warrnambool – City By The Sea
- What It’s Really like to Live in Australia.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Bob, have to disagree with Vancouver, BC as being the best city. Lived there for awhile. The weather is horrific, it never stops raining, the harbour is “dead” and absolutely NO comparison to Sydney harbour where there is so much activity. The only good thing about Vancouver is the backdrop of the Coastal Mountains). There is a lot of homelessness and serious social issues. Canada is an economic basket case and the quality of life is poor (compared to Australia and NZ). I might be biased but I truly believe that Sydney and Melbourne are the absolute best cities in Australia as they are the only two truly international cities in this country. Small cities like Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane are like large country towns. Queensland and NT are too hot (for most people) within cyclonic, flooding zones and without a nice change of seasons (that make southern NSW, Victoria and Tasmania so appealing).
I’ll have to take your word for it about Vancouver, I’ve never been. But from what you say, it doesn’t sound too appealing. I left England to get away from horrific weather.
I have to say, I’ve been to Sydney a couple of times and didn’t really think much of it. Much preferred Melbourne. But then I think that’s mainly because I don’t like busy cities, but I do like the large town feel of Brisbane. But then I suppose I’m biased too
I’ve lived in Melbourne for my whole life 33 years… Went to Vancouver to visit friends for 2 weeks.. Kind of ran out of things to do after the 1st week.. I think within that 2 week period it didn’t rain for 3 days.. The clouds get trapped in by the mountains for days/weeks. Theres only a certain amount of indoor activities that can be done.
Melbourne has alot more things to do, even when your stuck indoors..
Vancouver is naturally beautiful especially being surrounded by mountains but you really have to be an outdoors person to benefit from it. At night time I didnt really feel that safe, seems like the homeless elements are concentrated into a single no-go zone street. Had a honeless guy open a 7/11 door for me and expecting tips from me.. Also giving I was a strange in town I probably had the unsafe feeling more so..
I appreciate Melbournes weather more now.. Dont like the cold 0 to 10 degrees days too much and it was constant cold cold wind..
To live in Vancouver, think u have to like a little chilly weather, rugging up on cold days when its raining inside, like living in Condos (appartments) proper houses would be toooo expensive there, be an outdoors person (skiing, rollar blading, cycling, etc).
Job opportunities are much better in Melbourne, here in Australia employers give you a go in Vancouver they keep on doing reference checking and making sure they got the right right person from day one..
Hi Gareth
Good to hear from someone else who’s actually been there and seen it. That’s two votes in so far, and two thumbs down for Vancouver. As I’ve said, I’ve never been, but I don’t think it would be my cup of tea. I don’t like cold.
People seem to rave about Canada as a great place to live and Vancouver always seems to represent the best of Canada. Strange that it’s just a stones throw from the USA. Is that the attraction? It’s not America, it’s Canada, but you can still get to America quickly?
Or am I talking rubbish again?
Funny thing, when I was new to Brisbane, I never once felt unsafe here. Sure, I locked my doors at night, but who wouldn’t. Nowadays, I’m not so bothered.
Cheers
Bob
Hi Bob,
I think Vancouver is regarded so highly for the following reasons -
- Only Canadian city that doesn’t freeze over. (hence reason why alot of homeless ppl migrate to that city from other parts of Canada)
- Modern newer city compared to others.
- Has a reputation of a city where you can go skiiing and then windsurfing etc all in one day, since closest peak is about 30 mins drive from city.
- Stunning natural beauty. Imagine snow covered peaks surrounding city in the distance. I was quite amazed when I openned my friends back door to see snow covered mountains nearby..
- Close by duty free shopping in nearby Seattle (Day trip)
Definitely ppl here in Melbourne are more friendly, and Melbourne is much more interesting.. Vancouver seemed a little plain on the surface.
Apparently being so close to USA Vancouver is a major distribution hub for drugs in Canada.. Last time I was there, read the paper about shoot outs between mexican gangs and from time to time condos blowing up from meth lab activity.
Actually you have to admit, if you had a choice between living in USA or living in Canada where USA is a short drive away I would pick Canada. Heard ppl in USA lock their doors but ppl in Canada don’t, plus you probably feel more unsafe when its a right for a American home owner to own a gun. Thats just crazy..
I’ve been to Brisbane before, felt totally safe.. Actually feels more like a holiday relaxed city compared to Sydney/Melbourne with summer all year round. In Sydney was a little worried when seeing young gangs hanging outside maccas but its a bigger city and not too bad but I do notice ppl getting on with their day more there.. ie. in more of a rush.
I think Melbourne has a good balance between big city and all round not bad feeling to it and still friendly ppl, just public transport on the trains is getting worse and property prices getting more expensivem but at least you have a choice of a real house not like Vancouver appartments mainly..
Hi Gareth
Great summary of Vancouver, thanks for that. You’ve given some good reasons to why it trumps other Canadian cities. Have you seen the film “Bowling for Columbine”? That does a pretty good job of comparing Canada to the USA when it comes to guns and safety.
You’ve given us a good roundup of some of our Australian cities too, I think I agree with you on everything there as well.
Sydney a bit rushed, Brisbane like a holiday camp and Melbourne in between. And yes, I thought the people of Melbourne were extremely friendly too, as they were in Adelaide as well.