Most Livable Cities in Australia in 2024-25

When it comes to livability, Australia consistently wins the status of being a good and safe place to live. Further, Australia is more than a visiting country, as it maintains its strong position as a host country of multitudes of overseas visitors and migrants. 

 

In the Economist Intelligent Unite (EIU) 2023, the global Liveability Index Australia topped the charts and held a strong status in the ranking of the most liveable cities. Each year, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) surveys 173 cities based on specific factors to determine their ranking in terms of livability. The purpose of the survey is to determine the cities’ livability ratings. 

 

No doubt, Australia is a home of highly ranked cities in the EIU’s liveability index, which is why Australia is considered the most liveable country in the world. According to the Global Liveability Index 2024 by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU there are different rankings of some of the most liveable cities in Australia.

 

Top 5 Australian Cities and their World’s Ranking:

Australian Cities	World’s Ranking
Melbourne	4th place (down from 3rd in 2023)
Sydney	7th place (down from 4th in 2023)
Adelaide	11th place
Perth	15th place
Brisbane	16th place

 

Before moving forward to know about the names of the top 10 most liveable cities in Australia in 2024, let’s understand what makes these cities highly liveable. 

 

Key Factors to Measure Liveability in Cities of Australia

There might be a multifaceted approach and various factors that can determine the livability of Australian cities. But the Global Liveability Index considers the following metrics to measure the living conditions of cities such as:

 

• Stability: It includes the crime rates, terrorism threats, and military conflict.
• Healthcare: It contains both availability and quality of the private and public health services.
• Culture and Environment: This is the blend of  the climate, sports and recreational activities as well as the levels of corruption and censorship.
• Education: It covers both the accessibility and quality of educational services. 
• Infrastructure: This may include the quality of road networks, public transport, water, and energy supply, as well as the availability of quality housing and telecommunications.

 

Top 10 Most Livable Cities in Australia in Australia

According to the report of the Metropolitan Australia Liveability Index, there are the following top 10 most liveable cities in Australia.

1. Melbourne
2. Sydney
3. Adelaide
4. Perth
5. Brisbane
6. Canberra
7. Hobart
8. Gold Coast
9. Darwin
10. Newcastle

 

Note: The Australian Urban Observatory provides the  liveability data for the cities of Australia. You can find out the factors of measurement and report on their official website.

Let’s have a look at some of the top-ranked cities in Australia. 

 

1. Melbourne

 

 

When it comes to the most liveable cities in Australia, Melbourne is the winning position on the list.

It has won the title of most livable city in Australia and ranked third globally in 2023. Further, it is considered a 30% cheaper city to live in Australia. This city is the hub of delicious food, cafes, and cultural scenes.

Melbourne boasts several key factors that can make it the most appealing and liveable city in Australia, such as:

 

• Healthcare: Melbourne is home to several top-tier hospitals and a world-class healthcare system, which has helped it to achieve a higher score on the Global Liveability Index.
• Education:  This city also achieved a higher score for its quality of education. It is a hub for many prestigious educational institutes such as  Monash University, University of Melbourne,  Deakin University, Victoria University, and more. 
• Culture and Environment: Melbourne is considered one of the best places to live due to its vibrant culture and environmental sustainability. It is the most liveable city in Australia, as it has achieved a 95.8/100 score in this category.
• Infrastructure: Melbourne obtained the highest score for infrastructure, offering public transport, well-maintained roads, and easy mobility for its residents.
• Stability: When we talk about a safe and stable city, Melbourne achieved a 95/100 score in this category. Low crime rates and its strong sense of safety for community and residents made this place safe for them. 

 

2. Sydney

 

 

Sydney has always regained the status of one of the World’s top five most liveable cities. It contains a cultural blend and lush green gardens. It offers a diverse experience more than an urban appeal for the families. Its historic Rocks district showcases the history, while the trendy Surry Hills showcases its modern creativity.

 

According to the Global Liveability Index for 2023, Sydney was ranked the fourth most livable city in the World. However, Sydney was ranked seventh in 2024 base don the following factors:

• Healthcare: Sydney is known for its high-quality healthcare system and medical care, which is why it has obtained a 100/100 score in the Global Liveability Index.
• Education: Sydney offers high-quality education as it is the hub of top-tier academic institutes such as the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Macquarie University, and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
• Culture and Environment: This city obtained a 94.4/100 score in this category. It is known as Blue Water City, ranked fourth as the best living place in the World and second in Australia. 
• Stability: Sydney has gained higher scores of 95/100 in this category due to its low crime rates and overall safety across the city. 
• Infrastructure: Like Melbourne, Sydney also offers excellent infrastructure, such as public transport and well-maintained roads.

 

3. Adelaide

 

 

Adelaide consistently recognizes itself as one of the most liveable cities in the World. Its  natural beauty and blend of vibrant culture make it one of the best cities to live in Australia. Adelaide offers a unique living experience to its local and overseas residents. This city is often known as the Festival State because of its natural events and festivals. 

 

According to the Global Liveability Index for 2024, Adelaide is ranked the 11th most livable city in the World third most livable city in Australia after Melbourne and Sydney based on the in the following measuring categories.

 

• Healthcare: Adalaide obtained a perfect score of 100/100 in healthcare. 
• Education: Adelaide also obtained scores of 100/100 for education as this city hosts top universities like the University of Adelaide, Flinders University, and more. 
• Culture and Environment: As mentioned above, Adelaide is known as the “Festival State. ” In the category of culture and environment, Adelaide has achieved scores of 83.8/100. 
• Stability: Adelaide obtained  95/100 instability. The city has a low crime rate, and there is a strong sense of community in terms of the safety and well-being of the local and overseas residents.
• Infrastructure: Adelaide’s score is 96.4 /00 for the category of infrastructure. The city has well-planned and efficient public transport, reliable road networks, and advanced infrastructure.

 

4. Perth

 

 

Perth has proved itself a rising star in livability. It is the capital city of Western Australia. In 2023, it was ranked 12th, following Adelaide, in the Global Liveability Index. With significant strides in a 20% cheaper cost of living and a rich economy, Perth has succeeded in achieving a status of among the top 20 most livable cities in Australia. 

 

In 2024, Perth is ranked 15th worldwide in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index. However, Perth is Australia’s 4th most liveable city, following Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide. These ranking factors include:

 

• Healthcare: Perth offers a high-quality healthcare system to its local residents and overseas migrants, which is why this city has obtained a 95.9 score. Its most familiar hospitals include the Royal Perth Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. 
• Education: Perth never forgets to excel in its education system. It hosts the World’s famous universities, including the University of Western Australia and Curtin University. In the Global Index, it has achieved a score of 95.9/100. 
• Culture and Environment: Perth’s vibrant culture and sustainable environment are key factors in making it one of the most livable cities in Australia. It is recognized as a cultural hub because it contains the Perth Cultural Centre. It has obtained a 95.9/100 score in this category.  
• Stability: Perth is known for its stability as it sustains a low crime rate and a safe community to live and work safely. Its score in the category of stability is  95.9/100.
• Infrastructure: Perth has developed infrastructure, earning a score of 95.9/100 in this category. It has made significant developments in cycling and walking paths, public transport, and other new community facilities.

5. Brisbane

 

 

Brisbane is a family-friendly and busy city known for its urban sophistication and lush green spaces. In the Global Liveability Index 2023, it is ranked 16th as the most livable city in the world. 

Brisbane is surrounded by diverse and inclusive neighborhoods that are considered one of the best places to live in Australia. With its affordable housing and top-notch educational institutions, this city has won the hearts of families and overseas people. Brisbane has a fast-growing technology and innovation sector. 

 

• Health: Brisbane has a high-quality healthcare system and improved emergency services.  It has many well-known hospitals, such as the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital and the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Its score in the Global Economic Index 2023 is 95/100.
• Education: Brisbane has obtained a 94/100 score in the education category. This city is home to well-known educational institutions like the University of Queensland and the Queensland University of Technology, which attract many students across the World.
• Culture and Environment : Brisbane’s diverse culture features many festivals, art exhibitions, and other cultural events. It has obtained 93/100 points in the culture and environment category.  
• Stability: Thanks to Brisbane’s low crime rate and strong community engagement, which the reason if  obtaining score the score of 95/100 in stability. 
• Infrastructure: Brisbane has gained a score of 94/100 in infrastructure. Its infrastructure development includes $5.4 billion in cross-river projects and the $1.7 billion Brisbane Metro project. 

 

Explore Some of the Best Places to Live in Australia

If you are looking to move to Australia and explore the best places in Australia to make your new home, here are some suggested cities based on different choices and preferences. 

 

Categories (Interests & Preferences)	City
Best for education and research	Brisbane
Best for outdoor activities	Cairns
Best for government and defence careers	Canberra
Best for tropical lifestyle	Darwin
Best for coastal living	Gold Coast
Best for quiet living	Hobart
Best for arts and culture	Melbourne
Best for maritime climate	Newcastle
Best for vibrant city life	Perth
Best for business opportunities	Sydney
Best for natural beauty	Tasmania

 

Conclusion

No doubt, Australian cities continue to excel at their level in terms of liveability by offering unique best experiences to meet their unique needs and preferences. Whether someone wants to experience Brisbane’s education, Cairns’ outdoor adventure, career opportunities in Canberra, or rich cultural scenes, There are many suitable and most Liveable cities in Australia for you.

So, if you are considering moving to Australia for temporary accommodation, or permanent residency, apply for a suitable Australian visa now. For this purpose, you must get professional assistance from an expert migration agent. Browse the Migration and talk with their visa experts to explore Australian Visas options and start your new life in the most liveable cities of Australia.

To know more about the visa application process, eligibility requirements or any further detail regarding your prior visa visit our blogs and news section.