Not sure where to go. Sydney or Melbourne? Sydney has nice beaches and it is hotter but is also the most expensive. Melbourne would be cheaper as we would be renting and the quarentine station is much easier to get to. We want to stay in the city centre where ever we decide to go. Help me choose?!?

Job opportunities has to be one of the main considerations.

Had we not needed to go to Sydney because of OH job we probably would have chosen Melbourne as it is more affordable. However now we are here, and have made a few trips to Melbourne we are glad we ended up in Sydney. I find Melbourne a very ugly city.

You know what they say ugly city beautiful people

Yes I agree, I lived in Melbourne for a year and although there is loads to do, and it is a bustling city, I always felt it was always dirty and grey looking. I think people overrate it. At the same time though, we are all different and it will be a haven for others. I just dont get it. But then again, I was looking for beautifull scenery with great weather too so I went to the wrong place. It was actually begining to depress me so I had to go. Its all about finding your own happy isnt it.

I see you've decided on Sydney - or was that down to your partners employer

I prefer Melbourne, I think its more affordable and less crowded than Sydney? Please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks

Melbourne 10-15 years ago was great, I think that is the legacy that still attracts people. Now I think it's vastly over-rated, dirty, graffiti-ridden (seriously worst city in the world I've been to for this), expensive (not that cheaper than Sydney) and over-run by too many hipsters and coffee and food wankers.

Melbourne houses and townhouses are cheaper but apartments/units are not as good as Sydney (design, material and floor plan). Will choose the one which gives me job opportunities.

Who was that directed at? What have you seen?

Certainly more affordable as far as I can tell by looking on domain. As for crowds, not sure I noticed much difference. Neither will feel particularly crowded after say London.

Yes dirty, graffiti-ridden, grungy, yuk. I really wanted to like Melbourne, thought I would, but that sums it up for us.

OP says they are moving to sydney in post about Medicare

Ok, had not seen that.

What? Sydney has no graffiti and is as clean as a whistle? That's news to me.

I'm surprised nobody's been along to tell you that it's 'street art' yet! We had a Banksy don't you know...until the council painted over it!

I like both cities. But what swung it for us was that in Melbourne we could afford to live within walking distance of a beach and an easy commute to the city centre. No way we could do that in Sydney.

BB