Where in Australia Should You Live?

By: Emily Maggrett
Estimated Completion Time
7 min
Where in Australia Should You Live?
Image: Drazen_ / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Australia is a vast country (and continent), offering many types of living environments, from bustling coastal cities like Melbourne and Brisbane to Outback outposts like Tennant Creek. From deserts to bush to beaches, Australia really does have it all! But this abundance can have its drawbacks, namely that it can be difficult to decide where to live in a country that boasts so many options. If you're not sure which Australian city or town is right for you, this quiz can help!

To narrow down where your new home should be, we're going to ask you about your ideal climate, whether you prefer to date introverts or extroverts, and your biggest career dreams. After all, people who like to surf won't be pleased if they end up living in Alice Springs, while those who crave career advancement will be right at home in Sydney, which provides job opportunities in every sector, including IT, entertainment, manufacturing, professional services, education and more.

At the end of the day, many towns and cities in Australia are wonderful places to live, but to maximize your happiness, you'll need to decide which location possesses that magical combination of opportunity, affordability and natural beauty that suits you best. If you're ready to start that journey, stop looking at Craigslist and take this quiz!

What's the largest-sized city you'd be willing to live in?
No city's too big for me!
I'd prefer to be in a large town, with a population under 200,000.
I'd like to live in a smaller city, with a population of just over a million.
The smaller a town is, the better I like it! I'd live in the middle of nowhere if I could.
Do you mostly date introverts or extroverts?
Extroverts. I like to go out a lot so that's how I meet them!
I prefer introverts ... people who are smart and thoughtful.
I like to socialize, but can also appreciate a night in, so I try to date other ambiverts.
I'm a hermit who hates dating.
Would you rather live in a hot climate, a breezy climate, a cold climate or ... ?
I want to live somewhere sunny and warm, but not too oppressively hot.
I'm the kind of person who enjoys all the seasons, including fall and winter.
I yearn for a breezy Mediterranean climate that will make me feel like I'm living in Italy.
I like the extremes of a desert climate; the cold nights and hot days make me feel alive!

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What is your ideal profession?
Graphic designer
Professor
Restaurant manager
Park ranger
Do you like camping?
Eh, I could take it or leave it.
Um, I like READING about camping.
I like camping on the beach!
Camping is my jam; I've got national park passes than you could shake a stick at.
What would your perfect home be like?
High-rise apartment with all the latest amenities
Adorable older bungalow on the edge of town
Beachfront cottage in an urban area
Airy two-bedroom house on a large lot

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On a scale of 1 to 10, how edgy are you?
8. I'm a freak and proud of it!
4. I'm into interesting art and music but am a pretty boring person overall.
6. Although my tastes are conventional, I'm a risk-taker who's up for anything.
10. I'm the weirdest, most intense person you've ever met.
Do you have big dreams for your career?
Yes! I won't rest until I'm a boss.
Not really. A good work-life balance is more important to me.
I'm quite ambitious, but my job is not my whole life.
I don't care what my job is; I just want to get paid.
Are you comfortable with a certain amount of daily risk?
Yes. I live life in the fast lane.
No. I can't thrive if I'm stressed out.
I don't mind taking calculated risks now and again, but I'm not exactly foolhardy.
Danger is my middle name!

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Of these American cities, which one would you like to live in?
New York, New York
Portland, Oregon
San Francisco, California
Fairbanks, Alaska
How important are family and history to you?
Not very important. I live in the present!
Somewhat important. I enjoy learning strange facts and am close to my family.
I don't care about history but my family is my main priority.
I'm fascinated by the past but am estranged from my family.
Are you all about FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) or JOMO (Joy of Missing Out)?
I've got an incurable case of FOMO.
As long as I have a few close friends, JOMO is my jam.
I've got an excellent FOMO-JOMO balance.
I'm such a JOMO person. I hope I never have to attend a party or event ever again.

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Does the mere idea of the Outback frighten you?
Yeah! I mean, what do people even do out there?
The heat is scary to me, and the climate looks like Mars.
I think it's beautiful but could never live so far from the beach.
No. The Outback has intrigued me since I was a child.
Can you handle competitive environments?
Yes. Knowing I have competition fuels me to my greatest performances.
No. I don't like all that nasty competitive energy.
I can HANDLE them fine, but I don't ENJOY them.
Watching others compete makes me feel even more alienated from society. I don't get it.
What's your favorite Australian band?
INXS
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Tame Impala
Yothu Yindi

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Does traffic stress you out, or do you use it as an opportunity to catch up on podcasts?
I like to work while commuting on public transportation; I actually get a lot of work done that way.
I'm not a huge fan of traffic.
Hey, when else am I supposed to listen to "How Did This Get Made"?
I despise traffic. Give me those wide open spaces!
How often do you go to festivals?
I go to a music festival at least once a year.
I always PLAN on going to festivals but never actually attend them.
I would go to all of them if I could. Film, music, theatre, wine ... whatever!
I hate festivals and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
When you're looking for a new place, are you picky about which neighborhoods you'll live in, or could you be happy almost anywhere?
I'm picky because I want the shortest possible commute.
I like living in family-friendly neighborhoods where people landscape their yards.
I don't want to live anywhere that has a hyper neighborhood association.
I'll live literally anywhere.

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What would your "best life" weekend look like?
Networking at an international conference during the day, hitting the clubs at night!
Hosting a barbecue for friends and family on Saturday, puttering around the house on Sunday
Hanging out all day at the beach, then going out to eat at an acclaimed new restaurant
Birdwatching in the morning, napping in the afternoon, reading at night under a canopy of stars
Are you artsy?
Kind of?
I'm always creating something.
I like art, but I'm not precious about it.
Heck, no!
Do you yearn to explore the bush?
Girl, no.
I'm not outdoorsy, so that would be a disaster.
It sounds interesting, but it's not on my bucket list.
Yes! Who knows what I'll find out there?

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How do you like to dress?
If it's not designer, it's not going on me.
I like comfortable clothes with interesting flourishes, such as cool textures or unusual colors.
Um, basically my goal is to wear as few clothes as possible. T-shirt, sandals, shorts ...
I like durable, modest clothes that protect me from the elements.
Do you plan on having kids in next five years?
Nope!
I already have kids.
Yes, having kids soon is part of my five-year plan.
No, and I don't ever want kids.
Are you passionate about eating local?
Nah. Who cares?
Yes. It's healthier for you and helps the local economy.
I love farm-to-table cuisine.
I've never lived anywhere where eating "local" food was even possible ...

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If you lived in a town with lots of municipal rules and regulations, would it annoy you or make you feel safe?
It would annoy me. I don't like bureaucracy.
I'm a rule-loving nerd!
That sounds like a deal-breaker to me.
I could handle it if the town offered other attractions.
Do you like outdoor activities?
I like sailing, paddling and kayaking.
I'm not sporty, but I'll watch a cricket match.
I dig football, surfing and scuba diving.
I adore hiking and mountain-biking.
Can you handle hot summers, or does the mere mention of them make you wilt?
I prefer summers that are sunny but not sweltering.
I loathe summer weather, actually.
I like hot summer weather; it's perfect for swimming!
I don't care how hot it gets as long as I have air-conditioning.

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After you move, what kind of people are you hoping to meet?
Up-and-coming young businesspeople
Chill artists and musicians
Surfing hippies
I hate meeting new people, but wouldn't mind getting to know others with bush experience.
What's your favorite Australian animal?
Laughing kookaburras
Tasmanian devils
Koalas
Kangaroos
Imagine you're in your new home's kitchen. What kind of view do you want to see through the window?
The sun sinking in the sea, against the silhouettes of skyscrapers
Misty green hills, planted with flourishing vineyards
Palm trees, beaches and happy people
A clear horizon, broken only by Uluru (Ayers Rock)

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