Canberra has been ranked the second-best city in the world for quality of life. Photos: Supplied.
When three Australian cities gain worldwide recognition and are featured in top-10 categories, the need for a holiday escape becomes a demanding issue.
It’s commendable and heartening to realise Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne have consistently proved to be popular destinations. In fact, the nation’s capital has beaten Sydney and Melbourne to be named the second-best city in the world for quality of life!
Get fired up and stop over at (or revisit) these three cities. Even look for deals packed with incredible savings and bonus inclusions to also discover Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and beyond. Better still, bundle your flights and accommodation in one easy package and save.
Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne are listed in two of the five categories in the 2024 Oxford Economics Global Cities Index. The nation’s capital is in second place for quality of life, Sydney falls at ninth under human capital, and Melbourne comes in at ninth position in the overall scores section.
Canberra was the only Australian city ranked in the top 10 for quality of life, just after Grenoble in France. Actually, Canberra was the only city in the Southern Hemisphere to make the top 10 in this category. Other European cities were from Switzerland, Norway, Luxembourg, Iceland and Belgium.
These rankings are commendable given the index covered the largest 1000 cities in the world, providing a consistent framework for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of urban economies.
Iconic landmarks will be bathed in colour for Vivid Sydney 2024.
According to the Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index, Canberra was built to be the capital in the early 20th century.
“Its economy is small compared to other Australian cities in the index and almost entirely geared towards the public sector and related service industries,” the report states.
Ranking second globally is an “impressive feat driven by the city’s high incomes and low degree of income inequality, due to the availability of stable and high-paying government jobs. The city also has excellent healthcare facilities and ranks among the highest in the world for life expectancy.”
Even the city’s nickname, ‘‘The Bush Capital’’, gets a mention, “owing to its location in the middle of the Australian bush …”
The report does not varnish the truth. How is the quality of life measured? It encapsulates the wellbeing and satisfaction of a city’s residents, reflecting the intersection of various socioeconomic factors. Indicators used to rank each city included life expectancy, income per person, income equality, housing expenditure, recreation and cultural sites and internet speed.
So how did other Australian cities fare? Overall, Melbourne was ranked the ninth city in the world (surpassing Sydney) when combining the five categories: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. Victoria’s capital came in after New York, London, San Jose, Tokyo, Paris, Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Zurich was in the 10th spot.
On the list of the world’s top cities in 2024, Sydney was in 16th position. Perth cracked the top 2.5 per cent of cities worldwide, securing 23rd spot on the index. Brisbane followed closely in 27th place. The final two Australian cities to make the list were Adelaide in 51st place and the Gold Coast in 81st.
Melbourne comes in at ninth position in the overall scores section of the global index.
The message has been conveyed about our national capital being metamorphosed into one of Australia’s most astonishing and captivating metropolitan destinations. Canberra is rapidly evolving, so, whether you’re a cultural connoisseur, a nature lover or a foodie, you’ll find plenty to do.
Together with thriving Canberra boasting world-class museums and galleries, there’s a flourishing independent arts community and an expanding array of comfortable accommodation.
A relaxing Sydney has topped the list in another new survey (carried out by insurance company PayingTooMuch) to become the most ‘’chilled’’ city in the world. The Harbour City makes for a brilliant weekend destination. Explore the Vivid Sydney program of light, music, ideas and food as the city’s landmarks are bathed in vibrant colour for the 14th consecutive year. It’s the perfect time to celebrate creativity, innovation and technology.
Sydney stands ninth when it comes to human capital, encompassing the collective knowledge and skills of a city’s population, underpinning the economic potential of every city.
Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne, is seemingly free-spirited, sophisticated and stylish, with stunning architecture, an abundance of entertainment, a celebrated coffee culture, plus an incredible arts scene. It’s the ideal place to unwind.
When there’s quality of life, who needs to ‘’chill’’ or be ‘’cool’’!
