Last week, we revealed that Melbourne was crowned the world’s most inspirational city according to the Time Out Global City Index: a poll taken by 20,000 people across 18 cities. To find out which city is the best place to live, we asked questions ranging from how people felt about their local food and drink scene to how safe they felt in their city. And when the results were released, they confirmed what we as smug Melburnians already knew: that our city is bloody terrific. We came second overall to Chicago by a fraction of a point (and that was before Trump was elected); and beat our poor, locked-out northern cousins by miles, who came in at 16th place. Sydney called us smug fucks. To that we say, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
So here’s what you already know about the survey. 73 per cent of us – the highest number of any city – love living in Melbourne. In fact, 55 per cent strongly agree with the statement that “Melbourne is an energising, inspiring place to live.” We’re proud of our food and drink scene. We love exploring different neighbourhoods. We know our neighbours pretty well. But here’s the thing, Melbourne: we’ve mined the survey data, and there is a lot more to learn about our fair city. Here are some of the most surprising things we found from your answers:
1. We blow a lot of cash on going out, but we don’t go clubbing that much
Who do you reckon would have a big night more often: a Londoner or a Melburnian? Turns out we hit the town 5.5 times per month, compared to London’s 4.7 times. Step it up, mates. We spend an average of $101 when we go out – but interestingly, we’re probably dropping most of it on food and a few drinks in a bar. We’re the least likely to visit nightclubs in the world; only 25 per cent of us have hit the dance floor in the last month.
2. …unless you’re LGBT+ or hang out with queer people
Queers have more fun. People who identify as LGBT are two times more likely to have been clubbing in the past week – which is unsurprising when you have queer nights like Closet, Poof Doof and Mother, plus Gaytimes, Australia’s only queer music festival, consistently bringing the party.
3. The city still isn’t completely safe if you’re female
While 24-hour public transport and the reinvigoration of Melbourne’s small bars scene have contributed a lot to making Melbourne a safer, more inclusive place after dark, 25 per cent of women said that they can feel unsafe on a night out.
4. We have one of the shortest working weeks in the world
Think you work hard? You might have it better than you think. On average, Melburnians work a total of 38.9 hours per week, and 58 per cent of us are happy with our work-life balance. We’re on par with our chilled-out mates in Barcelona (38 hours); and way more relaxed than people in Dubai (47 hours). If you live on the northside, you’ve got even more time to drink your 3/4 soy latte; you’re working for just 36.8 hours per week.
5. We’d rather be rich than hot
In our survey, we asked what you would wish for above all else. Options included an extra day off work a week, a fitter body and a good pay rise. Getting paid more beat being hot by nearly 20 per cent. Who needs abs when you’ve got cash?
6. Baby boomers are sleep-deprived and cranky
It’s a simple matter of correlation here. People aged 45+ were far more likely to wish for more sleep than any other age group. Plus, they’re three times more likely to send food back in a restaurant. Skip the restaurant and go home to bed, old timers: you clearly need some rest.
7. West might not actually be best
While we’re big fans of the west, it turns out that it’s not full of happy campers. 22 per cent of west-siders said they wished they could live somewhere else, and overall, were the group least likely to say they love living in their neighbourhood. Need some pepping up, westies? We’re just going to leave this here.
8. Your parents are getting more sex than you
Those promiscuous youths are banging each other every chance they get, right? Wrong. In reality, 18-24-year-old Melburnians are getting less sex than every other age group; and the people getting laid the most are actually aged 30-34. Dirty 30 indeed.
9. Men and women have wildly different ideas on sex on the first date
Would you have sex with someone on the first date? If you’re a woman and your answer is ‘yes’, then only 35 per cent of females agree with you. On the other hand, 75 per cent of men said ‘yes’. We can’t say we’re surprised; although we didn’t expect the difference to be so pronounced.
10. We make (reasonably) faithful partners
While we’re no prudes – 63 of us have had one night stands – once we commit, we commit. The global average for having an affair is 27 per cent, but here, it’s just 20 per cent. Stay classy, Melbourne.