Sydney or Melbourne: Which city is better for a WHV?

If you’re planning to live in a city during your Australian working holiday, chances are you’ve considered Sydney or Melbourne. It can be hard trying to decide which of these two amazing cities might be the best fit for you.

During my WHV, I had to make the same choice. I fell in love with both cities from a tourist standpoint, so it was difficult deciding where to settle. I used the following criteria to weigh up which city is best:

Best beaches: Sydney

There really is no comparison when it comes to this category. Melbourne isn’t known for its beaches, and Sydney has some of the most famous beaches in the world. If you dream of spending your WHV by the beach, you’ll enjoy Sydney’s many white-sand, blue-water beaches: Bondi, Manly, Coogee, Watson’s Bay, etc. It’s very common for Sydneysiders to go to the beach daily. It’s easy to fit in a visit before or after work to swim, surf, run, or catch up with friends.

Although Melbourne has St Kilda, this probably isn’t the tropical paradise you envisioned when picturing life Down Under. In Melbourne, if you want access to better beaches, you’ll need a car to drive to the Mornington Peninsula. If you work 9-5, this probably means waiting until weekends or public holidays to visit a nice beach. Warning, it will be very busy, as everyone has the same idea!

If access to beautiful beaches is high on your WHV priority list, consider Sydney over Melbourne.

Best food: Melbourne

As a foodie, finding decent places to eat in Australia wasn’t always easy. This was to be expected in rural Australia, but I’d had higher hopes for Sydney, as it’s such an iconic city. I was surprised and disappointed to find dining out in Sydney could be hit and miss. In areas that cater to tourism (e.g. around the harbourfront and opera house), you especially have to watch out for overpriced, tourist trap restaurants.

In contrast, you can find high-quality food or coffee in just about any suburb in Melbourne. It helps that there are no specific ‘touristy’ areas in Melbourne to avoid. Melbourne is not necessarily a city designed for tourism; it is built more for locals to enjoy. You’ll have everything from cheap hole-in-the-wall venues to fine dining within a few blocks of your house.

The diversity in Melbourne also contributes to the wide range of authentic cuisine available. It was as close as I’ve come during my working holidays to a city that can give my home (London) a run for its money!

Best opportunities for travel: Sydney

Since you’ll be moving to the other side of the world for this WHV, you probably plan to make the most of it and explore as much as you can. Sydney’s airport is one of the main international hubs in the country. Flights tend to be much cheaper, both for domestic and international options (this is the perfect time to visit places like New Zealand and Bali, too!). If you live in Melbourne, cheaper flight options often include a layover in Sydney, anyway.

Sydney is also better for road trips. You can head north on the famous East Coast drive to Brisbane, west to the country’s capital, Canberra, or south to explore more of NSW’s national parks and coastline.

In Melbourne, you are more isolated from the rest of the country. You still have a few options for getaways, such as the Great Ocean Road to Adelaide, or heading inland to the Yarra Valley. Once you’ve taken the trips on your doorstep, however, you have to be more strategic when trying to plan affordable travel from Melbourne.

To combat this issue, I actually flew into Sydney and travelled first for a couple of months. I then settled in Melbourne when I had finished sightseeing and was ready to work.

Best nightlife: Melbourne

Another unexpected aspect of my time in Sydney was learning that, unlike other “cities that never sleep”, venues in Sydney close surprisingly early—even the liquor stores! It was hard to arrange a spontaneous night out. It was the opposite of the flashy nightlife I’d imagined Sydney would have.

Melbourne felt busier and more lively, especially in suburbs with a high population of students. Much like with Melbourne’s diverse food scene, there is something for everyone when it comes to nightlife. I liked being able to split my time across casual pubs, hidden speakeasies, instagrammable cocktail bars, formal wine tastings, etc. I also felt safe going out as a solo traveller in Melbourne, which gave me more freedom to enjoy the nightlife on offer.

Best weather: Sydney

You might have heard the saying, “Melbourne has four seasons in a day.” Sadly, this is a saying based on truth! You can experience everything from hot, humid sunshine to freezing cold hail within the space of a few hours. Expect lots of rain, wind and storms in winter. Melbourne’s houses are not built with insulation or heating (like you might expect in colder countries), so prepare to feel more cold inside than outside.

In contrast, Sydney’s weather is pretty much perfect. Summers are hot, but not too hot! Winters are warm, averaging around 15 °C. You will experience rain showers, but nowhere near as frequent as Melbourne. You can usually go out with confidence that you won’t need a coat.

For me, living in Melbourne was just like living in England with the miserable weather. If you want a typical Aussie experience with year-round sunshine and warmth, Sydney is the better choice.

Best for culture: Melbourne

Melbourne is world-renowned for its art and culture. There are so many different museums and galleries, including the National Gallery of Victoria (the first major gallery for Australian art), ACMI (a museum celebrating art, film, TV, and videogames), and the Melbourne Museum (history).

Comedians travel from around the world to perform at the annual Melbourne Comedy Festival, and up-and-coming filmmakers showcase their work at Melbourne Film Festival. There is always some form of event running at Fed Square: art pop-ups, live music, outdoor cinemas, food trucks, etc.

Sydney is more aesthetically pleasing, but when thinking long-term, it was too superficial for me. I found Melbourne had more heart and soul, and I enjoyed living in a city that encourages art, creativity, and self-expression.

Best for sport: Sydney

If you want an active, outdoorsy lifestyle, pick Sydney. Melbourne culture revolves more around going out for dinner or to a show, whereas Sydneysiders meet up to get fresh air and exercise.

In Sydney, you can go for scenic jogs or walks along the coastal trails. You’re a short drive away from places like the Blue Mountains or Royal National Park for hiking. You can swim in one of the many ocean pools, some of which are free entry! You can learn to surf, snorkel, or dive. Kayaking and stand up paddleboarding (SUP) are some of the best ways to explore the iconic harbour.

In Melbourne, your options for sports are a little less exciting, as most people just go to the gym. It’s too unpredictable weather-wise to plan for regular outdoor exercise in Melbourne!

Best cost of living: Melbourne

To be honest, neither city is known for its affordability. If you’re picking an Australian city to live in purely based on the best cost of living, you may wish to consider somewhere quieter (Canberra, Adelaide, Cairns, etc.). However, if you’re asking whether Sydney or Melbourne is better for your budget, my answer is Melbourne.

The housing in Melbourne is generally more affordable, especially if you’re willing to live in a suburb on the outskirts and commute in. The downtown area is walkable and also has a free tram, which saves a lot of money on your public transport costs.

There is a literal price to pay for living in one of the most famous cities in the world, Sydney. Any of the best neighbourhoods (The Rocks, the harbourfront, Bondi, etc.) are becoming unattainable to the average backpacker because of high costs. You may struggle to find somewhere to live, as even shared accommodation like hostels are expensive and in high demand.

Best for backpacker jobs: Both

One of the major draws of Sydney and Melbourne for working holiday makers is the ability to find work. The benefit of living in a big city is the constant turnover in certain industries. Other parts of Australia can fall quiet outside of the summer season. In Sydney and Melbourne, you can usually find employment in hospitality, tourism, restaurants, retail, and temporary office work year-round.

It’s hard to pick a winner here because both cities have jobs available, but also suffer equally from high demand. On the one hand, Melbourne has slightly fewer backpackers to compete with. On the other hand, Sydney’s dominance in international tourism guarantees more choice of jobs.

Personally, I received job offers (doing temporary data entry) in both cities within less than a week of arriving. I never tried waiting tables, serving in a bar, etc., but I had many friends who did this type of work and had equal success in both cities. I know backpackers who secured jobs with ease, and others who spent months applying with no success, so this could swing either way.

Best for making friends: Both

If you’re moving to Australia solo (like I did), the good news is that both cities are easy to socialise in. There are many different ways to connect with other backpackers—hostels, Meetup, Facebook groups, through work, etc. Read How to make friends during a WHV abroad for more tips.

The only downside is that backpackers… well, they backpack! Traveller friends come and go, so if you’re planning on settling long-term, you might also want some local friends. In this arena, Melbourne wins for me. Melbourne is an international and diverse city, and locals tend to be unquestionably accepting of newcomers.

This isn’t to say that Sydneysider’s aren’t friendly. However, I saw some parallels here with other big cities (like London, Toronto, or New York), where locals are concentrating on their own lives and aren’t necessarily looking to welcome temporary visitors into the fold. I found Melbourne was more relaxed in this regard.

However, I wouldn’t say Melbourne deserves the outright win in this category. I did easily meet people in Sydney, too (and I’m an introvert!). I think if I’d stayed in Sydney longer, I’d have made friendships just as strong as the ones I made in Melbourne.

Best overall…

The answer to this will always be subjective. For me, I ultimately decided to settle in Melbourne because of the people. Terrible winters and a less visually-striking city was worth the compromise, if it meant hanging out with cool people, exploring diverse and fun venues, and eating good food.

Melbourne isn’t for everyone, and I think if I’d chosen Sydney, I’d have been equally happy there. If you’re looking for an authentic Australian experience, my advice is to pick Sydney. Melbourne felt so much like my home in the UK, I often forgot I was in a different country. Sydney will deliver on the classics: the glorious beaches, the beautiful weather, the coastal road trips, and an active lifestyle.

Only you will know what matters to you most. If you’re still unsure, consider spending a few months in each! The whole point of a WHV is to travel around, after all. Have the best of both worlds and discover everything there is to love about both Sydney and Melbourne.