Sydney vs Melbourne?

[CatCharlie]

My husband and I moved to Sydney in mid-June, at our own cost with an independent visa. So far, my job hunting has been fairly unproductive in Sydney but I have a very promising lead just come up in Melbourne.

 

In the two months since arriving in Sydney we have rented a house, bought a car and two days ago our container of possessions was delivered from England. We now know our way around the local area, and have joined a social club. We had our first boozy night with the neighbours on Sunday so we are really starting to feel settled here.

 

So... the big question - what are the pros/cons of moving to Melbourne please?

 

In Sydney, we are living in a rural town about 40km NW of Sydney, so an hour long commute for work but a quiet and friendly place to live. We are loving the weather, the proximity to the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury river.

 

In Melbourne, the job opportunity is in the CBD - how feasible is it to live in a rural area and still commute in to work in an hour? How much worse is the weather? Are people as friendly? Will it be a nightmare to find a rental house that allows pets (it was difficult in Sydney)?

 

I'm really torn on this one so please please help!

[Sustain]

Problem with pets? Depends on whether you are trying to accommodate a Great Dane in a 2 bed flat or a spaniel in a 3 bed free standing house?

 

Hour commute from anywhere is highly feasible. Are you bush or beach? What vocation?

 

People appear no less friendly than Sydney.

[CatCharlie]

One small cat, must be indoors. I'd be looking to rent a 3bed bungalow if possible... Definitely looking for a quiet leafy suburb

my husband is fishing mad, so if its bush there needs to be river; otherwise a beach location with good fishing is a must.

I am an engineer specialising in the pharmaceutical / medical devices industries.

[Petals]

I lived in Sydney a long time ago for three years and then moved to Melbourne and never looked back. I much prefer Melbourne. Its too humid in Sydney. This winter has been particularly cold I cannot remember one being this cold for a long time. I have had to wear a jacket when going out and I don't usually in winter a jumper is sufficient.

 

Melbourne people are friendly depends where you live and what you are like really, I mean some people do not make friends easily others do. If you are receptive to friendship then I think its always on offer. If you want friendship with conditions its not so easy to find.

Good luck

[CatCharlie]

Thanks Petals. I don't fancy humidity but nor do I fancy cold winters... It's difficult to know what to do.

 

I take friends however and wherever I find them - no conditions. Some will be fair weather, good for a drink and a laugh, and then there are some who can be called on in any situation. What's impressed me here in Sydney is how people in shops go out of their way to help & explain stuff even if there's no direct advantage to them, and how our neighbours plied us with large amounts of of drink & pizza on a first meeting over the fence.

[buzzy--bee]

My husband and I moved to Sydney in mid-June, at our own cost with an independent visa. So far, my job hunting has been fairly unproductive in Sydney but I have a very promising lead just come up in Melbourne.

 

Income is everything. Without that, your whole emigration is just a pipedream.

 

We had our first boozy night with the neighbours on Sunday so we are really starting to feel settled here.

 

Plenty of them here too -depends on your neighbours, this is the case in any city.

 

how feasible is it to live in a rural area and still commute in to work in an hour?

 

Very. Lots of my colleagues in the city live in the Dandenong mountains and get to work in an hour. We live in a suburb by the beach which honestly feels semi-rural most of the time.

 

How much worse is the weather?

I like Melbourne weather. Hot but not humid 8 months of the year, cooler (read: mid-teens) during the winter but can be still very sunny.

 

Are people as friendly?

I find people very friendly but I'm sure there's some unfriendly people anywhere.

 

Will it be a nightmare to find a rental house that allows pets (it was difficult in Sydney)?

I am a landlord of 3 properties in Melbourne. I allow pets but request an extra bond to cover potential pet damage. I'm not sure if I'm unusual or not.

 

Thanks Petals. I don't fancy humidity but nor do I fancy cold winters...

The winters are not really "cold". Not by UK standards for instance. We never get frost where we live, today (winter) was 20 degrees and sun.

 

BB

[Sustain]

One small cat, must be indoors. I'd be looking to rent a 3bed bungalow if possible... Definitely looking for a quiet leafy suburb

my husband is fishing mad, so if its bush there needs to be river; otherwise a beach location with good fishing is a must.

I am an engineer specialising in the pharmaceutical / medical devices industries.

 

Come down for a weekend break and drive around the areas after checking out http://www.realestate.com.au

Alotwill depend on anticipated budget

 

As BBee mentioned Dandenong ranges or Berwick/Beaconsfield

 

Many professionals have inner homes for during the week and then large land holdings for the weekend.

 

We are looking at the moment at a number of larger rural properties to get the inner benefit during the week and the "get away" for the weekend. Property 200 metres from the beach but over 100 hectares and less than 90 mins from the CBD (dual carriageway).

[starlight7]

The majority of people here work in the CBD and train it in. If you want to live in a rural type area I would look at the Eastern suburbs but choose one on a train line. I wouldn't go up into the Dandenongs because of the commuting distance but there are areas like Montrose, Croydon North, Kilsyth etc near the Ranges with a country feel without the boring drive up the mountain every day. When you mention a bungalow I guess you mean a house. A bungalow here is something grannies live in in the backyard! You might like the Blackburn Lake area though would be higher rents there.

[Melb3000]

It's worth noting that central Melbourne is one of the warmer places in Victoria in winter. Most places inland of the coast can get quite cold in winter and in places on the hills and ranges the average temperatures approach that of southern England.

 

July was a very mild month in Melbourne and most of Victoria, one of the mildest on record in fact. June and July were also well above average for sunshine hours. Both months were pretty wet. August has been cold and very showery so far with some form of rain on most days.

 

Summer is hotter inland and especially the further north you go with the ranges a little cooler.

 

Many places 1 hour out from Melbourne are in 'the hills' and not all that warm at all really, except in summer, and quite pleasant for most of the year. The biggest challenge with the southern Victorian climate is the changeability. Temperatures can fluctuate wildly from day to day and even hour to hour in spring and summer. On some days the winds can be rather severe as well and thunderstorms when they occur from spring to autumn are often severe with hail and squalls.

[grahamffc]

I was in Sydney at last weekend, caught the sun a bit as is was 25C and not a cloud in the sky. Flew back to Melbourne and it was apparently 10C but felt much colder. If weather is that important should stay in Sydney, although by all accounts the three summer months are much the same.

 

I have often wondered how people get around Sydney. I thought that when I first arrived in Melbourne as there is no underground, but the trams are pretty good. I would expect it is far easier to get around than Sydney.

 

I have a friend who came over from England with the plan of spending six months in each. He did just that and seems to much prefer Melbourne. He was from a fairly small town in England, maybe if you like London then Sydney is more your thing. But since you live 40km our of town I am guessing you don't.

 

As someone mentioned above, being able to earn an income is of massive importance so that must be factored in. It's not nice to think about but it is nearly September, in three months time the job market will probably slow down even more for summer and Christmas. May I ask what kind of work you do? I would be interested on what you decide and how you get on as I am considering moving the opposite way after summer!