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Melbourne's transport system is indeed largely built around getting everyone along spokes into the CBD. Sydney is a slightly different beast though. Its trans

Melbourne's transport system is indeed largely built around getting everyone along spokes into the CBD. Sydney is a slightly different beast though. Its transport problems stem from a mixture of geography, history and lack of/inept planning. Its roads are generally thinner and crazier due to being a more "organic" in its early planning compared to melbourne (which is built in a planned grid). Sydney literally tore up and destroyed one of the biggest tram networks in the world and converted the roads to automobile. Meanwhile the combination of the harbour, sea to the east, blue mountains to the west create an increasingly geographically constrained city. Transport options are severely limited out to the eastern suburbs (cynically, partly by desire, they are also the wealthiest suburbs in general). Contrasted with melbourne, which is built on a massive flat plain around a bay, Sydney terrain encompasses hills and valleys to a far greater extent further limiting the engineering options. Finally, sydney's main airport is comparatively close to the main CBD (almost half as close as melbourne's) which is further limiting the available land within the central area, and resulting in requirements to build a second airport out west to try to increase air capacity to the city. The result, along with australia's cultural and historical proclivities is a city almost in constant congestion, highest house prices, and with easily the longest commutes in the country. (keeping in mind when viewing comparable stats, that although sydney is out in front, I felt many sydney-siders will rationally try to compensate/substitute their travel times to avoid the congestion). Lived in both myself. All major cities have congestion, but its at another level in Sydney compared to the other Australian cities. The culture in the office of "accepting crazy travel times to get into work" was insane.

ShadowFaxSam 9y ago
I keep hearing how Sydney has the most expensive housing. In my experience, I found renting to be much more expensive in Melbourne compared to Sydney. This may be driven by affluent areas such as Rose and Watsons Bay. So while these new measures could potentially lower pricing in the housing market for buyers, I could see this having negative affects for the renting community.
- ACow_Adonis 9y ago
  I say this not only as someone having lived in both, but as someone who has had some past professional interest tracking rents and the like: Sydney has by far been the more expensive between the two cities in terms of rental and house prices. There may be a subjective element in being present in Melbourne while rent prices took off which makes Melbourne seem to have become more expensive, but it's not even close. Edit: for instance, I live within walking distance of Melbourne cbd in a modern 2 bedder with 1 car space. Market rent approx $650 - $750 pw (not even including aberrations like docklands). In Sydney, you have to draw a substantially wider radius and transport time around the city centre and employment hub before you start hitting comparable properties and rates.
  - ShadowFaxSam 9y ago
    This site here backs up what you said, and as you mentioned its really not close. My personal experience was based on short term rentals (<1 year). https://www.bedssi.com/rental-price-guide-for-australian-cities https://www.bedssi.com/rental-price-guide-for-australian-cit... I did find that Sydney had more availability and options (at least during the market period I was searching). Lower Supply and High Demand should drive up Melbourne's price, but as you said, real estate in Sydneys CBD is just more valuable than Melbourne.

ShadowFaxSam 9y ago

I keep hearing how Sydney has the most expensive housing. In my experience, I found renting to be much more expensive in Melbourne compared to Sydney. This may be driven by affluent areas such as Rose and Watsons Bay. So while these new measures could potentially lower pricing in the housing market for buyers, I could see this having negative affects for the renting community.

ACow_Adonis 9y ago
I say this not only as someone having lived in both, but as someone who has had some past professional interest tracking rents and the like: Sydney has by far been the more expensive between the two cities in terms of rental and house prices. There may be a subjective element in being present in Melbourne while rent prices took off which makes Melbourne seem to have become more expensive, but it's not even close. Edit: for instance, I live within walking distance of Melbourne cbd in a modern 2 bedder with 1 car space. Market rent approx $650 - $750 pw (not even including aberrations like docklands). In Sydney, you have to draw a substantially wider radius and transport time around the city centre and employment hub before you start hitting comparable properties and rates.
- ShadowFaxSam 9y ago
  This site here backs up what you said, and as you mentioned its really not close. My personal experience was based on short term rentals (<1 year). https://www.bedssi.com/rental-price-guide-for-australian-cities https://www.bedssi.com/rental-price-guide-for-australian-cit... I did find that Sydney had more availability and options (at least during the market period I was searching). Lower Supply and High Demand should drive up Melbourne's price, but as you said, real estate in Sydneys CBD is just more valuable than Melbourne.