Sydney – City Performance, Brand Strength and Reputation

With over five million inhabitants, Sydney is by far the largest metropolis in Australia. Considered one of the wealthiest and most dynamic cities in Oceania, how does Sydney perform in international rankings measuring economic competitiveness, sustainability, innovation, city brand strength, and reputation?

Let’s take a closer look at:

• Economic competitiveness and urban sustainability
• City brand strength and global reputation
• Livability: appeal for talent, locals, and visitors

Economic Competitiveness and Financial Performance

The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks Sydney 22^nd, a drop of seven positions from the previous ranking—currently between Dubai (21^st) and Berlin (23^rd). It ranks 14^th in the Infrastructure area of competitiveness and 12^th for Insurance industry strength. Overall, it ranks 8^th in the Asia/Pacific region.

According to 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023, Sydney ranks 18^th, a drop of 14 positions from the previous edition.

City Brand Strength and Global Reputation

According to Brand Finance’s City Index 2023, Sydney ranks 5^th globally, right below Los Angeles (4^th) and above Singapore (6^th). It is considered the best city to live in, 2^nd best to work and retire in, 3^rd best to study and invest in, and 5^th best to visit.

Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks Sydney 35^th, competing with Seattle (34^th) and Doha (36^th).

Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report ranks it 18^th, a drop of one position from the previous ranking; now right below San Francisco (17^th) and above Washington DC (19^th). Moreover, the city ranks 24^th in the Global Cities Outlook, a jump of 11 positions since the previous ranking.

The Global Power City Index ranks Sydney 12^th, just after Copenhagen (11^th) and before Vienna (13^th). In terms of function-specific rankings, the city ranks 14^th in Economy, 15^th in R&D, 20^th in Cultural Interaction, 24^th in Livability, 7^th in Environment, and 29^th in Accessibility. Sydney also ranks 8^th for Urban Greenery.

Livability: Appeal for Talent, Locals, and Visitors

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places Sydney 9^th, tying with Vancouver (8^th) and Düsseldorf (10^th). Mercer’s Cost of Living Study ranks Sydney 56^th. The cost of living survey reports that factors such as currency fluctuations, cost inflation for goods and services, and instability of accommodation prices are key to determining the cost of expat packages for employees on international assignment.

According to the Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads ranking by Spot a Home, Sydney fares 27^th out of 56 global cities. It currently sits between Rome (26^th) and Los Angeles (28^th).

Lastly, Sydney is home to some of the best universities in the world. According to The Times Higher Education Ranking, the University of Sydney ranks 60^th and the University of New South Wales 84^th. The QS World University Ranking ranks both the University of Sydney and UNSW 19^th, and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) 90^th.

Urban Sustainability

The Arcadis Sustainability City Index 2022 ranks it 33^rd overall, sitting between Manchester (32^nd) and Leeds (34^th). Its specific rankings are: Planet 42^nd, People 15^th, Profit 46^th. Its main strength is control over air pollution, while environmental exposure and bicycle infrastructure are two areas that could be improved.

Last updated in January 2024. Explore more city profiles in our City Observatory.

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Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of Sydney’s economic and cultural landscape and facilitate comparison over time. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, we are not responsible for any typographical errors or inaccuracies. The data is provided ‘as is’ without warranty of any kind. Users should verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.