Choosing a city

Australia’s cities are thousands of kilometres apart and feel quite different. Your choice will shape your rent, your weather and how often you see family.

Last checked 2 Oct 2026·Information, not advice

In 30 seconds

Sydney is the biggest and dearest; Melbourne is almost as big but its rents are much lower
Brisbane and Perth are warmer and sunnier, with rents between the two
In Western Australia and South Australia, England is the most common overseas birthplace

Biggest citySydneyAbout 5.6 million people

Cheapest big-city rentMelbourneA$600 a week median

England-born top birthplaceWA and SAMost common overseas birthplace, 2021

People born in EnglandAbout 971,000Across Australia, 2025

The cities at a glance

Temperatures are the average daily high. Rents are Domain’s median asking rents for the June 2026 quarter (market data). Remember that January is midsummer and July is midwinter.

City	People (2025)	January high	July high	Rain a year	House rent a week	Unit rent a week
Sydney	5.6 million	26°C	16°C	1,211mm	A$850	A$780
Melbourne	5.4 million	27°C	15°C	575mm	A$600	A$600
Brisbane	2.8 million	30°C	22°C	1,065mm	A$700	A$660
Perth	2.5 million	31°C	19°C	719mm	A$750	A$700
Adelaide	1.5 million	29°C	15°C	525mm	A$650	A$550
Canberra	485,000	30°C	13°C	636mm	A$710	A$580
Hobart	255,000	22°C	12°C	611mm	A$625	A$520

More on weather in Is Australia right for you?

What each city is like

City	In short
Sydney	The largest city and biggest job market, with harbour beaches. The highest rents, and long commutes from more affordable suburbs
Melbourne	Almost as big as Sydney, with a strong food, arts and sport scene. Rents are far lower
Brisbane	Warm all year, with a humid summer. Public transport costs a flat 50 cents a trip. Close to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast beaches
Perth	Sunny and dry, with long beaches. Very isolated: the nearest big city is far away. In Western Australia, England is the most common overseas birthplace
Adelaide	Smaller and calmer, with lower rents
Canberra	The national capital, built around government jobs. Cold winters: the average July night is about 0°C
Gold Coast	A beach city south of Brisbane, in Queensland
Hobart	The smallest capital, in Tasmania. Cool summers and the lowest unit rents in our table

Where Brits live

About 971,000 people born in England lived in Australia in mid-2025. At the 2021 census, the largest numbers were in New South Wales, then Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria. In Western Australia and South Australia, England is the most common country of birth after Australia. You’ll find British people in every city, so it shouldn’t be the main reason to choose one.

A shortlist by household

If you are…	Cities to look at first	Why
Single, career first	Sydney, Melbourne	Most jobs and the biggest social scene
A couple	Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide	Lower rents leave more to spend and travel
A family	Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra	Lower rents for a house
Retiring	Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, the Gold Coast	Calmer pace; check visa options first
Working in government or policy	Canberra	The national capital

How to decide

Start with where your job, or the most jobs in your field, are
Compare rents for the home you need, not just the median
Look at the summer heat and humidity, not just the sunshine
Think about flights: how often you’ll go back to the UK or have visitors
If you can, visit in both summer and winter before you commit

What to do next

Shortlist two or three cities
Check jobs in your field in each
Compare rents with the cost of living calculator

Sources

Last checked 2 Oct 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the official source before you act. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@theglobalocal.com.