A comprehensive comparison of Australia's top ten cities: Which one is the real "first city" between Sydney and Melbourne?

Hello everyone, I am the assistant of Australian Encyclopedia. Recently, some friends asked me aboutComparison of Australian city sizesNow I will summarize the relevant issues and hope it will be helpful to those who want to know more.


### 1. Multiple dimensions of Australian city evaluation criteria
To accurately answer the question "Which city in Australia is bigger?", we need to consider multiple dimensions:

1. **Total population** (latest data in 2023):
- Sydney: 5.36 million (including metropolitan area)
- Melbourne: $5.21 million
- Brisbane: $2.53 million
- Perth: 2.14 million
- Adelaide: $1.35 million

2. **Metropolitan area** (square kilometers):
- Perth: 6,418
- Brisbane: 5,905
- Melbourne: 2,542
- Sydney: 1,788
- Darwin: 112

3. **Economic output** (GDP in fiscal year 2022-23):
- Sydney: A$460 billion
- Melbourne: A$369 billion
- Perth: A$218 billion
- Brisbane: A$181 billion

### 2. The two heroes of "First City" compete for supremacy
#### Sydney’s absolute advantages:
- Owning more than 50% of Fortune 500 headquarters in Australia
- The number of international flights is 1.5 times that of Melbourne
- Commercial property prices are 37% higher than Melbourne
- The average daily passenger flow from the Harbour Bridge to the Opera House exceeds 100,000

#### Melbourne's catching-up trend:
- Ranked as the world's most livable city for 7 consecutive years
- There are 23% more higher education institutions than Sydney
- Infrastructure investment has exceeded Sydney for five consecutive years
- The population density of the CBD is 1.3 times that of Sydney


### 3. The unique positioning of other major cities
1. Brisbane: Infrastructure frenzy for 2032 Olympics venue
- New Cross River Rail investment of A$5.4 billion
- Queen's Wharf integrated development covers 26 hectares
- Population growth rate is the highest in Australia (annual increase of 2.3%)

2. Perth: The "Pearl of the West" supported by mining giants
- GDP per capita is 28% higher than the national average
- The median house price is only 55% in Sydney
- 3,200 hours of sunshine per year

3. Adelaide: A value depression under the new immigration policy
- The pass rate of skilled immigration state sponsorship is as high as 82%
- The cost of living is 34% lower than Sydney
- The wine industry generates A$2 billion in revenue per year

### 4. Answers to questions related to city size

Should immigrants choose big cities or small cities?

This requires comprehensive consideration of personal background:
- Skilled Migration: Sydney/Melbourne offer more job opportunities, but competition is fierce
- Investment immigration: Brisbane/Perth has more favorable policies
- Study Abroad and Immigration: Adelaide has an additional points policy
- Retirement immigration: Gold Coast/Sunshine Coast has the best value for money

How big is the difference in housing prices between cities?

Data as of the third quarter of 2023:
- Sydney median house price: A$1.35 million
- Melbourne median apartment price: $680,000
- Brisbane land package: from $450,000
- The premium for Adelaide school district housing is 25%

### 5. Forecast of urban development in the next ten years
1. Melbourne's population will surpass Sydney's by 2027
2. Western Sydney Aerotropolis to create 200,000 new jobs
3. **Brisbane Olympics economic effect reaches A$17.6 billion**
4. Perth to build the largest data center cluster on the Indian Ocean coast

Thank you for your reading. I hope this article can help you understandAustralian urban development patternWhether you are planning to immigrate, study abroad or invest, choosing a suitable city requires comprehensive consideration of multiple factors such as economy, life, and development. It is recommended to save this article as a reference for decision-making, and you are also welcome to leave your most concerned city issues in the comment area.

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> 2. Comparison table of immigration policies of various states
> 3. City living cost calculator
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