The great rivalry: Sydney vs Melbourne
Both Sydneysiders and Melbournites will agree that both cities are two of the greatest in the world, but that doesn’t prevent a bit of local rivalry. Whether it’s the Swans vs the Kangaroos, or arguments over who held the best Olympic Games, there’s not much both will agree on – though not a lot to separate the two, either.
If you’re looking at moving to Melbourne we think there are plenty of things that could attract your attention. In fact, people are flocking to the Garden State.
New figures from McCrindle show that New South Wales lost 5,572 people from its population throughout 2014, as people left the First State to seek greener pastures. Meanwhile, Victoria’s population grew quicker than any other territory, with 9,336 people deciding to call the region home.
With three-quarters of Victorians living in Melbourne, it is the fastest growing city in Australia, and is expected to become the biggest in terms of population by 2050. Obviously we’re some way from that at the moment, though with a growing property market, it’s making real estate a popular investment for the future.
So, if you’re weighing up your next big life decision, and asking yourself “should I move to Melbourne or Sydney?”, here are a few reasons to seriously consider life in the Victorian capital.
Who will win in the famous Sydney vs Melbourne rivalry?
It’s officially the most liveable city in the world
It’s official once again: Melbourne is the “most liveable city in the world”, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit. Ranked against 139 other global metropolises, Melbourne fought off Vienna (2nd), Vancouver (3rd) and Sydney (7th) to the top spot in 2015.
It’s no wonder, with our friendly cafe culture, greenery and excellent cultural landmarks just a few reasons to move to Melbourne. As one National Geographic blogger was warned when visiting her Melbourne-based friends, “You’re going to want to move here… just be aware”.
You may not want to live in the CBD, and the good news is you don’t have to.
Housing is much more affordable
Real estate in Melbourne is comparatively affordable. In fact, compared to Sydney, housing is 37 per cent cheaper in Melbourne on average, McCrindle finds.
The Real Estate Institute of Victoria places the median house price in metropolitan Melbourne at $729,500. Our household income is only $153 less per fortnight than our Sydney counterparts, so you’ll likely put less of that wage towards your mortgage repayments – leaving you with more to spend on a world-class coffee.
An easier commute is attractive to many house-hunters.
It’s highly accessible
You may not want to live in the CBD, and the good news is you don’t have to. Melbourne is one of the most accessible cities in Australia, with 72,862 people using our iconic trams for their daily commute, and 29,658 choosing to cycle (to Sydney’s 18,225).
It’s a sign of how good the road system is that 1,155,094 choose to drive to work – around 100,000 more people than in Sydney. While the roads might not always be perfect, they’re more than bearable for those looking to set roots in Melbourne’s nearby suburbs.
If you love your sport, we’ve got it all
This ease of getting around makes Melbourne a bustling place on match day. Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn – each has their local AFL team for you to throw your support behind.
And if footy’s not your thing, the Melbourne Aces (baseball), Melbourne United (basketball), or Melbourne City or Victory (both soccer) might be worth a punt. There’s no shortage of local sports teams – or venues. The 100,024-seater MCG has to be seen to be believed!
