Australia · City comparison
Best city in Australia for Nepali students
Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane or Adelaide? Compare universities, the Nepali community, liveability and transport in one place.
Photos: Sydney by Benh LIEU SONG and Adelaide by Yu Chu Chin, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
In short
The short answer
There is no single best city. Sydney has the largest Nepali community in Australia (59,055 Nepal-born people at the 2021 Census) and three universities in the QS 2027 world top 100. Melbourne was ranked the world’s third most liveable city in 2026 and has two top-100 universities. Brisbane has 50-cent public transport fares and the University of Queensland (#40). Adelaide is compact, usually cheaper than Sydney or Melbourne, and was ranked the eighth most liveable city. Perth suits engineering, mining and resources students. The student visa rules are the same in every city.
Side by side
Australia’s main student cities compared
| City | Highest-ranked university (QS 2027) | Universities in world top 100 | Nepal-born people (2021 Census) | Liveability (EIU 2026) | Getting around | City guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MelbourneVictoria | University of Melbourne #22 | 2 | 18,510 | #3 | Free Tram Zone in the centre; 50% off long myki passes for eligible students | Melbourne guide → |
| SydneyNew South Wales | UNSW Sydney #19 | 3 | 59,055 | #4 | Opal card or contactless bank card on trains, buses, light rail and ferries | Sydney guide → |
| PerthWestern Australia | UWA #77 | 1 | 4,212 | Not in top 10 | Free buses and trains in the city Free Transit Zone; free travel on Sundays | Perth guide → |
| BrisbaneQueensland | University of Queensland #40 | 1 | 6,459 | Not in top 10 | 50-cent fares on all Translink transport; free CityHopper ferries | Brisbane guide → |
| AdelaideSouth Australia | Adelaide University #79 | 1 | 7,055 | #8 | Free City Connector buses and trams in the city centre | Adelaide guide → |
Nepal-born figures are for each Greater Capital City area and count everyone born in Nepal, not only students. Liveability ranks are from the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026. University ranks are from the QS World University Rankings 2027.
Which city suits you?
Choose the city that fits your plans
You want a big student city with two world top-100 universities, trams, and lots of sport, food and festivals.
Read the guide →
SydneyYou want the largest Nepali community and three world top-100 universities, and you can budget for some of Australia’s highest rents.
Read the guide →
PerthYou are studying engineering, mining or resources, and you prefer a quieter city with a smaller Nepali community.
Read the guide →
BrisbaneYou like warm weather, cheap 50-cent public transport and a top-50 university (UQ) in a growing Olympic city.
Read the guide →
AdelaideYou want a compact, highly liveable city that is usually cheaper than Sydney or Melbourne, with free city trams.
Read the guide →
Same in every city
What does not change by city
Up to 48 hours a fortnight during study periods, and full-time during scheduled breaks.
At least AUD 29,710 a year for living costs for your student visa.
Most universities take students in February and July.
The same Student visa (subclass 500) rules apply in every city.
Questions
Common questions about Australian cities
Which Australian city has the most Nepali people?
Sydney. 59,055 Nepal-born people lived in Greater Sydney at the 2021 Census, almost half of all Nepal-born people in Australia. Melbourne was next with 18,510.
Which city is cheapest for Nepali students?
Adelaide is usually cheaper to live in than Sydney or Melbourne, and Sydney rents are among the highest in Australia. The visa living-cost minimum (AUD 29,710 a year) is the same in every city.
Which city has the best-ranked universities?
Sydney has three universities in the QS 2027 world top 100 (UNSW #19, Sydney #28, UTS #87) and Melbourne has two (Melbourne #22, Monash #31). Brisbane has UQ at #40, Perth has UWA at #77 and Adelaide has Adelaide University at #79.
Which city has the cheapest public transport?
Brisbane has 50-cent fares on all Translink transport. Adelaide has free city buses and trams, Perth has free travel in its city Free Transit Zone and on Sundays, and Melbourne has a Free Tram Zone in the centre.
Do student visa rules change from city to city?
No. The Student visa (subclass 500) rules, the 48-hour fortnightly work limit and the money you must show are the same wherever you study.
Last updated: , by the NEC counselling team in Kathmandu. Sources: QS World University Rankings 2027; EIU Global Liveability Index 2026; Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census; Department of Home Affairs, Student visa (subclass 500); each city’s public transport operator. Fees, rules and dates change, so check official sites before you apply.
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