[Buzzy--Bee]

Originally Posted by Jon77 Melbourne is the current favourite, Sydney is a poor relation these days, and I kind of like it that way, Sydneysiders don't have a chip on their shoulders like people from Melbourne do.

I think there are people with chips on shoulders everywhere, I think you're generalizing. I like Sydney, I would live in Sydney if I could afford the same lifestyle as I have in Melbourne. But in Sydney I can't afford a family home within walking distance of the beach and 30 mins commute from the CBD. The OP seems to have a higher income than me so he might be able to.

BB

[asher]

I lived in Sydney for 5 years and loved it but a lot depends on where in Sydney you live, out west is cheap but all the rough weather hits the western suburbs, inner suburbs are very expensive but there are bargains to be had if you look. The southern and northern suburbs are nice i preferred the southern ones as the train commute was easier than the drive in to the cbd.

I have recently moved to Melbourne and am missing Sydney a lot, people bang on about the cafe culture in Melbourne but honestly how many cups of coffee do you want?
I miss the harbour, the botanical gardens and the natural beauty of the national parks

Melbourne has a beautiful river area and is more affordable but for events there is not a lot to choose from they both have many festivals, parades concerts in the parks.
New years eve in Sydney is not to be missed.
both have decent art galleries.
both have lovely beach areas
Melbourne has more variable weather it gets both colder and hotter than Sydney.
It's easier to drive in melbourne than Sydney.
Sydney's trains are double deckers so not quite so crowded as Melbourne ones. Melbourne has trams Sydney doesn't.

[Buzzy--Bee]

Originally Posted by asher I miss the harbour, the botanical gardens and the natural beauty of the national parks

Melbourne doesn't have the city-side beauty of Sydney's harbour, however the Botanical gardens are not too shabby and some of the parks are amazing, eg Braeside park near me which has 100s of acres of natural bush. But I don't know how these compare to Sydney's equivalents as I have not seen them.

BB

[Bermudashorts]

Originally Posted by Buzzy--Bee I think there are people with chips on shoulders everywhere, I think you're generalizing. I like Sydney, I would live in Sydney if I could afford the same lifestyle as I have in Melbourne. But in Sydney I can't afford a family home within walking distance of the beach and 30 mins commute from the CBD. The OP seems to have a higher income than me so he might be able to. BB

A family home allowing a walk to the beach and 30 minutes from the CBD would be difficult in Sydney on OP's income, would need well over $1000 a week rent, probably more like $1500, which would be a high proportion of take home pay. Still all they need to do is drop the 30 minute commute criteria and it opens up a lot of options.

[Buzzy--Bee]

Originally Posted by Bermudashorts A family home allowing a walk to the beach and 30 minutes from the CBD would be difficult in Sydney on OP's income, would need well over $1000 a week rent, probably more like $1500,

Wow! It would be about $500 a week rent here, for a 3 bed 2 bath house.

BB

[Bermudashorts]

Originally Posted by Buzzy--Bee Wow! It would be about $500 a week rent here, for a 3 bed 2 bath house. BB

We can walk to the beach but are about 45 minutes from CBD in good traffic more typically it takes an hour. Rent $1300 a week, 3 bed 3 bath. We should move to Melbourne.

[Butterfly Bokeh]

We spent a short amount of time in Sydney so I can only base my answer to you on that, I know some people that love it there, having said that they can afford the suburbs that we couldn't have even looked at.
We felt Sydney was ok, very obviously expensive and though the amount you are looking at is a good amount, I'm not sure it would get as much or in maybe the sort of suburb you may want to be in there?
I think had it just been my husband and me we'd have liked it a lot more. However with a family I just couldn't warm to it as a place to live. When it came to sightseeing there was some beautiful places to see and the view from Taronga Zoo where the giraffes were/ are was stunning as were some of the beaches.

Thinking of Melbourne I would say you would be able to get yourself a nice house in a really nice suburb. We've spent some time in Melbourne and though it lacks the obvious beauty of the Opera House and Bridge that in Sydney stands out, we found the Melbourne to be more welcoming, it had a hidden beauty, the views from the Eureeka Tower or Rialto which I don't think you can view from now? were amazing. Federation Square was a hive of cultural beauty the days we were in the city, the bridge just to south of the city does have some lovely views.
We found it to be more relaxing, we enjoyed spending time in various suburbs to the South East and spent a few days enjoying beaches on the south coast, Inverloch was one of our personal favorites.
We found the West from around Laverton and south to be un-inspiring for us, a little too modern in places but baron at times and the contrast for us wasn't inviting. However certain areas of Williamstown are beautiful with a few spectacular views of the city.
The M1 to the East could be a nightmare in rush hour - that said we spent far greater time in queue's trying to get round Sydney when to our knowledge it wasn't rush hour traffic.
Some great areas out Dandenong Ranges Way, on route to Healesville we were lucky enough to be stopped by some wombats crossing the road, there are some great parks too, our children enjoyed Jells Park.

Definately do the reccie and see where you think would be best though after all it'll be you living there for maybe at least 6 months before you could think of relocating ?

[commonwealth]

Originally Posted by Bermudashorts Rent $1300 a week, 3 bed 3 bath.

[ozzieeagle]

I raised this topic at work, among my Aussie Co workers. Their slant and it's a very intersting take.

Apparently the Western Subs of Sydney has well over 1 million people living in it.... this whole area is equivalent to the worst parts of Melbourne.

So it comes down to a much larger part of Sydney having a worse living standard that the majority of Melbourne.

Western Sydney = population 1 million plus (possibly 1.5 mill)

Dallas, Coolaroo, Craigeburn, Noble Park, Dandenong, Doveton probably less than 500K.

So there are probably more than a million people living in worse conditions in Sydney than Melbourne in Cities that only have 300k Difference in population.

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle I raised this topic at work, among my Aussie Co workers. Their slant and it's a very intersting take. Apparently the Western Subs of Sydney has well over 1 million people living in it.... this whole area is equivalent to the worst parts of Melbourne. So it comes down to a much larger part of Sydney having a worse living standard that the majority of Melbourne. Western Sydney = population 1 million plus (possibly 1.5 mill) Dallas, Coolaroo, Craigeburn, Noble Park, Dandenong, Doveton probably less than 500K. So there are probably more than a million people living in worse conditions in Sydney than Melbourne in Cities that only have 300k Difference in population.

What the...

Not much of a generalisation there, then!

The population of the Western suburbs is actually closer to 2 million. The area is huge and contains hundreds of suburbs. Some of them are gorgeous, leafy places with large historic houses with median house values of over a million dollars. There are many prestigious private schools in the western suburbs.

I don't think I would be looking for information on Sydney suburbs from a bunch of Australia Post workers in Melbourne (other than their postcodes).

[IvanM]

Lumping western Sydney in one pot is daft.

There are good and bad suburbs as well some of the most diverse areas of Australia. The bad are grim.

The numbers there are probably much greater.

Most Mexicans would jump to Sydney if they had the cash.

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle I raised this topic at work, among my Aussie Co workers. Their slant and it's a very intersting take. Apparently the Western Subs of Sydney has well over 1 million people living in it.... this whole area is equivalent to the worst parts of Melbourne. So it comes down to a much larger part of Sydney having a worse living standard that the majority of Melbourne. Western Sydney = population 1 million plus (possibly 1.5 mill) Dallas, Coolaroo, Craigeburn, Noble Park, Dandenong, Doveton probably less than 500K. So there are probably more than a million people living in worse conditions in Sydney than Melbourne in Cities that only have 300k Difference in population.

[ozzieeagle]

Originally Posted by NickyC What the... Not much of a generalisation there, then! The population of the Western suburbs is actually closer to 2 million. The area is huge and contains hundreds of suburbs. Some of them are gorgeous, leafy places with large historic houses with median house values of over a million dollars. There are many prestigious private schools in the western suburbs. I don't think I would be looking for information on Sydney suburbs from a bunch of Australia Post workers in Melbourne (other than their postcodes).

Two of them have lived in Sydney before, so I took their views as quite credible. They are quite adamant that the worst parts of Sydney are far worse than the worst parts of Melbourne and there are massive areas like this ?



So which suburbs in the West are leafy.... So I can run that past them please ?

[ozzieeagle]

Originally Posted by IvanM Most Mexicans would jump to Sydney if they had the cash.

I wouldnt assume that. In fact I'm quite interested in living in Sydney, but only if it were definitely better than I live here. So that would have to be pretty damn good.... Just done my place up and its not far short of 900K now. There are plenty of better places in Melbourne to live beyond my 'burb. So I reckon I'd have to spend very close to 1.5 mil in Sydney to definitely find something better than I have here.

Edit for my own interest. What would be considered a decent to good Multi Cultural Area in Sydney... Fairly close in ? Less than 10ks say.

.

[IvanM]

It is harder to say which are not. The main areas I dislike are Darling Harbour, CBD and Broadway. Other than that you have to go North of the harbour for your Anglo strongholds.

Even somewhere like Bondi has its specific communities. There were plenty of Kosher, Russian and Hungarian places. If I was loaded I would be living in a mansion around there. I am sure Melbourne has its equivalents.

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle I wouldnt assume that. In fact I'm quite interested in living in Sydney, but only if it were definitely better than I live here. So that would have to be pretty damn good.... Just done my place up and its not far short of 900K now. There are plenty of better places in Melbourne to live beyond my 'burb. So I reckon I'd have to spend very close to 1.5 mil in Sydney to definitely find something better than I have here. Edit for my own interest. What would be considered a decent to good Multi Cultural Area in Sydney... Fairly close in ? Less than 10ks say. .

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle So which suburbs in the West are leafy.... So I can run that past them please ?

There are lots of leafy suburbs - but the most obvious are Burwood and Strathfield which have some gorgeous streets with large Federation houses.
The Appian Way in Burwood is the best example - one of the houses in the street sold for over $3m recently. The Boulevard in Strathfield also very nice with some huge houses.

Most suburbs surrounding Burwood and Strathfield are nice - Croydon, Ashbury, Summer Hill etc. All the inner-west suburbs - Annandale, Balmain, Drummoyne, Rozelle are cool and trendy nowadays - not a cheap or nasty one amongst them. All the western suburbs along the Parramatta River are nice - Concord, Cabarita, Newington.

There are pockets of not so nice suburbs around Bankstown, Blacktown and Liverpool. But that does mean that all the other suburbs in between are bad.