Sydney had been Australia's most populous city since 1902, when it overtook Melbourne. National capital status indicates that a city is of great importance for political and diplomatic matters. Greater Melbourne is forecast to reach 6 million by mid-2031 rising to 6.1 million the following year. Melbourne surpasses Sydney as Australia's most populous city, on In Melbourne there are the iconic trams, which are fun and take you everywhere within the city and even outside the inner-city limits. Source: city's official website, 2023. As much as I love Sydney, I personally think that Melbourne has better nightlife, culture and entertainment than Sydney! While Canberra is Australias capital city, Sydney and Melbourne are the two most-populated cities in Australia. Our goal, to share the worlds unique, hidden and once in a lifetime locations with you to create unforgettable memories. Vast housing choice including city cellers. The percentage of Facebook users among a whole city population indicates how familiar are citys inhabitants with web 2.0 and shows how popular the social media are. With more large sports facilities (20,000+ seats), a city is able to organize more important sporting events. But just like the debate of London vs. Paris, many people would choose it exactly the other way around. Population density shows how cramped or spread out inhabitants are. In Australian terms, thats actually quite close! Let's double the population outside capital cities | Fiona Simson's 2020s vision, The long shadow of the virus means there is no easy path back to prosperity | George Megalogenis, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Distances are vast in Australia, which is roughly the size of the continental USA, so Sydneys greater proximity to other great Australian tourism experiences including the Blue Mountains, Byron Bay, and the beaches and rainforests of Northern NSW, plus Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef makes it a natural choice for many. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-dreamingofdownunder_com-banner-1-0-asloaded{max-width:300px!important;max-height:250px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'dreamingofdownunder_com-banner-1','ezslot_3',189,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-dreamingofdownunder_com-banner-1-0');Both Sydney and Melbourne have average temperatures of around 26 degrees in the daytime during the summer. Melbourne had a very tough time with regards to lockdowns, and approximately 74k Victorians moved away to other states or abroad during the year to June 2021, lowering the demand for rentals. Sustainable travel is all about making a positive impact on the world as you travel. In which case there may not be that much difference between Sydney and Melbourne lifestyle for you. Melbourne has established a pull factor, and well continue to see it grow for some time, she said. Tokyo, with a population of 9 million, is spread across about 2,000 sq km. Source: Official city's public transport website, 2023. Help us by suggesting a value. Snorkel the Whitsundays, tour the Opera House or bushwalk at Wilsons Prom; all with your trusted travel companion. But the federal governments annual population statement in January predicted Greater Melbournes population will overtake Greater Sydneys in 2031-32. Yet many visitors find Melbourne more to their taste. Generally there are pubs every mile or so. Sydneys growth has been slowed by its substantial net losses of people due to internal migration, he said. Melbournes weather is as fickle as they come, and you learn to dress in layers, and carry sunglasses and an umbrella every time you leave the house. A nice ride along the Yarra into the city vs. Sydney's high stress three-way death-match bike/car/pedestrian battle to get into and through the CBD. Also, its only a short flight up to Queensland for a winter getaway in the sun. Both Sydney and Melbourne have highly rated restaurants that have been awarded Top Hats, a local equivalent to the Michelin guide. Sydney is generally a little bit warmer than Melbourne. After more than a century Sydney has lost its title due to a counting quirk. A city located near to the country capital may provide more possibilities. 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. 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. This is the place to get a hearty, late breakfast-brunch on the weekend. Very similar right now, but forecasts expect Melbourne to overtake Sydney in the next 510 years when it comes to population. The millennium drought during his time in office showed that water resources needed to be considered, and the floods of the past few weeks have raised questions over whether some flood-prone areas should be exempted from Sydneys sprawl. Pro Tip: Remember that Australia is in the southern hemisphere and has its seasons the other way around from most of us. When Bob Carr was premier, he famously said [in 2000] that Sydney was full, and that the doors to migration should be closed. Small bars, live music and back-street pubs are one area where Melbourne definitely has the advantage over Sydney. If youre thinking of moving to Sydney from Melbourne or vice versa (or moving to Australia from another country!) Continue with Recommended Cookies, by Lisa Bull | Last updated Nov 29, 2022 | Cities. In contrast, Melbournes beaches border Port Phillip Bay, a near-circular secluded bay that opens to the Bass Straight, making the beaches less surfable, but safer for swimming. The last time there was such a small gap between the two capitals was in 1930, when Don Bradman made his first tour of England. A few examples of Melbourne beaches are Brighton Beach, with the colourful painted huts, St. Kilda beach, probably the most well-known, and Black Rock. An indicator of how safe people feel walking alone in the city during the night, with 1 being very unsafe and 10 being very safe. You can also do a beautiful, long road trip between Sydney and Melbourne if you have the time. Were now thought to be at the peak of this current housing boom, and the average price of property in both Sydney and Melbourne started to come down in early 2022. Many other Australian cities are still going up in price though. All bases covered also. However, Sydney has its ferries truly an incredible way to get around. Melbourne can compete to some extent, however, offering excellent bike trails, hot-air ballooning (one of the few cities in the world that you can float above as the airport is so far from town) and hiking in the Dandenong Ranges that mark Melbournes eastern border. 415 people/km. Melbourne is set to overtake Sydney and become the nation's largest city with a population of 5.7 million by 2027. Download Components of population change Population change at the regional level has three main components: natural increase, internal migration and overseas migration. Shepparton-Mooroopna overtakes Mildura-Wentworth to #30. Lonely Planet's Best of East Coast Australia is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. You might also like:23 unmissable things to do inAustraliaThese free things to do in Sydney will have you swimming and stargazing in Harbour CityBest things to do inMelbourne. 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. Low unemployment rate indicates better career opportunities and economic growth. All of Australia is worth seeing, but visitors often just get a snapshot of what this country-continent has to offer. Geelong (295k) 13. Youve also got the Southern Highlands to the southwest. More people from abroad residing in the city provides a multicultural environment and may show how attractive it is for foreigners. 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. Sydney and Melbourne both have an average of approximately 100 days of rain per year, but the average rainfall in Sydney per year is double the volume in Melbourne! Source: Wikipedia, 2023. Liz Allen, a demographer at the Australian National University, said Melbournes population had been growing faster than Sydneys in recent decades due to its appeal to international migrants as well as Australians living in other states. Much of that increase is concentrated in just a few suburbs. Source: Wikipedia, 2023; UNData, 2023. @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. According to the Australian Government Centre for Population, it may have happened earlier if it hadn't been for the COVID-19 pandemic shutting borders to overseas migrants. Here are 10 ecotourism trips to bookmark. Source: numbeo.com, 2023, An indicator of how worried people are about having things stolen from their car, with 1 being not worried and 10 being very worried. The 2021 census told us that Melton and the rest of Greater Melbourne was now, statistically, one contiguous area, he said. Sydney, the capital of New South Wales in the southwest of Australia, has a population of 5.3 million, while Melbourne, capital of Victoria, a bit farther along the south coast, is home to 5 million people. Regional areas in Australia have become more popular to live in, because of people working from home, so property prices have gone up in many areas just outside of the big cities. Currently, the worlds population is growing at a rate of approximately 1.07% per year. Help us by suggesting a value. Sydney vs Melbourne: Which is Better to Live In? Its myriad bars, street art, creative culture, major events, and more European cityscapes make up for its lack of stunning natural beauty and climatic deficiencies. 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. While I lived in Melbourne for a few years, at the same time, I wrote a travel guidebook on Sydney and beyond, and therefore spent plenty of time in both cities. Melbourne Population 2023 Source: Wikipedia, 2023; city's official stats, 2023. Pro Tip: To save some money, you can claim some tax back at the airport before you leave. The borders of the city, which is the capital of the state of Victoria,. Source: numbeo.com, 2023, An indicator of how worried people are about having their car stolen, with 1 being not worried and 10 being very worried. It is one of the two states that have what we call the triple green light of growth: natural increase, net overseas migration and net interstate population growth.. Perth water is much warmer and bigger surf. Cheaper housing in Melbourne is another factor that Parr believes drives not only migration from overseas, but also Sydney residents both established Sydneysiders and recent international migrants struggling with the cost of living in Sydney to move to Melbourne. Melbourne is a drier climate than Sydney and Brisbane. Melbourne set to overtake Sydney and become Australia's most populous Source: numbeo.com, 2023, An indicator of how safe people feel walking alone in the city during the day, with 1 being very unsafe and 10 being very safe. Australian cities among the largest and least densely settled in the Experts say Melbourne and Sydney are projected to experience the largest population decrease as a result of the pandemic, with an estimated 390,000 and 340,000 fewer people respectively by June 2031 compared to pre-COVID estimates. Both cities offer a fantastic lifestyle, if you can afford to live in them. Source: World Tourism Organization, 2023. So, when it rains in Sydney, it tends to be torrential! . From Melbourne, you can drive to the Grampians mountains in three hours, or to the nearby Dandenong Ranges.Dandenong Ranges. Read more about me! Melbourn is still a very safe city to walk around at all hours even for women. Sometimes absurdly competitive for the mantle of the countrys "greatest" city, Sydney and Melbourne are Australias two largest cities both offering a similar abundance of quintessential Australian experiences for travelers. But you will need a car or MC to get around. Sydney has around 100 days of sunshine a year on average, whereas Melbourne only has about 48 days of sunshine a year. Shops and Deli's everywhere. In 1926, Sydney became the first city in Australia to reach 1 million residents. Melbourne is famous for its coffee culture, with no Melburnian drinking anything but the best sourced and expertly made coffee. Police central has a 10 floor building with 100's of staff watching 1000's of screens!! For large art collections, Sydney has the Art Gallery of NSW and the Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as the cutting edge White Rabbit gallery dedicated to Chinese contemporary art. Sydney is rightly famous for its sunshine with more than twice the number of clear sunny days than Melbourne. The borders of the city, which is the capital of the state of Victoria,. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reflects the value and productivity of an economy. Melbourne to overtake Sydney as Australia's largest city by 2031 - The Age From the city in winter you could shoot off to a ski resort in just over 2 hours, pack up after lunch and go water sking or be in a desert by late afternoon. So, when in a city, it is always worthwhile looking outside its limits for other must-see sights on the doorstep. Population density. Melbourne is probably best known for its amazing city attractions and arts scene (and apparently sporting events, but thats not my thing).Cafe in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Melbourne has lots of funky cafes, great street art, and its a very fashion-focused city. Melbourne is set to regain its title as the nation's biggest city with a population of 5.7 million by 2027, according to federal government data. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in 2021 included the area of Melton, in the city's north-west fringe, to Melbourne's population. My advice is leave when groups get loud and angry. Melbourne's population went down by more than 60,000 in the 12 months to September 2021, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data released in March the biggest drop of any capital city. Sydney has a population of 5.5 million inhabitants, while Melbourne has a slightly smaller population, with 5.2 million inhabitants. If you come to Australia as a visitor, or youre young and want to spend a year or two living in the city enjoying the nightlife, then things like city attractions might be important. If, however, you want to immigrate and live in one of them you might want to consider Melbourne. This post may contain affiliate links. Please try again later. Subscribe to Lonely Planet newsletters and promotions. Sydney grew by 57,100 people to 5.4 million residents over the 2019-20 financial year, an increase trumped by the 80,100 residents Melbourne added in the same period to bring its population. At the turn of this century, Greater Sydneys population was 17 per cent bigger than Greater Melbournes but the gap has been narrowing since. According to this projection by the Australian government, Melbourne's population is set to overtake Sydney's by 2030! The World Heritage List includes 962 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value. Hi, I'm Lisa, a British expat living in Sydney. They are so so. The Gini coefficient is a measure of dispersion, in this case used to show the variation in income. 3.8% vs 6.2% 1 436.58$ higher average salary? Perth (2.224m) 5. 23.4C vs 20.7C 4C higher average temperature? Melbourne, Australia Metro Area Population 1950-2023 The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Instead expect glamorous roof-top bars or sprawling neighborhood beer gardens to enjoy a relaxing outdoors drink. Arts and crafts? Sydney, Australia Metro Area Population 1950-2023 | MacroTrends Melbourne tops Sydney as Australian city with the highest population Australias millenia of pre-colonial history and long-since vanished megafauna are explored at Sydneys Australian Museum, or immerse yourself in science, technology and modern design at the Powerhouse Museum. Source: Wikipedia, 2023; city's official stats, 2023. However they are really very different beasts, appealing to visitors of different stripes. It has all these amazing rock formations, such as the 12 Apostles. 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. In terms of beach destinations from Sydney, you can nip up to the Central Coast within an hour and a half, where there are lots of great beaches and national parks. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. But being a liveable city does not necessarily make it a city that tourists flock to, and while Melbourne has plenty of worthwhile places to see, Sydney is indubitably the winner when it comes to tourist attractions. Natural increase was highest in Sydney followed by Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. 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. From what to pack to local culture and etiquette, here's what you need to know before you head to Sydney. Population: how does Melbourne compare to Sydney? Parr says the trend has been consistent in the years leading up to the pandemic, and notes the recent data only takes in about three months of Australias international border closure, meaning it could be less noticeable in next years data as international migration has largely been paused. (Melbourne), Unknown. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-dreamingofdownunder_com-mobile-leaderboard-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-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_14',654,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-dreamingofdownunder_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');A rainy day at Sydneys Northern Beaches. I personally think Sydney beats Melbourne in terms of how nice its beaches are, but thats just my opinion, and I have explored much more of Sydney! This English beauty spot is the UK's first World Surfing Reserve - but what does that mean? Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list. Sign up here. She has written three books for Moon Travel Guides: 'Living Abroad in Australia' (3rd edition), 'Sydney & the Great Barrier Reef', and the shorter version 'Spotlight Sydney' and are all available in print and as e-books. It's also usually connected with better night life and dating possibilities. Numbers aside, both Sydney and Melbourne are vast, sprawling cities with skyscrapers and diverse cultures, suburbs and landscapes.Melbourne CBD. Source: UNESCO, 2023. The three main wine regions of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia offer an enormous variety of choices to pair with your dishes. Source: numbeo.com, 2023, The average cost of monthly basic utilities (electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage) for an 85m2 apartment. If youre moving to Australia permanently and will want to buy a home, youd better have a big budget if youre hoping to live in Sydney or Melbourne! It's easier to organize parties in public places. Source: Wikipedia, 2023; city's official website, 2023. Why I Love Living On Californias Humboldt County Coast, How You Can Vacation Internationally For Half The Price This Summer, Debunking The Myths Around The 6 Scariest Animals In Australia, The Gorgeous Underrated Destination That Needs To Be On Your Australia Travel List, 5 Stunning Places In South Australia Perfect For An Escape, 8 Quirky Ways Australians Spend Christmas, For details on Quillt's privacy and cookie policies, please visit our, 9 Tips For Experiencing Sydney On A Budget, 9 Unique Melbourne Experiences That Locals Love. log in. The southern capital is now the closest it has been since 1930 to overtaking Sydney as Australias most populous city. Don't have an account? The median unit (flat) price in Sydney at that time was $831k, and the median unit price in Melbourne was $631k. Melb hands down has the world's best Kebab shops!! 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. This was due to one of the main methods the ABS uses to tally population. Initial census results had Sydney ahead, but on Thursday, the ABS updated a boundary it used to calculate Melbournes population, and the city expanded to take in a formerly regional patch Melton on its north-west fringe. Check out my Sydney to Melbourne road trip itinerary for ideas. Melbourne overtakes Sydney as Australia's biggest city - BBC Melbourne's population fell during COVID-19, but it's still set to The median weekly rent on a unit (flat) in Sydney was $510 whereas in Melbourne it was $420, which is 20% lower than in Sydney. From the May 2022 Corelogic property report referenced above, the median weekly rent for a house in Sydney at that time was $630, and in Melbourne, only $460, which is 37% lower than in Sydney. And house prices in Sydney, already the highest in the country, are growing more rapidly than Melbournes. A Gini coefficient of one expresses maximal inequality. Prof Nick Parr, a demographer at Macquarie University, says Melbournes recent growth has dwarfed Sydneys because of larger migration intake. Brisbane and Perth were the only capitals to have net internal migration gains. A Gini coefficient of zero expresses perfect equality. No need for cooking either. A city founded a longer time ago has more history, which can give extra cultural richness for visitors and residents. While Melbourne does have beaches, its better known for its fantastic culture and city attractions, which Ill cover next. While the Melbourne population is set to draw ahead of Sydney, NSW is still the biggest state by a significant margin the population of NSW, at 8.23 million, is about 1.5 million larger than Victorias at 6.72 million. I can see how some people would think Melbourne is better than Sydney though, particularly with the cool cafes, nightlife and arty vibes. Sydney overtook Melbourne as Australias most populous city in 1905, and has held the title since. Try 14 days free now. High relative humidity reduces the effectiveness of sweating in cooling the body by reducing the rate of evaporation of moisture from the skin. Melbourne-Sydney population gap closest since 1930 Ive lived in Sydney since 2016, but Ive spent some time in Melbourne too, and there are some big differences between the two cities. Sydney and Melbourne both have international airports too, so you can easily reach other destinations in Australia and overseas. Melbourne added 70,000 more people than Sydney did over the last 5 years and based on the current growth trends, soon after mid-century, Melbourne will be Australia's largest city", said Mark McCrindle. Here are our faves. Source: numbeo.com, 2023. CNN Melbourne has overtaken Sydney to become Australia 's largest city by population thanks to a technicality. Bureau of Statistics figures show the population gap in Melbournes favour reached 71,800 in 2020 but has since narrowed due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban population growth. The Victorian story is quite fascinating, McCrindle said. Regional population, 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics We want to inspire you to explore new destinations, discover new experiences and savor the journey. Melbournes growth had been outpacing Sydneys for much of the last decade, in part due to international and internal migration patterns that favoured the southern city.
