Top 5 Things I Like about Melbourne
- Breath of fresh air
The first thing you’ll notice after arriving in Melbourne is how fresh and easily breathable the air is around here. Despite of being the second most populous city in Australia (508.175/km2 population density), the air quality has never crossed the range of 0-100 AQI, which indicates good or moderate air quality throughout. Sure the cold air might freeze your lungs temporarily if you’re from a temperate weather area like me and not used to the chilly weather, but that will pass after a few.
- Most of the countryside have been untouched and yet to be inhabited, so greenery is ample. A few minutes of walking in the park or a stroll through the neighborhood will fill your chest with oxygen and mind with rejuvenated spirit. That’s why whenever I’m stressed or can’t think clearly, a 15 minute walk always feel invigorating. You’ll find a lot of friendly walking partners along the way whose smile and gentle nod will remind you how friendly the people are. Maybe the fresh air is the trick to their amicable nature. It’ll surely rub on you as well.
- Heaven for coffee lovers
Do you still remember the taste of the best chicken burger you’ve ever had or the steak that your dad used to prepare? Well, Melbourne will imprint the taste of arguably the best coffee in the world in your mind so deeply that you might hesitate to taste any other.
- The Yelp reviews of the renowned coffee shops here will never disappoint you. Thanks to the diligent dedication to their crafts of the baristas here, other competitor cities like London or Rome even advertise having baristas from Melbourne in order to boost their popularity.
- If you want to dive into the elegant and recherché café culture of the city, there are elaborate coffee tours available all over the metropolis. These tours will take you through the process through which the perfect cup of coffee has been made. If you weren’t a coffee addict before, there’s a chance you might become one here.
- Her majesty, the Queen Victoria...Market
This royal market has been shining with grace every Saturday since as early as 1878. Filled with traditional food courts, beverages, books, arts and miscellaneous vintage products, this place will give you a great time in the evening after a long week. The cheap prices work as an underrated factor for the attraction towards this place.
- Very non-ironically located on the Queen street, Melbourne; the one story market building is also a soothing example of the great aesthetic Victorian architecture. A stroll through the market with a kebab stick on your hand will give you a different taste that you won’t get in today’s modern dazzling multi-storied shopping centers.
- White Nights, when the city comes alive
Among thousands of art festivals and event, White Nights will particularly catch your attraction for sure. Since the inaugural event held on 23 February 2013, more and more spectators have been joining the festival every year proving its success.
- Music, dance, light shows, drinks, the combination of graceful performance arts will engage all of your senses at an euphoric state. The iconic cultural institutions like National Gallery of Victoria, State Library Victoria and Melbourne museum hold special programs for quenching your thirst for art and history. The city comes alive on these nights rendering the spectators amazed and feeling engaged with its integral hidden beauty.
- Explore the unreal realm of street art
This, perhaps, could be my most favorite thing about this city so far, the radiant, artistic, eye-catching street graffiti of Melbourne.
- A walk through the city circle will never be boring as you may come across the brilliant creation of a street artist along the way. There’s even a street art guide provided in the website of the Victoria government for finding these arts. Most of the good stuff are hidden like treasure maps in different corners of the city, you can never expect what you’ll find. Walking through a different alley or while on the train, you might spot varieties of colorful graffiti on the walls of the buildings, under the bridges, everywhere.
- Looking at these street arts will make you admire the capability and creativity of these artists. But there’s a good chance you might not see the same art for the second time, as the vision curiosity of the artists are ever changing.
- A walk through the city circle will never be boring as you may come across the brilliant creation of a street artist along the way. There’s even a street art guide provided in the website of the Victoria government for finding these arts. Most of the good stuff are hidden like treasure maps in different corners of the city, you can never expect what you’ll find. Walking through a different alley or while on the train, you might spot varieties of colorful graffiti on the walls of the buildings, under the bridges, everywhere.
- Looking at these street arts will make you admire the capability and creativity of these artists. But there’s a good chance you might not see the same art for the second time, as the vision curiosity of the artists are ever changing.
Top 4 Things I Don't Like about Melbourne
While there are plenty of reasons for retirees to love Melbourne, no city is without its drawbacks. As pleasurable living here in this beautiful city is, some things will always feel like out of place. There isn't much, but significant ones worth sharing. So, here’s my top least favorite things about Melbourne.
- Ever unpredictable weather
You might experience three different weather changes on the same day in Melbourne. While it might be sunny in the morning, it could get cloudy in the afternoon. A slight or heavy downpour might unexpectedly shower you in the evening, while a cold breeze could create bone chilling temperatures at night.
This change in weather conditions can pose as a problem sometimes, as you never know what to wear. - Should you dress light for a warm sunny day? Should you bring an umbrella? Should you carry a coat in case it gets chilly? These questions you will be asking yourself in Melbourne.
- While google can predict the weather for you, the accuracy is not a hundred percent. So, it might get annoying in the beginning. But as you get used to the busy life, the organized chaos of the city, the local residents, the hustle and bustle, you’ll get used to the weather as well without even noticing.
- High living expenses
Even though Melbourne doesn’t fall into world’s top 5 expensive cities list, the living expense here is fairly high especially around CBD (Central Business District) in contrast to the job opportunities. If you are retiring on a tight budget, this could be an issue. Real estate prices are high in the city, but the further out in the suburbs you go, the lower the prices. - The counter of the expenses is the quality of living in Melbourne. It didn’t become world’s second most livable place for no reason. But still it can be a gamble without a solid income. This especially is especially true for retirees on a budget. If you don’t have prior savings, living here can prove to be a financial burden rather than a blessing.
- Public commutes during rush hours
The transportation network of the city of Melbourne is a really admirable one. All the trains, buses and trams are very precisely and articulately put according to the convenience of the passengers. But, around peak time like the morning or the evening, public transport becomes the hub of congestion and claustrophobia.
- As there’s a rush for offices and schools in the morning, there’s hardly ever an empty seat, regardless of the transport medium you use. Same scenario occurs when it’s time to go home. Even if you are lucky enough to get a seat, you won’t possibly have any personal space as there’s no lack of standees around you. If you're retired in Melbourne, just avoid the peak commute hours and you'll be fine!
- Even if this is a very uncomfortable situation, there’s a breath of relief that everyone is very respectful of each other. Despite so much congestion in a tiny space, everyone will try to make it comfortable for the passengers around them. They will eagerly give you space to get off you get stuck in the middle of the train. I guess the kindness of the residents here makes the problems a little ore bearable.
- Dead silent night life of the suburbs
This is a controversial topic as a lot of people might enjoy the tranquility rather than chaos. But for people like me who love to enjoy a good time around people, Melbourne won’t offer much at night. Most of the restaurants are closed early. You can hardly find anyone in the road if you go on a stroll after 8 p.m.
- There’s a question of safety arises due to this issue as well. Melbourne is considerably a safe city. But the quiet and almost empty streets at night pose as a good opportunity for petty crime. This is more accurate on the weekends, as a lot of irresponsible drunkards are roaming around at night.
Getting Around Melbourne
Melbourne has a great public transportation system of trains, trams and buses. And, there's actually a free tram zone within Melbourne's city center. Public transport is safe and affordable. Within the city center, Melbourne is one of the most walkable cities in the world. Of course, it's different story out in the suburbs. You'll need a car if you live outside the city.
How is the Weather in Melbourne?
Melbourne is a wonderfully temperate city. The average highs in the summer are in the upper 70s with the average lows being in the mid 50s. Winter months average daily highs are in the mid 50s and lows are in the low to mid 40s. If there's a heat wave, daytime temps can be up to the low 90s. Average humidity percentage is 66%. May through August are the most humid months and October through March are the least with humidity around 58%.
In 1956 Melbourne became the first city outside North America or Europe to hold the Olympics.
Is Melbourne Dog Friendly?
Despite all the cons, Melbourne is the place to visit if the pros are considered. The city is great fun to walk around and explore new different attribute every time. It’s also a heaven for pet lovers. Plenty of parks gives you an excuse to take your dog for a walk in different venues every day.
There’s not much restriction for pet owners while renting an apartment, but it is required to get the landlord’s consent. Pets are even allowed in public transport, which gives you an opportunity to take your friendly furry companion with you for the day.
Off the Beaten Path Activities
- See the Penguins at St. Kilda Beach
If you like penguins, be sure to check out the colony of penguins that swim there just before dusk.
- Preston Market
Don't miss one of the best markets that locals frequent every week. Get fresh veggies, fruits, meats, baked goods and also various handcrafted items. - Capital City Trail
This 18.4 mile loop is a perfect place for a bike ride or stroll if the weather is good. You'll get the best of both worlds with nature and city views. Great place to chill. - Healsville Sanctuary
See kangaroos, wombats and koalas up close. Located just an hour outside of Melbourne, this animal sanctuary is a great place to spend the day.
Melbourne was originally named Batmania, although it has nothing to do with Bruce Wayne. Instead, the name derives from one of the city’s founding fathers, John Batman.
Melbourne, Australia Cost of Living Chart
Data from Numbeo
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| 88th out of 558
#1 is most expensive |
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1 Bdr Apartment Outside City | |
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Bottom Line
Melbourne is a dream of people, art, food and all things good blended into reality. No doubt it’ll be the top choice if anyone is interested and looking for a new place to retire to. With ever growing industrial, technological and educational sector, Melbourne is surely suitable place for the next generation bloom as well.
If you're looking in Asia Pacific but would like to be immersed in Asian culture, Singapore could be a good choice for your retirement.
