Ah, Melbourne! Myriad museums, culture-packed events and charming suburbs hem in this multicultural hub. From the seaside sojourns to the 24-hour nightclubs, you can eat, explore and rave the days away. For seven years, my hometown was crowned the world’s most liveable city. So what is it that makes this place so damn special?

Victoria’s capital city is carved with a world of charm, from the art galleries and culinary delights to the roaring sports events. Home to blockbuster sell-outs like the Australian Open and Formula 1 Grand Prix, something exciting happens here practically every day.

Flaunting something for foodies, fashionistas and everyone else in between, it’s easy to fall in love with Melbourne.

Plus, the city never sleeps. And you’ll spot the harmonious discord among the fanatic exercise-oholics, hurried businessmen and stylish shoppers in the CBD.

For the past six years, I’ve been living in Barcelona, Spain. I’ve dabbled in the diversity of Spanish siestas, tapas and fiestas, as well as a huge haul of European delights.

But now, for the first time in four years, I’m back here in Melbourne. A lot has changed since I left, both for the better and for the worse.

I’ve experienced life on the other side of the world and I can’t deny that I’m seeing things here through a fresh set of eyes.

There are many advantages to living here - the pay rates, the lifestyle, and oh, so much more. But, there are a few downsides too, like the unpredictable weather and the high cost of living.

Anyway. There’s a lot to tee up in this guide. So let’s find out what makes Melbourne the world’s most liveable city…

Is Melbourne the world’s most liveable city?

If you’re considering moving abroad, Melbourne could be the place for you. This multicultural metropolis is kind of like New York, but in my (biased) opinion, it’s better. When it comes down to living in Melbourne, there’s a lot to consider.

Before you make the move, you can find out more by dipping your toes in the water with this guide on How to Travel Melbourne. Or, you could plan a trip here and use this 2-day itinerary to get a slice of what’s on offer.

The reasons why Melbourne has been consistently rated one of the world's most liveable cities are endless. Literally. They go on and on. But we don’t have time to scroll through these pages forever. So I’m going to break it down for you, nice and simple.

The people are friendly, the education is top-notch, the lifestyle is unmatched and the business opportunities are bussin’. Boom bam baby!

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2023 Global Liveability Index ranked Melbourne as Australia’s most liveable city. And on a broader spectrum, it scored the 3rd most liveable city in the world. The EIU evaluated around 173 cities based on five key categories - healthcare, culture and environment, education, stability and infrastructure. Here’s how Melbourne rated in each:

• Healthcare: 100/100

• Culture and environment: 95.8/100

• Education: 100/100

• Stability: 95/100

• Infrastructure: 100/100

Not bad, right? If this were school, Melbourne would get an A+…

If we step away from the logistics, we can see that there are many things that set this city apart. It’s not just about the exceptional lifestyle and opportunities here. It’s about the warmth and genuineness of the locals.

Having lived in Europe for so long, I’ve experienced a big mix of characters - some friendly and outgoing, and many on the contrary.

Although I had some wonderful experiences with locals in Spain, generally speaking, people were a lot more cold and closed off. When I came back to Melbourne, I couldn’t help but notice how nice people were here. It was actually one of the first things I noticed as soon as I got off the plane.

People would smile and ask me how my day was going, others would offer to help me with my things. That’s one thing I missed about living here. People’s openness and willingness to strike up a conversation with a stranger. To help others. To not hold back.

The warmth of local residents is one of the biggest benefits of living in Melbourne, and if you’re a student or planning to move here, it’s a lot easier to make friends with people.

This friendly city attracts people from all around the globe. One quarter of Melbourne’s population was born abroad, which makes it one of the most multicultural cities in the world. And with over 140 nations living together, you can experience a range of cultures, languages and cuisines.

To put it in perspective for you, it has the biggest Greek population outside of Greece. And that’s just my fellow saganaki-loving friends. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the most common ancestries are Chinese (32.6%), English (10.2%), Indian (5.4%) and Irish (3.7%). The city is pinned as a multicultural melting pot, and the diversity is one of my favourite things about living here.

Which brings me to my next point. The food! This is the culinary capital of Australia and it dishes out exciting and ever-evolving experiences. The food scene is inspiring, to say the least. From Asian food in Springvale to Italian dishes in Carlton, there are palatable plates to make everybody drool. You can spend the weekends trying new brunch spots, finding cheap eats or savouring the flavours by the seaside.

Food is one thing, but nightlife is another. The city has underground raves, hidden cocktail bars, buzzing rooftop terraces and 24-hour nightclubs. Melbourne’s nightlife scene is as diverse as its residents, making every night out anything but boring. Partying here is almost unrestricted and it is inarguably better than Melbourne’s rival city Sydney.

Ok, so we’ve covered the warmth of locals, the cultural diversity, the culinary scene and the nonpareil nightlife. Next up, we’ve got education. According to QS Best Student Cities 2024, the Victorian capital is crowned as number one in Australia and number four in the world for international students.

So what makes it so appealing for students to live and study? Many international students in Melbourne rave about the mix of cultures, sports events and the endless list of things to do. Plus, Melbourne claims to be the coffee capital of the world. Making it a perfect fit for any caffeine-crazed student.

With an easy-to-use public transport system, getting around Melbourne is quick, efficient and cost-effective. Students and local residents don’t have to rely on hiring a car or getting a ride-share service, especially if they’re located in the inner city.

Before we wrap up this guide on what makes Melbourne the most liveable city in the world, I want to brush over one last point. There’s plenty to do within the city’s bounds, but there’s a world of adventure waiting on the outskirts. One of the best things about living in Melbourne is the fact that you can escape to coastal towns, misty mountaintops and quaint countryside villages in less than a couple hours.

Whether you want to go hiking in The Grampians, surfing on the Great Ocean Road, beach-hopping on the Mornington Peninsula or wine-tasting in the Yarra Valley, Melbourne serves as the perfect base to explore. Discovering Victoria’s hot spots never gets boring, and it can be the perfect way to balance out bustling city living.

FAQs

Why is Melbourne the most liveable city?

Melbourne is a character-packed, cosmopolitan and multicultural city with a lot on offer. With an outstanding arts, food and wine scene, it’s also Australia's top spot for shopping, sporting and leisure opportunities. The education, infrastructure and healthcare also make it one of the most liveable city’s in the world.

What is the most liveable city in the world?

In 2024, Vienna was ranked the world’s most liveable city. With exceptional education and health services, Austria’s capital was followed by Copenhagen, Melbourne, Sydney, and Vancouver.

What is the best city to live in Australia?

Thanks to its cuisine, sports, style and coffee, multicultural Melbourne steals the spotlight. This is the best city in Australia for education, infrastructure, lifestyle and more.

Which city is more liveable Sydney or Melbourne?

Melbourne and Sydney are Australia’s rival cities, and there’s a lot that sets the cities apart. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit Global Liveability Index for 2023, Victoria scored 95.8 for culture and environment, while Sydney ranked 94.4 out of 100. As a local, I think that Melbourne has a more diverse sports, culture, cuisine and arts scene. However, Sydney’s weather is definitely better.

Melbourne: Australia’s Most Liveable City

Now you’ve made it to the end of this guide. Melbourne mixes culture, cuisine and colourful experiences aplenty, and living here will keep you on your feet. So that leads me to one question, would you ever consider moving abroad?