While Australia rises to become a forefront player in technology, competition amongst its cities in the bid to become the technology hub of choice heats up. By the year 2024 there is a more dynamic environment for tech professionals, startups, and innovators. This is the case whether you are a beginner who just entered the IT industry or a professional who seeks to change the city.
As part of this research, we have completed a comparative assessment of the choice of the top 10 tech cities in Australia with a focus on their livability, the availability of employment opportunities, education, Internet coverage, and co-working spaces for startups and tech society. This guide should assist in identifying the right environment for success in the technological sector.
The lifestyle of Adelaide is rather affordable and there is a growing tech industry and the field itself has ample opportunities in defence and space fields.
Here, we’ll identify the top 10 cities for tech professionals in Australia. Each city is rated in several criteria such as and; liveability, internet availability and reliability, employment and education prospects, innovative and startup ecosystems, and the tech scene. The rankings, therefore, give an overall view of what each city has for those in the technology sector.
| City, State | Score | Livability | Internet Coverage & Quality | Career & Education | Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Tech Community |
| 1. Sydney, NSW | 67.85 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 2. Melbourne, VIC | 65.40 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| 3. Brisbane, QLD | 63.20 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| 4. Perth, WA | 61.50 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
| 5. Adelaide, SA | 60.80 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| 6. Canberra, ACT | 58.60 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| 7. Hobart, TAS | 57.10 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 9 |
| 8. Gold Coast, QLD | 55.70 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 10 |
| 9. Darwin, NT | 54.30 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 11 |
| 10. Newcastle, NSW | 52.90 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 12 |
Quite predictably, Sydney remains Australia’s unchallenged tech powerhouse, which thrives in startup development and offers numerous professional prospects. Nicknamed the Silicon of the South Pacific, Sydney has attracted more than 20,000 tech companies and hence has numerous positions ranging from software development to AI research. More than 15,000 new IT job listings have been posted in the city in 2024, positioning it as the perfect place to establish oneself.
Sydney has large players such as Google, Microsoft, and Atlassian and a burgeoning startup culture to power the city’s tech ecosystem. The city has also established itself as a financial hub that has contributed to the growth of fintech startups over the last couple of years.
New South Wales is perhaps the most accommodating of the Australian governments to the emergence of new technology companies – the Sydney Startup Hub alone houses over 480.
This hub offers key elements such as, sponsorship, training, support and networking platform that help new innovations to prosper and encourage the technology related people from this city to work together.
Some of the best universities in Australia are situated in Sydney: the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales, which provide a vibrant tech curriculum. These institutions not only provide year-round quality graduates but also do industrial research work in core industries.
Taking the case of Sydney, for instance, with the advancement in the field of technology, there is stiff competition for specialised personnel. The city also provides a diverse career platform ranging from software developers to data scientists. Furthermore, Sydney is a dynamic startup-technology city that offers various events, meetups, and conferences where people can interact and expand their knowledge.
With regard to career opportunities, Sydney cannot be beaten; nevertheless, the prices are constantly rising. It is one of the most expensive places to live in terms of housing, although the competition for jobs is relatively stiff when you first get there. But they may find the quality of life, cultural diversities, and being able to enjoy beautiful and modern amenities a catch in Sydney.
While Melbourne is referred to as Australia’s arts and culture hub, the city also boasts of being a technological powerhouse. It has a highly educated population, especially since it is home to prominent educational institutions such as the University of Melbourne and RMIT University, which supplies some of Australia’s best technological workforce.
Tech culture in Melbourne is very friendly, and revolves around sustainable technology and, most obviously, AI. Melbourne itself has several technology clusters and co-working spaces such as Melbourne Innovation District and Carlton Connect Initiative that facilitates interaction between start-ups, universities, and businesses for innovation.
The Victorian government has also played a role in nurturing the tech sector, for example, through LaunchVic, which offers funding to technology companies. This has resulted in the development of a strong startup culture where segments such as fintech, health tech, and edtech have received a boost.
Melbourne provides numerous chances for professional development in the tech sector, with more than 12,000 openings in the year 2024. Most of the city’s universities have earned reputations for offering excellent tech courses with an emphasis on research and development. There are also many large technology companies based in Melbourne, such as Telstra, MYOB, and SEEK, which means that Melbournians can find work in technology easily in a vast number of fields.
It does have a vibrant and engaged technology industry with regularly scheduled events, hackathons and meetups. An event such as the Melbourne Tech Expo, which is held annually, is unmissable because it connects technology lovers from all over the country and provides a platform for announcements and demonstrations of emerging technologies and products.
Stress is another factor that separates Melbourne from other cities as people here have a work-life balance priority. Cultural diversity, efficient transportation system, and great food and arts make the city an ideal place to live. Nonetheless, similar to Sydney, the housing market may be quite saturated, and the cost of living is higher as compared to other cities. However, research shows that the city remains a hub of attraction for technology professionals from across the globe.
Brisbane also has been attracting the attention of technology-centred businessmen, and nowadays there is a vast number of startups in this city. The city’s orientation towards fintech, biotech, and smart city has made it an important node within the Australia technology ecosystem.
Brisbane has a supportive local government that has endeavoured to create several programs to encourage technology companies and start-ups to invest in the city. For example, Brisbane Technology Park is one of the central facilities for technology company development, providing all required space and amenities.
The city also hosts some incubators & accelerators including River City Labs and Queensland University Technology (QUT) Innovation Precinct to cater for the needs of growing startups. As for the tech community of Brisbane, it is innovative and focused on sharing ideas and connections.
Get established in Brisbane where the digital technology sector presents more than 8000 workforce demand by 2024. Many of these universities such as the university of Queensland and the Queensland University of Technology have some of the best technology programs in the country and great industry connections to ensure that their graduates are ready to take up employment when they complete their studies.
Fintech and biotech are the areas of interest for the city where many international companies have established themselves, offering employment to many people in tech-related fields. Another area for growth for Brisbane is within smart cities, where there are projects such as the Brisbane Smart City Initiative. All these initiatives are aimed at leveraging technology to enhance efficiency in city operations, amenities, and the wellbeing of inhabitants, which makes Brisbane an ideal hub for any professional in the field of technology with an interest in working on advanced projects.
Visitors are likely to be provoked in regard to the climate of Brisbane, which is regarded as one of the features of a subtropical climate that can be enjoyed all year round. Some of the advantages are that it is relatively quiet compared to Sydney and Melbourne, and the cost of living and house prices are comparatively lower. This balance of work and play opportunities may make Brisbane especially attractive to technology professionals who want a city that offers both business prospects and leisure activities.
The presence of an aspiring cultural scene, along with the emphasis on sustainable practices, has also contributed to the appearance of creative workers. It has become quite evident that Brisbane is not only a city of technological advancement but a city that provides a community feel and balances work and life.
Contrary to its perception as a peripheral location in Australia’s hi-tech industry, Perth delivers impressive results for startups, especially in the mining technologies and renewable energy sectors. This city has not been left out from being among the significant players in the technology market within Australia despite being relatively isolated.
Perth boasts a strong technology scene with key focus areas inspired by the city’s economic relations with the mining industry, where technology has been directed towards optimisation and sustainable mining. This process has contributed to the development of a specialised mining industry based on technologies, robotics, and automatisation.
The Western Australian government has also been proactively involved in marketing Perth as the technology city through the Perth Tech Hub and the Space Science and Technology Centre at the Curtin University. These endeavours are aimed at promoting partnerships between universities, businesses, and the state to form favourable conditions for technology development.
Career prospects in Perth are varied especially for technology professionals who want to engage in large-scale industrial projects. By 2024, the city has experienced more than 5000 tech vacancies, the preference being data analysts, IT security personnel, and engineers. Some of the major employers include Woodside Petroleum, Rio Tinto, and BHP, which offer relatively good pay and opportunities for employees to progress through the career ladder.
University of Western Australia and Curtin University are some of the universities in the city, which have concentrations in mining technology, engineering and computer science. These institutions provide students with jobs which expose them to real life situations within the industries of their choosing.
The quality of living in Perth is another advantage, so it is critical to point this out. It is characterised by a clean environment, low rates of criminal activities and high quality of life. Luckily, Perth is something of a laid-back paradise with its pristine beaches, burgeoning arts scene, and far less intense pace than the coastal cities in the east.
Despite certain shortcomings, such as geographical remoteness from other large technology centres within Australia, Perth can be truly attractive to those who want to have a great work-life balance and take advantage of rich opportunities in certain niches of the technology market.
Adelaide is called the “most livable” city of Australia and has gradually become an essential hub of the country’s turning point in the sphere of technology, defence, cybersecurity, and space. It is a great town for the work-life balance, cheap, and home to many startups and fast-growing tech companies.
Adelaide’s tech environment has been strengthened by the involvement of large arms experts including BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, and Saab with advanced offices in Adelaide. Another example relates to the regional government of SA; the state has also committed considerable resources toward technology, specifically space tech, and cybersecurity.
Adelaide has benefited from space exploration science and facilities because of the new formation of the Australian Space Agency. This has made it imperative for new business startups as well as established international firms to invest in the resources and opportunities that Adelaide presents.
By 2024, Adelaide will have experienced over 40 tech vacancies, mainly linked to cybersecurity, defence technology, and space exploration. South Australian universities such as the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia have specific programs in these fields and provide sufficient human capital.
They were revealed by the fast-growing coworking spaces, incubators, accelerators, and other supporting facilities for tech-centred startups and SMBs in Adelaide. Other fests like the Adelaide Innovation Festival and the SouthStart Conference have also propelled the city to become one of the regions to turn to for innovation.
Adelaide is relatively cheaper than many states in Australia; hence, people living in this region have a relatively low cost of living. Additionally, the city is famous for its high quality of life with arts and cultural entertainment, tasty cuisine and great wines, and a friendly community. Any tech professional who desires to work in a city that is affordable has a good work-life balance, and has numerous career opportunities should consider relocating to Adelaide.
This may not suit everyone due to the smaller city and the more relaxed tempo in comparison to larger cities and corporate environments. However, for those candidates who are concerned with quality of life and the opportunity to live close to nature and in a friendly community, Adelaide might be very appealing if compared to other major Australian tech cities.
As the capital of Australia, Canberra is both a political and a tech city, with an especially strong emphasis on cybersecurity, government technology and defence technology sectors. Melbourne has a large concentration of public sector technology and has a highly educated population which will ensure surplus demand for tech talent.
Technology start-ups in Canberra are mainly shaped by the presence of many government organisations and posts, and as a result, technology solutions such as security, analytics, and artificial intelligence are in high demand. The attribute can be attributed to the presence of the Australian National University (ANU) in the city, which is the country’s premier research institution that supports the development of technological solutions.
Australia’s government has been supportive of technology advancements in Canberra, for instance, Cyber Security Innovation Node and the Digital Transformation Agency. The rationale behind these endeavours is to promote an innovative and cooperative environment between government, academia and business in order to make Canberra an important participant in the information and communication technology development in Australia.
Regarding the technology industry, Canberra hosts various types of jobs, mainly for people seeking jobs in government organisations or careers in cybersecurity. According to the job posting site Indeed, the city has recorded over 3,000 technology vacancies in 2024, especially in public sector technology and defence solutions.
Another prominent institution, the Australian National University, as well as other universities, including the University of Canberra, provides excellent IT education with an emphasis on research and scientific development. These universities have close links with government and industries which opens doors for students to work on various projects and gain experience.
Incidentally, Canberra enjoys one of the highest living standards with good public utilities, low incidence of crimes, and a clean city. Compared to Australia’s major cities, it has a slower atmosphere that allows one to be close to nature and has a great community feel.
However, Canberra is rather small and mainly employs individuals involved in government tech, which might not be suitable for some people who want a more diverse presence. However, for those who want to work in cybersecurity, public sector technology, or defence, there is no better place than Canberra to provide stable work conditions.
While Hobart is Tasmania’s capital, and it’s not nearly as large as other tech cities on this list, the city is focused on environmental and marine technology. Considering its location and concentration on such themes as sustainability it is possible to mention that the city is rather popular among tech specialists.
The scope of the existing technology scene in Hobart is shaped significantly by the city’s closeness to Antarctica, and Hobart is a key site for research and development in such fields as environmental studies and marine technologies. Australian institutions such as the Australian Antarctic Division and the IMAS at the University of Tasmania are some of the institutions that have an important role in the promotion of research in these fields.
The state government of Tasmania has also been particularly active in marketing Hobart as a tech city, with programmes such as the Tasmanian Innovation Network: a resource for technology startups with a focus on sustainability and eco-technology.
By the year 2024, there were more than two thousand advertisements of technology vacancies in Hobart, especially in the fields of environmental, marine and sustainability technologies. A ride around the city shows that universities such as the University of Tasmania have been offering specialised programs in these specialisation areas hence producing qualified graduates from time to time.
Technology industry in Hobart is quite concentrated with many passionate players that are conscious of technology’s sustainability. Several technology festivals and conventions, like the Antarctic Festival and Hobart Innovation Summit, are organised in the city and are attended by global researchers and technocrats.
Hobart is blessed with beautiful natural attractions within easy driving distance of mountains, forests and the shore. The city is uneventful and gives off a very laid-back vibe, which is majorly centred on environmental conservation and the inhabitants’ unity. As is expected with most cities in Australia, the cost of living is relatively low compared to the other big cities, and this makes Hobart one of the best places to live.
However, Hobart is a small city and it offers rather a small number of job offers compared to Sydney or Melbourne, for instance, which can be uninteresting for those who are searching for highly active work. To other tech professionals, especially those who are fascinated with technology for environmental sustainability, Hobart is the perfect city to live and practice.
While it is known for tourism and recreation, Gold Coast is gradually emerging as a hub for technology start-ups, especially technology-related education (edtech) and health (healthtech) start-ups. The increasing tech scene in the city has been supported by its universities and the local government.
Tech is especially well developed in the Gold Coast area, with local education space being contributed by great universities such as Bond University and Griffith University. There has been a growth in edtech startups across the city as more firms seek to develop new products in education and training.
The local government has also been active in investing in the tech industry; for example, the Gold Coast Innovation Hub that offers support, advice, and contacts to young companies. Also, healthtech is one of the ten focus sectors in the city, to which either startups eager to create new technologies in the sphere of healthcare and wellbeing or large corporations, which already have R&D divisions, can be attracted.
The Gold Coast has experienced more than 1,500 open tech positions in 2024, with a focus on positions in tech, health tech, and digital media. Specialised universities in the city are able to put graduates into this marketplace regularly.
The Gold Coast has a growing and dynamic technology industry with an assortment of related functions and conventions, including ones in the fields of education and health. Thus, on the one hand, the city focuses on a work-life balance and the general quality of life of its inhabitants, which makes it appealing to IT specialists.
The Gold Coast is renowned for being home to beautiful beaches, a laid-back atmosphere, and popular nightlife. The city provides a good quality of life at a lower cost than Sydney or Melbourne. This element of the Gold Coast also extends to the tech industry, so if your interests lie in health and wellness, you’ll find plenty of opportunities here.
However, the Gold Coast might have comparatively fewer opportunities, especially if one is looking for a job in the technology sector, compared to the opportunities in other major cities of Australia. For those who prefer a lifestyle approach and for those interested in ed-tech or health tech, the Gold Coast remains a very rewarding one.
Darwin is in the Northern Territory of Australia, and this makes it ideal for companies operating in the technology niche in areas of defence, logistics, and remote tech. Due to its location closer to Southeast Asia and its defence city standing, Brisbane is a very different market in the Australia technology arena.
Darwin’s ecosystem is strongly built based on this geopolitical position and the role it plays in Australia’s defence and logistics. Many defence contractors and other technical businesses involved in remote sensing, logistics and infrastructure technology are located in the city.
The Northern Territory government has also been very proactive in branding Darwin as the Innovation Center for these areas, including the Darwin Innovation Hub that incubates startups and technological businesses tagged under defence and logistics.
Darwin has attracted over 1,000 tech job vacancies by the year 2024 mainly in the fields of defence, logistics and remote technology. Specialised academic programs are available in cities with universities and research institutions that produce well-qualified graduates in these fields.
Darwin has a limited number of technology startups, but it targets niche industries and highlights cooperation and creativity. The Darwin area is home to several tech events and conferences, such as the Darwin Innovation Festival, with various attendees from rampant nations.
Darwin has its own advantages, including its focus on nature and a relaxed, tropical atmosphere. This isolated city is perfect for individuals who enjoy living in a small town that is not congested with a large population.
Though Darwin is isolated and the job opportunities are relatively limited which may not be suitable for everyone, especially those who prefer a competitive and busy surroundings. For technology professionals who want to focus on defence, logistics or remote technologies for instance, Darwin holds incredible opportunities in a perfect location.
Newcastle, which is a city situated in the southern part of Australia near Sydney, still has some industrial basis, but the city actively develops the use of technology. The green policies throughout the city, hence the promotion of renewable energy and smart city technologies, are a great attraction to tech startups and companies.
At the core of Newcastle’s fast-growing tech scene is the dominance of renewable energy and smart city projects. Many technology organisations and new businesses work in the niche of environmentally friendly solutions for energy generation, structures, and cities.
New South Wales government has been favourable towards the tech industry in Newcastle through projects like Hunter Innovation Precinct, a three-party collaboration platform consisting of industries, university, and government for stimulating innovation in the region.
In the year 2024, Newcastle has approximately witnessed 900 vacancies of tech jobs that have high involvement in renewable energy, smart city technology, and infrastructure. These specialisations exist in the city’s universities such as the University of Newcastle that offer programs leading to such degrees thus meeting the labour market with knowledgeable graduates in these fields.
Newcastle’s tech scene is developing, and there are a number of events and conferences on renewable energy and smart cities. Another consideration is that it is near Sydney, which might appeal to working professionals who seek a more tranquil lifestyle but are within commuting distance of one of the country’s most significant technology centres.
Newcastle is a city of beautiful beaches, a laid-back feel and a wonderful sense of community. Compared to Sydney, the city’s cost of living is cheaper, and people do not have to reside in Sydney to look for jobs that pay well.
Though the primary IT milieu of Newcastle is not very advanced, its emphasis on renewable energy and Smart City technologies makes the place dynamic for any aspirant in these industries.
It is also useful to know how these cities compare in terms of various factors, including cost of living, quality of internet, etc., and start-up environment.
Some of the criteria that we used in determining the position of the cities in this category included safety and living expenses as well as the remunerations of IT professionals.
| Rank: 5 Best Cities | Rank: 5 Worst Cities |
| 1. Adelaide, SA | 100. Sydney, NSW |
| 2. Brisbane, QLD | 99. Melbourne, VIC |
| 3. Hobart, TAS | 98. Perth, WA |
| 4. Darwin, NT | 97. Canberra, ACT |
| 5. Newcastle, NSW | 96. Gold Coast, QLD |
In terms of cost of living, Adelaide ranks first. Tech talents in the city guarantee a relatively better quality of life over the larger Australian cities at a lower cost. Relatively low cost of living and comparatively good wages further work to endear the city to those targeted by this policy.
On the other hand, while Sydney enjoys the largest ratio of job opportunity, it is one of the least preferred because of the high cost of living. Compared to other cities on this list, tech professionals residing in Sydney will particularly feel the pinch in terms of housing and necessities cost.
This involved collating the average mobile & fixed broadband internet connection speeds, fibre connectivity, and costs in each city.
| Rank: 5 Best Cities | Rank: 5 Worst Cities |
| 1. Canberra, ACT | 100. Darwin, NT |
| 2. Perth, WA | 99. Hobart, TAS |
| 3. Sydney, NSW | 98. Newcastle, NSW |
| 4. Melbourne, VIC | 97. Gold Coast, QLD |
| 5. Adelaide, SA | 96. Brisbane, QLD |
Australians in Canberra are the most connected with internet coverage and quality being among the best in the country in terms of speed. It is especially relevant in the case of the specialists for whom the internet connection is critical for efficiency, such as cybersecurity consultants, software developers, remote workers.
Darwin, while strategically important for technology companies interested in the defence and logistics sectors, is considered bottom-dwelling due to its broadband download speeds, which are slower than those of the top-ranked city, and its higher costs for Internet access. This can be a disadvantage for tech professionals who need a very good and free internet connection for their tasks.
This category focuses on the number of vacancies in tech firms, universities that offer technology courses, and the number of tech firms. Two cities that stand out most in this category, Sydney and Melbourne, provide the highest number of tech jobs available, the highest density of tech companies, and quality educational facilities for the IT staff. These cities offer the best market for careers and personal development in one’s chosen field.
| Rank: 5 Best Cities | Rank: 5 Worst Cities |
| 1. Sydney, NSW | 100. Darwin, NT |
| 2. Melbourne, VIC | 99. Hobart, TAS |
| 3. Brisbane, QLD | 98. Gold Coast, QLD |
| 4. Perth, WA | 97. Newcastle, NSW |
| 5. Canberra, ACT | 96. Adelaide, SA |
Both Darwin and Hobart have fewer job opportunities and less established tech industries compared to other larger cities in Australia. However, for those who are interested in developing a career in defence technology to environmental technology, these cities provide this opportunity more than other cities or countries.
This category compares the startup environments of each city with the identification of tech unicorns.
| Rank: 5 Best Cities | Rank: 5 Worst Cities |
| 1. Sydney, NSW | 100. Darwin, NT |
| 2. Melbourne, VIC | 99. Hobart, TAS |
| 3. Brisbane, QLD | 98. Newcastle, NSW |
| 4. Perth, WA | 97. Adelaide, SA |
| 5. Canberra, ACT | 96. Gold Coast, QLD |
Sydney is a global leader when it comes to startups, with a thriving startup scene that boasts numerous technology incubation centres, accelerators, and venture capitalist firms. Another aspect is the city’s position as the financial capital of Australia to attract investment and stimulate innovations.
Darwin, while being a good strategic location for defence, logistics, and funding, is not as large of a startup hub and has fewer opportunities for tech based entrepreneurs. However, Darwin provides market niches where innovation can be conducted in the region for those who are interested in distinct niches such as remote technologies.
The number of participants aged between 20 and 59 years and the number of tech events and conferences in that state are taken into consideration in this category, as well.
| Rank: 5 Best Cities | Rank: 5 Worst Cities |
| 1. Sydney, NSW | 100. Darwin, NT |
| 2. Melbourne, VIC | 99. Hobart, TAS |
| 3. Brisbane, QLD | 98. Newcastle, NSW |
| 4. Perth, WA | 97. Gold Coast, QLD |
| 5. Canberra, ACT | 96. Adelaide, SA |
Sydney and Melbourne currently have the most active tech scenes, with many events, conventions, and meetups happening annually. Such cities are hubs for talented individuals, as well as career fairs and other events, which makes these places perfect for building connections.
Both Darwin and Hobart may provide strong tech communities with fewer events and conferences as compared to the other cities in Australia. On the other hand, these cities have a chance to provide applicants with smaller, more specialised communities of professionals to connect with.
To generate this ranking, we identified the largest cities in Australia and then assessed them against 17 criteria related to tech, grouped into five overarching categories. For simplicity and in line with the relative importance of each factor to the final ranking, we gave weight points to the different factors.
The methodology was aimed at examining the strengths and weaknesses of each city in order to help tech professionals make the right choice in terms of the place of residence.
From startups to big businesses, the Australian technology scene is vibrant and presents opportunities for any tech enthusiast. Regardless of your reasons, whether it be to start a fresh empire at a new startup company or wanting to move up on the corporate ladder, or to simply enjoy the best quality of life whilst you satisfy your tech requirements, these following cities in Australia offer various prospects.
Some of the features of the various cities include Sydney and Melbourne being energetic technology communities and Perth and Darwin providing more specific niches. Think about what criteria are important for you — including rent affordability, employment options, and quality of life — and select the city that aligns with your career and life aspirations.
Are you residing in any of these cities or planning to relocate to? Please feel free to share your experiences and ideas in the comments section below. undefined
