Overview
- It is the first Australian city to take the top spot, finishing ahead of Shanghai, Edinburgh, London and New York.
- Local satisfaction scores were especially strong, with 94% praising the food scene and 92% rating arts and culture highly.
- Time Out highlighted a packed 2026 events calendar and recent transport upgrades such as the Metro Tunnel as timely strengths.
- Property data show Melbourne’s median house value at $977,579 versus Sydney’s $1,607,046, with house rents also the lowest among major Australian capitals.
- Urban planners cautioned that headline rankings can obscure inequalities within the city and reflect editorial judgment in the final ordering.