Best Place To Live In Australia With Kids
Whether you’re considering a move to or just across Australia, it’s a big decision. When you’ve got kids in tow, you need to think about choosing a location that’s going to work for them. So with that in mind, we’ve pulled together the best cities to raise a family in Australia. We’ve got the low down on the cost of living, the job situation, climate, childcare and schooling and the community. There are loads of great options. It’s just a matter of finding the best fit for your family.
Sydney
Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and is perhaps Australia’s most famous city. It’s also the largest. Because of all these factors, Sydney is a popular destination for many ex-pats. The Northern Beaches area is a particular favourite for families.
Cost of Living
Sydney is, unfortunately, probably one of the most expensive cities to live in. This is doubly true if you need enough space for a growing family. Transport costs are, however, some of the most reasonable you’ll find anywhere in Australia.
Jobs
As you might expect from a bustling metropolitan city, there are plenty of job opportunities to be had. Financial services, communications technology and creative industries are all good options for work.
Climate
With easy access to more than 100 beaches, you’ll be glad to know that the weather is warm all year round the winters are exceptionally mild. The only thing to be aware of is that the summers can be quite humid.
Schools and Child Care
The schools in Sydney are uncrowded. This means that kids can feel comfortable, welcome and get the attention they need from their teachers to thrive.
Lifestyle
Sydney is a warm and friendly place. There is always something to do and festivals and activities to enjoy with your kids. Despite being a bustling city, there is still a reasonably relaxed feeling to the whole city.
Melbourne
While Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria, it’s also considered the cultural capital of Australia. The population in this exciting metropolis is diverse and filled with different neighbourhoods. A lot of families gravitate towards Surrey Hills and Camberwell.
Cost of Living
As a city, Melbourne is quite an expensive place to live. It’s not as expensive as Sydney, but it’s not too far behind.
Jobs
There’s plenty of great jobs to be had in Melbourne. Particularly vibrant industries include aviation, construction, automotive engineering, financial services and technology.
Climate
Possibly the weakest point of Melbourne, in some people’s opinion, is the weather. It’s really changeable.
Schools and Child Care
Schools have a low student to teacher ratio. This means it’s a good choice for helping your kids get a quality education.
Lifestyle
There are always sporting events going on in the city. It’s a real hub for sports like football, cricket and F1. There are also loads of great theatres, world heritage sites, and festivals to enjoy.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the third-largest city in Australia, so it’s an excellent spot for families who like to be in the thick of things. Despite being an urban centre, Brisbane is within easy reach of the rural pleasure of Australia. It’s a location in Queensland makes it the perfect spot for families who like to get out into the wilderness and lead active lives.
Affordability
City leaving is never cheap, but Brisbane offers you a more affordable alternative to either Sydney or Melbourne. Inner-city accommodations are expensive, but if you’re willing to move about 10km outside the city centre, there are more affordable options.
Jobs
Brisbane’s economy has been on the up for a while, so the jobs market is bustling. There are lots of jobs in hospitality, health, manufacturing and tourism.
Climate
Brisbane boasts a subtropical climate. That means it never really gets all that cold. The humidity can get relatively high during the summer months.
Schools and Child Care
There are a large number of schools in Brisbane, so class sizes are small. You can also use the Naplan results to assess the schools’ quality to help you decide.
Lifestyle
Brisbane is ideally located to enjoy some of the best attractions in Australia. You will be within an hour of the Gold and Sunshine coast as well as Dreamworld, Movie World, and SeaWorld. Inside the city, you’ll find plenty to do as well, with loads of excellent playgrounds, water parks, and cultural attractions to enjoy.
Adelaide
As the capital of South Australia, Adelaide is a pretty popular destination. There is an absolutely thriving food and drink scene here, so it’s a great foodie location. The Barossa Valley vineyards are nearby for those who like to try regional wine. For those looking for the feel of a city with less hustle and bustle, then Adelaide is a good choice.
Cost of Living
Real estate around Adelaide is decidedly affordable. Property prices are around half what you would expect to pay in Sydney. Groceries, eating out, and child care costs are also some of the lowest you’ll find in Australia. Wages are also a little lower, but the lower prices more than offset the difference.
Jobs
The job situation in Adelaide is a little mixed. The unemployment rate is above the national average, but they also recruit a minimum of 5,000 skilled migrants each year. Most of these jobs are in healthcare education and manufacturing.
Climate
Adelaide has a Mediterranian climate. Which is to say, it’s mostly warm and sunny all year round, and the humidity is pretty low. It does get a bit rainy in the winter, but nothing too extreme.
Schools and Child Care
Adelaide’s school system has a good reputation. For older kids, there are some great and affordable university options which are great for long term planning. Child care prices and availability are pretty average for a city of this size.
Lifestyle
Adelaide is a small city, so it has a real country feel. It’s a friendly place with a lot going on. The cultural scene is varied, with art festivals and live music events a regular occurrence.
Perth
On the west coast of Australia, you’ll find Perth. It’s the capital of Western Australia and so is an excellent sized metropolitan city. It’s an easy-going city that offers a lower cost of living than most other cities. The biggest downside, though, is its isolated location. It’s a long way away from any other big cities.
Cost of Living
For a big city, the cost of living is reasonably low. You’ll find that your money goes further than you might have expected it to in such a big city.
Jobs
Because of its location on the coast near Asia, Perth is booming with technology jobs. There’s also plenty of job prospects in mining, tourism and healthcare.
Climate
The climate in Perth is one of the best that you’ll find in Australia. It has a Mediterranean climate. That means warm summers and mild winters. Around 70% of the days have cloudless blue skies.
Schools and Child Care
There are plenty of good schools to choose from. The best ones are found in Victoria Park and Applecross.
Lifestyle
Perth is well situated for access to nature. There are loads of beaches, island and nature reserves for you to explore. Just be aware that it’s a long drive to find the next populated area once you leave the city.
Hobart
Hobart is a historic city. It’s the second oldest in Australia. Located to the south of the country in Tasmania, it’s a popular choice for anyone who prefers cooler temperatures.
Cost of Living
Hobart offers the most affordable housing in the whole of Australia, both for buying and rental.
Jobs
The job market is pretty stable. There are long term propositions for skilled workers in the construction, viticulture, and engineering industries.
Climate
Hobart enjoys cool climates and shifting seasons as it sits on the water to the south of the country. The summers are comfortably warm, and the winter brings cooler temperatures.
Schools and Child Care
If your kids are inclined towards vocational education, then Tasmania, in general, is an excellent place for schooling. There are over 375 different vocational qualifications you can get, which will help your kids find a career they’re passionate about.
Lifestyle
The scenery around Hobart is stunning. You can get some fantastic views of the iconic Mount Wellington. The riverside suburbs are a great place to enjoy the beauty of the area, along with other young families. The only downside to living in Hobart is the lack of public transport, although it should be noted that there is little traffic to worry about.
Canberra
Despite being Australia’s capital, Canberra is actually one of the cheapest cities in Australia for families. There are several family-friendly suburbs to choose from that offer the amenities of the town and the peace of the rural surroundings.
Cost of Living
Buying property is significantly cheaper here than in other parts of Australia. However, renting is still quite costly.
Jobs
The unemployment rate in Canberra is exceedingly low compared to the rest of the country. It’s an excellent place to find a job with a decent wage to support a family.
Climate
Canberra has warm summers and crisp winters. But the most notable feature of its climate is the rainfall. It is probably the wettest city in Australia.
Access to Schools and Child Care
In terms of child care, you won’t find a city with a higher density of options. There are plenty of choices, and prices are reasonable. The schools in the town have an excellent reputation, so your kids’ education is in good hands.
Lifestyle
For a capital city, Canberra has a surprisingly small-town feel to it. The locals are friendly and welcoming. There is a real sense of purpose to the place. There is a bustling restaurant and bar scene in the city and some fascinating cultural attractions.
Toowoomba
Toowoomba is a relatively small city in Queensland. However, it is undergoing some of the fastest growth of any place in Australia. This makes it an ideal spot to move your family to.
Cost of Living
As it’s still a small place, the cost of living in Toowoomba is low. You’ll be able to get a lot for your money. Both rent and property prices are still low as the city’s growth is seeing a lot of new development.
Jobs
As a rapidly developing city, there are plenty of job opportunities to be found in the city.
Climate
Toowoomba is a great option if you like your winters to be cold. In summer, the weather is warm, but it’s not unusual to see frost on the ground in winter. This might be an adjustment if you’re moving from another part of Australia.
Schools and Child Care
The schools in Toowoomba are of high quality, and there is a good mix of private and public ones to choose from.
Lifestyle
Toowoomba is a safe and friendly place. Its growing restaurant and entertainment scene means there is plenty to do, but not so much that kids and teens will get into trouble.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the friendliest city in Australia?
It probably depends on who you ask! But a pretty big survey of travellers suggested that Perth may be the friendliest city in Australia.
Can I move to Australia to live with family?
Having family in Australia is not a guarantee that you will be able to get a visa. Some family members may be able to sponsor you, but you will still need to meet all of the visa requirements. The best way to get a visa to emigrate to Australia is to have a job on the skilled occupation list.
Is Australia a good place to raise a family?
There are loads of great reasons to raise a family in Australia. The UN ranks it as the second-best place to live in terms of education, life expectancy and socio-economic wellbeing. Plus, Australia is the second happiest country in the world. So you really can’t do much better on all fronts.
