Australia’s cities are getting more expensive

Australia’s capital cities have leapt up the ranks in an annual global cost of living survey conducted by consultancy Mercer.

Australia’s capital cities have leapt up the ranks in an annual global cost of living survey conducted by consultancy Mercer.

Sydney is Australia’s most expensive city to live in, coming in 15th on the list ahead of famously opulent cities like Vienna, New York and Madrid.

Melbourne comes in next in 36th place, followed by Perth (53rd), Brisbane (57th) and Adelaide (71st).

Across the Tasman, New Zealand’s cities have also grown costlier, but even so the most expensive Kiwi city, 78th placed Auckland, remains a cheaper place to live than the least costly Australian capital.

Most striking, however, is the rapid rise in the cost of living experienced by the occupants of many of Australia’s state capitals. While Sydney only moved up a relatively modest six places, Melbourne jumped 28 places, Perth jumped 31, Brisbane 29 and Adelaide 23.

Changing currency values is a key reason for the shift, according to Mercer’s Rob Knox. “A weakening US dollar coupled with the sustained appreciation of the Australian dollar, has really pushed Australian cities further up the ranks,” he says.

Moscow retained its title as the world’s most expensive city this year, ahead of Tokyo, London, Seoul, Oslo and Hong Kong.

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