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Better Brisbane Index 2023-24

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Results from this study reveal Brisbane residents' views on quality of life and key concerns compared to previous years and other capital cities.

The Better Brisbane Index assesses residents' views on Brisbane's quality of life, now and in the future.

The objectives of this study are to:

  • understand how Brisbane residents feel about the quality of life in Brisbane
  • understand how they think quality of life may change in the future
  • benchmark against other capital cities in Australia.

Participant details

The 2023-24 study included 2,467 online interviews with the target population including:

  • a representative sample of Brisbane residents aged 18 years and over
  • a representative sample of residents from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, outer South East Queensland (SEQ) and neighbouring SEQ.

Study highlights

92% reported a positive quality of life rating

Higher than Sydney, Melbourne and neighbouring SEQ.

90% recommend Brisbane as a great place to live

Higher than Sydney, Melbourne and both neighbouring and outer SEQ.

85% agree that Brisbane offers a good standard of living

Higher than Sydney, Melbourne and neighbouring SEQ.

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Better Brisbane Index results

Quality of life

Brisbane residents are more satisfied with their city's quality of life than those in Sydney, Melbourne, and neighbouring SEQ. Brisbane residents quality of life satisfaction remains high and steady at 92%.

This graph shows the quality of life in my city scores for Brisbane, Perth, outer and neighbouring South-East Queensland, Melbourne and Sydney in 2023-24.

This chart shows the percentage of residents who rated their city's quality of life 6-10 out of 10.

Brisbane residents rated their quality of life higher than those in Sydney, Melbourne, and nearby SEQ.

2023-24 results:

  • Brisbane: 92% (same as 2022-23)
  • Perth: 91% (94% in 2022-23)
  • Outer SEQ: 89% (88% in 2022-23)
  • Melbourne: 84% (80% in 2022-23, statistically lower than Brisbane)
  • Neighbouring SEQ: 80% (79% in 2022-23, statistically lower than Brisbane)
  • Sydney: 78% (81% in 2022-23, statistically lower than Brisbane).

Civic pride

Brisbane residents have strong civic pride, exceeding that of Sydney and neighbouring SEQ.

  • Three quarters of Brisbane residents would rather live in Brisbane than in any other place in Australia.
  • 90% of residents would also recommend Brisbane as a great place to live, which is higher than all tracked locations other than Perth.
This graph shows the percentage of residents who would rather live in their city than any other place in Australia in 2023-24, for residents in Perth, Brisbane, outer and neighbouring South-East Queensland and Sydney.

This chart shows the percentage of residents who prefer living in their city over anywhere else in Australia (rating 6-10 out of 10).

2023-24 results:

  • Perth: 78% (75% in 2022-23)
  • Brisbane: 75% (74% in 2022-23)
  • Melbourne: 73% (58%, statistically higher than 2022-23)
  • Outer SEQ: 67% (same as 2022-23)
  • Sydney: 65% (67% in 2022-23 and statistically lower than Brisbane)
  • Neighbouring SEQ: 31% (53%, statistically lower than 2022-23 and statistically lower than Brisbane in 2023-24).

The future of Brisbane

The proportion of residents who say they are concerned about how Brisbane will change in the future remained stable at 64%. This is lower than it was prior to the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic (68% in 2019-20).

Sydney residents are more concerned than Brisbane residents, while Perth residents are less concerned.

This graph shows the percentage of Brisbane residents who are concerned about future change from 2019 to 2024.

This chart shows the percentage of Brisbane residents concerned about how the city will change in the future (rating 6-10 out of 10).

  • 2019-20: 68%
  • 2020-21: 60% (down from 2019-20)
  • 2021-22: 56% (down from 2020-21)
  • 2022-23: 62% (up from 2021-22)
  • 2023-24: 64%.
This graph shows the percentage of residents who are concerned about how their city will change in the future, in Brisbane, Perth, outer and neighbouring South-East Queensland, Melbourne and Sydney in 2023-24.

This chart shows the percentage of residents concerned about how their city will change in the future (rating 6-10 out of 10).

2023-24 results:

  • Sydney: 76% (72% in 2022-23, statistically higher than Brisbane)
  • Outer SEQ: 70% (same as 2022-23)
  • Brisbane: 64% (62% in 2022-23)
  • Melbourne: 63% (70% in 2022-23)
  • Neighbouring SEQ: 60% (70% in 2022-23)
  • Perth: 55% (57% in 2022-23, statistically lower than Brisbane).

Future outlook on quality of life

Population growth and planning remain the top concern for Brisbane’s future. The 2023-24 study shows that housing affordability and the cost of living are also major concerns with 36% of Brisbane residents identifying housing as a key issue.

Fewer residents now view the environment as a key issue for Brisbane’s future.

This graph shows what residents believe are the most important issues facing Brisbane over the next 10-20 years in 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24.

This chart shows the top 6 issues facing Brisbane residents over the next 10-20 years.

2023-24 results:

  • population growth and planning: 40% (37% in 2022-23, 45% in 2021-22)
  • environment: 12% (29% in 2022-23, 18% in 2021-22)
  • housing: 36% (28% in 2022-23, 19% in 2021-22)
  • economy: 22% (20% in 2022-23, 13% in 2021-22)
  • transport infrastructure: 16% (19% in 2022-23, 18% in 2021-22)
  • getting around Brisbane: 28% (19% in 2022-23, 27% in 2021-22).