Melbourne VS Sydney - You decide

It's a pointless argument - it depends what you like! Maybe neither Sydney or Melbourne are best. Lots of people are heading north to Brisbane...

Go Melbourne! Sydney has flash, Melbourne style.

Ooo...it's a touchy one! One for Melbourne. More class, more substance.

Live in Melbourne, weekend getaways in Sydney.

Crap in Sydney, sleep/live in Melbourne.

Live in Melbs, fly in to Sydney for a few days of swimming at Coogee then get out again!

Having lived in Sydney a few years back it is a fantastic international city. You can't deny the natural beauty, the harbour is incredible. I lived in North Sydney and caught the ferry to work every day. North Shore suburbs like Netural Bay, Mosman, Elizabeth Bay and Kirribilli are tough to beat. (Though incredibly expensive).

If you look at things to do Sydney has the edge again with it's tourist activities, restaurants are also on a par with Melbourne. I do think Melbourne has better shopping (City, Chadstone, Doncaster Shoppingtown, Chapel St etc).

It also felt that the majority of people lived alot further out from the Sydney CBD than in Melbourne. Only a small percentage can afford harbour real estate.

Melbourne Sydney debates have been going on for years and I doubt will end anytime soon.

oh here we go - I was waiting for this topic to fire up.

Me thinks there a few Melbournian's in here? Well I'm jumping on the bandwagon and backing Melbourne on this one. I've never lived in Sydney, but have been there plenty of times, and I like it. The nightlife is great if you know where to go, and the food is always good (again depending on where you go)

It's true that sydneysiders do have a bit more of a snobby\flashy feel to them, but compared to other major cities around the world, Melbourne and Sydney are very much the same.

I do agree with JVS though, the beauty of the city is very impressive. I was on a flight back from the USA the other week, and we flew in right over the harbour. An american guy behind me said "Wow...the harbour, the bridge, the opera house...such a dramatic view" We just don't have that in Melbourne.

I'm curious to hear from more people who have lived in both? Any takers?

AJ

sydney is really pretty - no doubt about that. but that's the problem, IMO. It's all nice and pretty for the first few hours/days ..etc .. and then u get used to it and don't notice / appreciate it any more.

so then what's left? the rat race.

and that doesn't go away.

PureKrome, have you lived in Sydney?

nope, 50% out of choice (better places to live), the remaining 50% because of family/friends/work/etc.

Back to JVS' point - Only a small percentage can afford harbour real estate. That's precisely it. Unless you do live close to the harbour... Sydney doesn't have anything more going for it relative to Melbourne.

Sydney is most definitely the party place with beaches - you can't call St Kilda a beach it's a gaint lake!!!

Love Sydney but sorry lived in Sydney, Melbourne and London.

MELBOURNE wins any day - yes even over London which too is a great place to party.

Lived in Sydney for 6 months, have spent many months working in Brisbane...but now and always have been a Melbourne girl at heart. Melbourne's laid back, nothing to prove vibe wins over the highly anxious, must always be seen as the coolest vibe of Sydney any day. To live and to work - Melbourne. If you want true style - then move to Milano :)

Well said Vecci2004!!

@cindyh I find London extremely overrated! It's a great city, but I don't really understand why so many people want to live there? Perhaps I'm missing something?

No @AJ - i agree completely ... London = Why? i just don't get the appeal. Is it the big clock?

Perhaps it's the big clock, perhaps it's an easier option than New York? Perhaps it's the abundance of Australian people there that makes moving there seem more of a viable option to other Aussies. Regardless, I don't get it either.

So we should live in Melbourne, but have a picture of Sydney on our wall at home?

hehe @allsmiles.

i read something recently about Sydney vs Melbourne.

Melbourne has culture while Sydney has Cocaine.

*smirk*

Personally I think Melbourne has more of a unique identity than Sydney. Whilst Sydney is great (and the harbor is stunning) it feels just like any other big city to me. Melbourne on the other hand has a character all of it's own.

As for London, I lived there for 10 years and what it has to offer is choice and that exciting feeling of being right in the heart of things! Unfortunately while it has almost everything you could ever want it also has a lot of aspects you wouldn't. Melbourne on the other hand has less choice (but most things you'd want from a city) and importantly... much less of the unpleasant aspects of city life making it a much easier and relaxed place to live.

I've lived in a few places (including London and NYC) and spent time in many more, and Sydney beats everywhere, hands down. ;-)

True, I haven't lived in Melbourne - but have stayed many times, and looked into moving there a couple of years ago. I couldn't do it. The weather is way too sucky. And the lack of beaches is almost worse. Sydney is, IMHO, the most beautiful city on earth, and the lifestyle is incomparable.

After dark I think I would prefer to be at home safe in my house, rather than Melbourne or Sydney streets. A shame because during the day they can be great interesting places....stick to the country...

Michelle, unfortunately by staying inside your house at night you'll miss out on all that's great in both cities. Remember most people venture out at nights and go home without incident. It is a very very small percentage of people that run into trouble. The media tends to report and these incidents and it just looks like the streets are very not safe. And trust me...by international standards, we have some of the safest cities in the world.

AJ

Interesting to see Sydney jumping on Melbourne's recent poor press relating to the bashings of overseas students and immigrants. Sydney will be pitching itself as the "safe" option to live for foreigners, Melbourne will be sending Shane Warne to India to help Melbourne's image problem.

Melbourne is consistently rated as the World's most livable city. So there is no competition.

Sydney has the looks, while Melbourne has the personality.
While the looks are pretty to look at, the personality makes you want to stay.

It definitely depends on what kind of person you are. I mean, are you a beach bum? Like surfy cafes? Will be going surfing or sunbaking at every chance you get? Then move to Bondi or Manly in Sydney - if you can afford it. But that's it, I mean Sydney has lovely views but I live an hour and a half out of Sydney and plenty of my friends and family have reported of going into Sydney and suddenly feeling sick from all the pollution.

I don't get that sickly vibe from Melbourne.

Originally from Melbourne, when I think of the city I think of deep reds, maroons, black. Rich culture, great books, fantastic cafes. I think of passion, romance, heated discussions. Living 7 years in Victoria, 12 years in NSW; (plus visiting VIC at any chance I can), the people in Victoria are indescribably better. I know that's harsh, but they are. More down to earth, genuine, hilarious - VIC still has the country vibe and I bloody love it.

Like I said - Sydney has the looks, while Melbourne has the personality.

Having lived in Sydney for a year I didn't enjoy the constant humidity, coming from Melbourne you notice it.

"Sydney has the looks, while Melbourne has the personality."

I love that description :) Very apt in my (biased) opinion, too :)

I also find Sydney waay busier .. which is a big turn off to me.