While Sydney itself is often considered one of the world’s most liveable cities, what about its suburbs; where are the best places to live? Well, there are many factors that help to determine a suburb’s liveability, including things like proximity to employment hubs, transport links, education, shopping, access to the beach, and even traffic.

In the end, the best suburb to live in will depend on who you’re asking and what they are looking for. Whether you are after a family-friendly place to live or somewhere that offers a bit prestige, we take a look at some of the best suburbs this city has to offer.

Manly

Manly is one of the most famous of the northern beaches suburbs, as well as one of the most liveable. It also tops the list of most desirable waterfront suburbs, according to a recent survey by Lendi, which asked New South Wales residents where they would purchase a home if money were no object.

Of those surveyed, 45% would prefer to own property in Manly, compared to 43% who would choose Bondi. The suburb was found to be more popular amongst older respondents, including Generation X and the over 55s.

Its desirability comes as no surprise; it’s got a fantastic beach, as well as the harbour, and plenty of open spaces, so it’s ideal for outdoorsy types. It’s also got plenty of dining options and cafes, good public transport links, is the 6th safest suburb in Sydney, and houses some of the city’s highest rated public and private schools, which likely explains why it’s so popular with expat families.

While it may be highly desirable, living there does not come cheap. House prices in the northern beaches are high, with the average house price in the Manly local government area coming in at $2.5 million.

Bondi

As mentioned previously, Bondi came in at a close second for most desirable waterfront suburbs. When you look at the demographics, it’s mostly younger millennials that had a preference for Bondi.

This comes as no surprise as it’s got the beach, but is still close to the city, which is why it’s more likely appeal more to younger people. Plus, the place has more of a hipster vibe to it, it’s considered a cool place to live, with an eclectic mix of people and an international reputation. All in all, it’s about status; if you’re living in Bondi, you feel like you’ve made it.

Expect to find excellent water views, great beach access, and high network coverage. Additionally, the suburb receives high ratings for its dining options, culture, proximity to employment hubs and buses.

Marrickville

If you’re looking for an alternative to Bondi, another one of Sydney’s hippest suburbs is Marrickville. Independent youth make up 42.6% of the population, there are plenty of new bars and businesses opening up, lots of places to get vegan and gluten-free grub, weekend markets that will appeal to most foodies and artsy folk and it has a walkability score of 95. Essentially, it’s a hipster’s paradise.

Newtown

Newtown ranks number 8 in the inner west for liveability, according to Domain. It scores highly for education, culture, eating out, its proximity to employment hubs, and has a fantastic railway system. It also does well compared to other suburbs for shops and network coverage.

It’s one of the areas typically frequented by students, known for its edgy, trendy spots, including vintage stores, cafes, pubs, and live music venues. Head here if you’re looking for somewhere with more of an underground, grungy vibe to it.  

Surry Hills

Surry Hills is considered to be one of the trendiest places in Sydney, known for its modern restaurants, stylish bars and cafes, interesting art spaces, and specialty retail stores. Overall, it rates highly for its shops, culture, cafes and restaurants, buses, and proximity to employment hubs. It’s centrally located, and you can easily access it via Sydney’s main train station, Central Station, or via several buses.  

Mosman

Amongst Sydney’s safest suburbs is Mosman, a place that is highly rated for its water views, beach access, culture, and network coverage. There are plenty of open spaces, it’s a very leafy suburb, and it gets above average scores for its dining options. However, it’s also one of the priciest areas in Sydney, with a median property price of around $3 million, so it won’t exactly appeal to an entry-level buyer.