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Listing the worst things about Sydney makes it easier to leave (smh.com.au)

submitted by RichieMclad

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[–]thefourblackbars 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I left Sydney for overseas in 2007. I come back once a year and find that not much has changed. Sydney, to me, is a beautiful and dormant city that attracts the rich. Land prices are phenomenal. I cannot fathom how I'll survive financially when I return permanently with my family in the next couple of years. I live in Taiwan and the mildness and vastness of Sydney causes me to feel a touch empty compared to Taiwan and it's craziness. I love Sydney and always will love it, but... I don't miss it. Just my two cents worth.

[–]bigolesteve 33 points34 points  (34 children)

Leave to where?

People are so full of "huff n puff", they still are mad if they don't acknowledge that; despite it's flaws, Sydney is amazing.

Sydney (and arguable Melbourne) pretty much "are" Australia. They are the only main, accessible Australian cities with modern amenities and modern jobs.

Unless you want to sheer sheep, sew crops or work in a mine, your life will mot likely revolve around Sydney or Melbourne in Australia.

EDIT: Moving overseas is pretty great. Though most people desire children and more possessions than they know what to do with, which limits this prospect.

[–]tinmun 36 points37 points  (18 children)

I moved overseas to Sydney. And I have never looked back. People here don't know how good they have it.

[–]ayatollahofdietcola📯📯🐝 7 points8 points  (10 children)

Same. I love it here (and this is coming from someone who grew up in Canada, a pretty great country in its own right).

[–]tinmun 3 points4 points  (4 children)

I still prefer Australia to Canada tbh... Fucking weather...

[–]Pooh_caught_a_woozle 3 points4 points  (3 children)

I prefer the heat over the cold any day of the week. Though yesterday did have me questioning my resolve.

[–]Rockjob 3 points4 points  (2 children)

21 degrees inside all winter. Wear the right clothes outside and it's great. Winter in Australia is a chore. Most houses aren't insulated properly nor heated centrally. I use to wake up in my bedroom in winter as a kid and see my breath.

[–]ayatollahofdietcola📯📯🐝 3 points4 points  (1 child)

That's the one thing I bang on about every winter. Why on earth don't Australians insulate the walls of their homes?! All my North American and European friends here are on my side about this, but my Aussie friends usually say, "But why, it doesn't get cold enough." First of all, it does get cold enough (case in point: your comment about seeing your breath), and second, insulation is like a thermos: it keeps your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer! In an insulated home, the last few days would've been so comfortable without needing to blast the air con 24/7.

So Canada wins on that count, but living here I get to go to the beach!

[–]Rockjob 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Living near the beach is awesome. Most of the people I know who live near the beach never travel because they can't bank anything and are stuck renting. I understand it's a lifestyle choice, but I have no idea what they are going to do when they retire.

[–]Rockjob 1 point2 points  (3 children)

Did you grow up in Vancouver or Toronto?
I ask because everyone I've met in Montreal enjoyed their time in aus, but noped back due to the cost of living and not wanting to be poor for the rest of their life.

[–]ayatollahofdietcola📯📯🐝 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I grew up in Calgary, but yeah, I get you. If you're coming from Toronto or Vancouver, Sydney isn't going to give you sticker shock. But Montreal has a much lower cost of living -- a lot of people move there when they get priced out of Toronto.

I fully acknowledge that I have the privilege to enjoy Sydney despite how unaffordable it is for a lot of people. I'm on a good salary, my husband's on a good salary, we have no kids, we own our home. I'm lucky and well aware of it.

[–]Rockjob 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do like the idea of living off one good salary and raising a family. Totally doable in Montreal.
I really feel for my friends back in sydney. Married but paying off property. Hoping they can get financially stable before their fertility wanes. I guess melennials are entitled. They want what their parents had.

[–]DarKnightofCydonia -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Funny, I'm about to head over there after living here my adult life, that being one of the reasons why.

[–]AnonymousEngineer_ -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think most get their cynicism regarding Sydney due to nostalgia about how things were in the 1990s in the run-up to the Olympics, when I'd hazard most Redditors were still in their school years.

Lifestyles were far more laid back. Employment was far more plentiful in the years after the big "recession we had to have." Property was cheap. Many families could afford to have mum stay at home while living comfortably on a single income. Congestion wasn't nearly as bad as it is now. And we didn't have a Government selling the entire country and state.

Then 16 years of Howard happened. Record immigration happened for decades. Globalisation and offshoring happened. And recently, Baird happened.

Sydney is still a beautiful place. But it's very different from the way it was in the 1990s, and arguably worse.

[–]assignpseudonym 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Can I ask where you moved from? :)

[–]tinmun 0 points1 point  (0 children)

South America. Still, pretty good over there, but I don't like living in a bubble. Society there is super divided

[–]Vox-L 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same here. Now if only my parents could afford their own place that would be awesome.

[–]bigolesteve 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Exactly. We complain a fair bit about our city but sometimes I think we fail to see how great it is.

Though I would totally move in a heartbeat to London or New York (having stayed there for a few months each, each were ace...).

[–]tinmun 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love New York, but it's in the USA.

[–]sofruity17 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Maybe Sydney is so good because we complain about everything

[–]jm0rb1d -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I've moved to sydney with my partner 3 years ago for education, love it so much here and don't wanna go back to where we came from.. the life here is magnificent and we are hoping that we can get a chance to stay here for a life time

[–]supaluminal 7 points8 points  (0 children)

People in every city in the world complains about public transport, roads, overcrowding, etc. for a very simple reason, there's lots of people.

That's why cities exist, because lots of people want to live there due to the agglomeration benefits.

This is not to say we can't make it better, but the grass isn't all that greener anywhere else.

[–]Brosley 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Canberra. As a career public servant, Sydney doesn't hold a lot of appeal for me, since (unlike with many industries), it isn't the best/only place for me to get a job. I'm pretty much here because I grew up here and just haven't left yet.

Also considered Wellington (the NZ one) and some other big government towns further afield, like Ottawa or Edinburgh.

[–]tangyjaffy 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Melbs, Hobart or Wellington (NZ). Yet to decide. Main reasons for leaving: humidity, prefer a more laid back lifestyle and housing affordability. I'm from Welly and my SO is from Melbs. We have been in Sydney two years and have decided it just isn't for us.

Edit: wording

[–]flooptrooper 5 points6 points  (5 children)

Unless you want to sheer sheep, sew crops or work in a mine, your life will mot likely revolve around Sydney or Melbourne in Australia.

unsurprisingly the top comment here is an atrociously out of touch generalisation on regional Australia. not everyone rides tractors out here.

Sydney (and arguable Melbourne) pretty much "are" Australia

a pretty bold claim, especially considering how much Australian culture and national identity relates to the polar opposite; that is: the bush and its wildlife

[–]bigolesteve 2 points3 points  (4 children)

a pretty bold claim, especially considering how much Australian culture and national identity relates to the polar opposite; that is: the bush and its wildlife

I think for the older gen. Though many of the younger gen don't want "A home among the gumtrees". They want to live within 10 minutes of the city with lots of facilities, people and "stuff".

[–]flooptrooper 2 points3 points  (3 children)

don't have much to say to that other than I would hope that Australia means more to the younger generation than the .2% of our landmass that encompasses Melbourne and Sydney.

[–]TheHeavyRocksteady 0 points1 point  (0 children)

.2% of our landmass

and approaching 50% of our population

[–]ShibaHook -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Chill. We still love our mates from the country.

[–]SteakAndSydneyPie 5 points6 points  (4 children)

Leave to where?

Wellington, NZ is my plan. As soon as I finish making my Aussiebucks (and no, the inflated salaries don't count for shit in a place where owning a car and renting a flat are so expensive, it's yet-to-vest share options) I'm back home. This place is garbage.

And yes, Melbourne is far better.

[–]bigolesteve 4 points5 points  (2 children)

far better

Argue-ably.

Sydney weather (CBD/beach... eastern) is much nicer than Melb.

[–]tangyjaffy 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Sydney weather (CBD/beach... eastern) is much nicer than Melb.

Depends what your preference is. I for one prefer having a proper winter (insane I know) and low humidity. Lived in both Melbs and Syd. And whilst Melbs weather is erratic, I prefer it hands down to Syd. Also, not everyone cares about beaches...

[–]RichieMclad[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Give me 10 degrees over 40 any day of the week.

[–]Silverymine 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wish I could move to Wellington, such a relaxed place. A shame that the tax for working foreigners is unexpectedly high, and they're pretty insular (not easy to get work as an aussie over there, in my industry at least).

[–]psylent 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Grew up in the south western suburbs, moved here in my early 20s, have travelled all over the world, lived in the UK for a couple of years but I always love coming home to Sydney.

I'm very much aware of how lucky I am to be able to live here comfortably. Yes, housing is stupid expensive but find me a place where the city is as nice and it's a lot cheaper because I'd love to hear about it.

Melbourne is a great city, and I love visiting and live there easily but all my roots are here in Sydney, so here I am :)

[–]h3ndofry2150 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I actually agree with him: February is the worst. Good thing it's the shortest month of the year, hey? :)

[–]marley88 12 points13 points  (7 children)

As someone not from Sydney this is so strange to read.

It's amazing here IMO, is this sentiment a common one?

[–]ffflarfff 18 points19 points  (0 children)

To be fair we're in the middle of a heatwave, I think everyone's a bit irritable and wondering why we're here.

It's not uncommon though, I don't think. I'm born and raised here and have a real love/hate relationship with the place.

[–]NateGT86Tofu Delivery Driver 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Nope, not common. Although I suspect we're channelling our inner English heritage and having a good ol' whinge.

Sydney is a great place to live. Sure we have our problems and it's not perfect but it beats the hell out of many other big cities in the world!

[–]SteakAndSydneyPie 1 point2 points  (3 children)

It's not amazing here.

[–]marley88 2 points3 points  (2 children)

How come? Anywhere you would actually describe as amazing?

[–]SteakAndSydneyPie 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Wellington, NZ.

[–]marley88 6 points7 points  (0 children)

What are the things that make Wellington amazing which Sydney lacks?

[–]Rarirurumi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like Sydney a lot, but tired of the people, everyone always seems so busy or angry, and theirs so many people, not to mention how expensive it is to live even in a 1 bedroom apartment, personally I've given up on our government as well, we voted for Kevin rudd over one of the best prime ministers we've had this generation then we've gone through like 5 prime ministers in the last 10 years, along with the growing housing costs, I don't like how hot Sydney is as well a lot, so that's why I'm probably bailing out when I get a chance, just my opinion, though, I would still choose Sydney over some of the worse places like Turkey, or India or something also the internet here is still pretty trash tier, although it's gotten better we're still behind other countries although America's getting screwed pretty hard with ISP data caps so idk, Sydney's not terrible.

[–]HotCoffeeonIcecream 6 points7 points  (5 children)

Sydney is a great city but with better urban planning it could be an amazing city. There is just way too much traffic and too little quiet pockets like pedestrian areas, plazas, not enough bike lanes. Living and housing costs are way too high and public transport is not efficient enough.

[–]marley88 0 points1 point  (4 children)

I get that housing is expensive as fuck but what other living costs are high here?

[–]HotCoffeeonIcecream 2 points3 points  (3 children)

Food, clothes, eating out is more expensive.

[–]marley88 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Coming from the UK I have no found this to be true. Food maybe, though not by much. Eating out and Clothes seem similar or cheaper here.

[–]HotCoffeeonIcecream 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I know London is very expensive, that's true, probably even more so than Sydney. But London has an efficient tube service IIRC, and the city has a lot of cultural activities to offer that you don't really get in any Australian city. But I guess that's because of population density and overall population in the UK and closeness to Europe.

[–]you-people 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The tube is overpriced, overcrowded and undermined by how dated and inflexible to change it is. And its miserable being in a dark tunnel for 30+ minutes. I have never had a problem with Sydney trains in the last five years that wouldn't happen in any other big city.

[–]tinmun 5 points6 points  (0 children)

More Sydney for me...

[–]monte_au 7 points8 points  (0 children)

8 years here and this article struck a nerve. There are plenty of great things about this city but my heart is no longer here. The traffic, the heat and the housing market all pushing me away.

[–]cloudstaring 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Like Sydney a lot. Honestly would love the city to death if the cost of living and housing were reasonable.

Less hot and humid would be great but thats beyond human control.

[–]marley88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

but thats beyond human control

For now!

[–]Imposter12345 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Except for how much rents have gone up (to the point where it's getting unaffordable) I don't find it that bad.

[–]raindog_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This article is a complete and utter piece of shit.

I struggle to imagine how people like this author (Tim Dick) have a job in the current world. Because he doesn't deserve one, and there's a whole bunch of people who don't have jobs who deserve it more than him if his output to the world is crap like this article.

[–]whiteikeastools -3 points-2 points  (7 children)

If you don't like the beach (and I don't) Sydney's the greatest shithole on the planet and either a nuclear bomb or a series of tornados would actually improve the joint, ten fold. A part of Sydney's biggest short-fall...??? The people. The people are scum sucking germs.

How anyone likes it is beyond me.

Glad I got out when I did. My biggest regret is having not been born a Melbourne native.

[–]Pooh_caught_a_woozle 5 points6 points  (6 children)

Sydney's the greatest shithole on the planet

Either you haven't been to many countries or you have a tendency for gross exaggeration.

[–]whiteikeastools -2 points-1 points  (5 children)

Been to enough to judge.

Lived in Sydney for long enough too.

Shitney is a fucking stain.

[–]marley88 3 points4 points  (2 children)

What's so bad about the people?

[–]sloppyrock 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No more than just about any big city. Someone has shit on their liver and is running hot with generalizations and hyperbole.

[–]whiteikeastools 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Drivers for one...

[–]brumbo5 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Going to Amsterdam for 3 days doesn't mean you're qualified to be an urban planner oh wise traveler

[–]whiteikeastools -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

No, but 32 years in Sydney would qualify me telling anyone that would listen how shit Sydney is compared to, well, Melbourne for example

[–]Turd111 -1 points0 points  (1 child)

Move to USA!! A OK!!

[–]a_can_of_solo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If they had universal health care I'd go back