It’s a happy day when the world acknowledges just how incredible it is to live in Australia. That day happened not too long ago when for the very first time, four Aussie cities ranked among the world’s 50 best in Time Out’s global annual survey. And the good days just keep coming, with Resonance Consulting having just released its very own list of the 100 best cities in the Asia Pacific region, which sees not four, but five Australian capitals cracking the top 30.
To determine which cities should rank among the 100 best, the team at Resonance analyse a number of factors – from air quality and prosperity to landmarks and nightlife. Their findings shape two key scores: ‘liveability’ and ‘lovability,’ which together determine each city's overall ranking.
Two Australian cities secured spots in the top ten of the 2025 rankings, with Sydney coming in a very impressive seventh place. Boasting the second-best air quality in the whole of Asia Pacific, Sydney also ranked as the fifth most ‘liveable’ city in Asia Pacific for 2025, and the seventh highest on the ‘lovability’ scale. Other points contributing to the Harbour City’s high score include the recent revitalisation of Sydney's CBD and the focus by the NSW government on improving the city’s nighttime economy, with Resonance citing the city's “24-Hour Economy Strategy” as a key factor in securing it seventh place on the list. Sydney’s recently expanded Art Gallery of New South Wales also got a mention, with the award-winning Sydney Modern Project (Naala Badu) attracting the attention of the Resonance team.
Melbourne followed just behind in ninth place overall, scoring shout-outs for its impressive sights and landmarks, including the graffiti-splattered Hosier Lane and colourful Brighton Bathing Boxes. The Victorian capital’s easy access to 21 world-class wine regions and major sporting events also boosted its ninth-place ranking on the ‘lovability’ index.
Australia’s next three most populated capital cities also made the top 30, with Brisbane ranking 19th, Perth 20th and Adelaide 26th. Strong air quality and GDP per capita were key factors in boosting each of these city's rankings, along with their abundance of nature and parks. You can check out Resonance’s full list of the best cities in the Asia Pacific region here.