Melbourne vs Sydney
Cost of living, weather, jobs and lifestyle, side by side. Pick any two cities to switch.
| Fact | Melbourne | Sydney |
|---|---|---|
| Population1 | 5.2 million | 5.5 million |
| State | Victoria | New South Wales |
| Median house price2 | $780k | $1.5M |
| Median weekly rent (house)2 | $560 | $750 |
| Average summer day3 | 26°C | 26°C |
| Average winter day3 | 14°C | 17°C |
| Annual rainfall3 | 650 mm | 1200 mm |
| Time zone4 | AEST (UTC+10), daylight saving | AEST (UTC+10), daylight saving |
| Main industries5 | Health, education, finance, creative industries | Finance, professional services, tech, tourism |
Melbourne and Sydney share the same time zone all year. Figures are rounded, indicative values and are a guide only.
What it's really like: Melbourne and Sydney beyond the numbers
What each city is known for
Melbourne. Cafe culture and coffee, laneway bars, street art, live music and a packed events calendar: the Australian Open, the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Melbourne Cup.
Sydney. The Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and more than 100 beaches, from Bondi and Manly to quieter northern bays. It is Australia's finance capital and its most international city.
Getting around
Melbourne. The world's largest urban tram network covers the inner city, backed by a metro train network and the Metro Tunnel. Toll roads are fewer than Sydney's (mainly CityLink and EastLink), but traffic on the outer freeways is heavy.
Sydney. A large Sydney Trains and Metro network plus ferries on the harbour, but the city is spread out and many people drive. Sydney has the most toll roads in the country, and regular commuters can pay thousands of dollars a year in tolls.
Sport
Melbourne. AFL is close to a religion: nine of the 18 clubs are based here and the MCG holds 100,000 people. Melbourne Park, AAMI Park and Marvel Stadium sit within walking distance of the city centre.
Sydney. Rugby league is the dominant code (the NRL was born here), with AFL, cricket and the A-League also strong. Major venues include the SCG, Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park and the rebuilt Allianz Stadium.
Day-to-day life
Melbourne. An indoor-outdoor city of neighbourhoods, each with its own high street. Weather changes fast ('four seasons in one day') and winters are grey, but housing is markedly cheaper than Sydney.
Sydney. Outdoor, beach-centred living with long warm seasons. The trade-off is cost: housing takes a bigger share of income than anywhere else in Australia, so many people live far from where they work.
Sources: Public Transport Victoria · Visit Melbourne · Transport for NSW · Destination NSW