Five Australian cities have been named alongside the powerhouse metropolises of Asia as some of the region’s best places to live in a new report ranking cities by prosperity, liveability and ‘loveability’.
Two Aussie cities — Sydney and Melbourne — scored top 10 places in the list of cities in the Asia-Pacific region where people most want to live, visit and work.
Sydney placed seventh while Melbourne came in at ninth in the ranking of cities by their global appeal, according to the report by firms Resonance Consultancy and Ipsos.
Despite high property prices, Sydney was ranked among the most liveable cities in the Asia-Pacific. Picture: Getty
But it was the southeast Asian city-state of Singapore that clinched the top spot in the 2025 Asia-Pacific’s Best Cities report, with its world-class dining and shopping scenes and economic power pushing it to the top of the list.
The city boasts the region’s highest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita — a key indicator of a city’s standard of living — and is the world’s fourth-largest financial centre, serving as a home to 64 of Asia’s top 100 companies, according to the report.
“Long lauded as one of the planet’s safest cities, Singapore exemplifies a place where billionaires can stroll in flip-flops, blending casual informality with unimaginable prosperity,” the report stated.
Tourism hotspot and foodie destination Singapore was named the best city in the Asia-Pacific to live, work and visit. Picture: Getty
Tokyo ranked second on the list, dominating for tourism, retail and urban development. The sprawling megacity, with a population of almost 38 million, also scored top marks for liveability.
Seoul was named in third position, with the high-tech hub highlighted as the “stealthiest culinary destination on the planet.”
The report ranked cities based on liveability, including measures such as the affordability of housing, air quality, tree cover and healthcare systems.
Cities were also scored on economic factors, such as GDP per capita and the number of Fortune 500 companies based there.
Another factor, ‘loveability’, is defined as the “vibrancy and quality of place of a city” relative to others. Measures include nightlife, shopping, Tripadvisor reviews, and Google Trends data.
Tokyo earned top marks for liveability, and remains a favourite city for international visitors. Picture: Getty
The perception of a city among people in the Asia-Pacific region was also a factor, said Resonance Consultancy CEO Chris Fair.
“We surveyed more than 7,000 citizens across nine countries in the region to understand the towns and cities where they would most like to live, that they would most like to visit, and where they believe they will find the best job opportunities,” he said.
South Korean capital Seoul was named third best in the Asia-Pacific, with the bustling metropolis lauded for its dining scene and tech prowess. Picture: Getty
Sydney was praised for its climate and air quality, with the expanded Art Gallery of NSW and the emerging Tech Central precinct boosting its cultural and economic status.
“Cities like Tokyo and Sydney demonstrate a unique ability to balance prosperity with liveability,” Mr Fair said.
But despite placing fifth in the Asia-Pacific for liveability, the report flagged Sydney had room for improvement, noting the revitalisation of the CBD would boost its rankings.
Melbourne’s cafe scene and packed sporting calendar made it a favourite among visitors and locals alike. Picture: Getty
Melbourne scored highly for its food, coffee culture and arts scene, and it ranked third for sights and landmarks, and sixth for liveability.
“Street art and scenic trails are just the tip of the ice coffee for Australia’s second-largest city, which is increasingly ascending as an economic regional power,” the report stated.
Three Chinese cities — Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai — also earned a top 10 place. Beijing and Shanghai scored well for prosperity, but the challenges of urban sprawl and poor air quality dampened liveability.
Hong Kong ranked in fourth place – one of three Chinese cities to make the top 10. Picture: Getty
Rounding out the top 10 were Bangkok in Thailand, which was praised for its “electrifying” nightlife, while multicultural Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia earned points for urban development and tree cover.
Brisbane placed in 19th position, with the city’s hosting duties for the 2032 Olympic Games expected to further boost its economic prospects.
“Preparations for the games should bring tens of thousands of jobs to the city, particularly in construction and infrastructure development,” the report stated.
Brisbane is expected to rise in the rankings as the city undergoes further development ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games. Picture: Getty
Perth ranked 20th and Adelaide featured at 26th, with both cities recording high marks for air quality.
Australian cities had higher air quality scores than their Asian peers, topped only in this key liveability measure by Auckland, which placed 15th overall.
Our cities were also among the smallest to earn top places. While Sydney and Melbourne both have populations approaching 5 million, this represents only a fraction of the number of people living in the huge megacities of Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai.
Curiously, relatively smaller populations could be holding Australian cities back from achieving higher rankings.
“Large cities are most frequently cited as the places that people want to live in and visit, and where they believe the best job opportunities are offered,” said Ipsos spokesperson Jason McGrath.
Auckland was credited with the best air quality in the Asia-Pacific, followed by Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane. Picture: Getty
While Australian cities have faced housing affordability challenges, with property prices at or close to record levels in most capitals amid a supply crunch, the report noted many of the top global cities in the region have housing issues of their own.
Beijing locals were “feeling the pinch as real estate prices soar, driven in part by foreign investment,” the report stated.
Meanwhile in Hong Kong, falling property prices in the city’s Kai Tak district, which was built on a decommissioned airport runway jutting into Kowloon Bay, had left many homeowners with “underwater mortgages”.
For housing affordability, Indian cities tended to rank highest. The report compared median apartment prices with household disposable income, with the smaller Indian cities of Salem and Varanasi scoring the most favourable price-to-income ratios in the Asia-Pacific, followed by the Japanese cities of Nagoya and Sendai.
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