Sydney Sucks: Why I hate Sydney

Sydney is a festering hellhole of a place to live. With a statement like that, this article was always going to be subjective, but I've listed a few good things underneath. My advice: come see the place, but be careful about staying!

Things I Hate

• Housing. Prices in Sydney are some of the highest in the world. Not only because of the location but because population growth is outpacing development, thanks to our incompetent state government. Realistically, only two-income households (average) can consider buying a house within an hour of the CBD.
• Renting. Because of that scarcity, rents are ludicrous while rental vacancies are below 1% in some areas. You'll be competing against 20 - 50 people to rent that crumbling hovel of an apartment. Landlords here are diabolical: they'll dodge repairs while raising rents at the drop of a hat.
• Traffic congestion, retarded motorists, abominable roads and limited parking - a whole 'nother article.
• Appalling public transport. There are vast swathes of the metro area that are not adequately covered, thanks to our incompetent state government, so you'll have to drive. If you're lucky, you can rub up against sweaty commuters in your 10-year old train that's running late. (RailCorp is some kind of hybrid business orchestrated by our greedy state government and has been the subject of an ICAC corruption enquiry).
• Antisocial people. Nobody in Sydney wants to make your acquaintance. Sydneysiders are incompassionate, rude and snobby. They walk briskly while listening to their iPod and averting eye contact. Sydney motorists will overtake you while you're sliding down the road after falling off your bike (true story).
• The crowds: people everywhere, on the streets, on the platform, in traffic. It's a bloody ant colony.
• Obsession with wealth and glamour. On the streets, BMW X5s, Porsche Cayennes and Hummers. Versace suits, designer sunglasses and pointy shoes. In the clubs, tiny dresses and 6-inch heels. Go to the Races at Randwick and see what I mean. Nary a skerrick of substance.
• It's bloody expensive! Rents are ridiculous. It costs $15 just to get on the train out of the airport, or $15 to park for an hour. Local beers at city establishments will cost $5, spirits upwards of $10 and cocktails $20. Meter parking varies anywhere from $2.20 to $6.60 per hour, and you'll need it. Using taxis more than occasionally will bankrupt you.
• Everyone seems to be highly strung. Stressed about their exams, their work, their mortgage... who knows?! Some might like life "fast-paced", but I think life's not meant to be that way. Happy heart attack!
• There is very little intrinsic culture to Sydney, even more so than Australia in general. I have fond memories of Old Sydney Town, but it closed down in 2003. Culture seems to revolve around drinking, working and holidays? Oh yes and sport. Australia is a young country after all.
• Migrants. Sydney is a major entry point for migrants into Australia, and though I have nothing against migration per se (I am one), volumes of ill-mannered migrants inhabit the city. These are people who refuse to integrate and move only amongst their own insular groups. In some places, the typical bystander won't speak English! Conversing loudly in foreign tongues in public is not appealing.
• Urban sprawl. On average, it takes more than an hour in traffic to drive out of city, if that matters to you. Unless you pay coastal rents, you'll also spend time in the car getting to the beach.

Mitigating Factors

• The geography of the harbour, the beaches, the bridges, it's all very beautiful.
• The weather is relatively mild for a temperate locale, with warm, sunny summers.
• The handful of tourist traps: the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, Bondi beach, Manly beach and ferry, Taronga Zoo, The Blue Mountains (getting B-grade now...)
• The city is quite multicultural, so you can dine at many foreign eateries and partake in culturally diverse activites such as salsa.
• Jobs are plentiful and pay better than other areas, but you'll need it!