A new report has confirmed what many West Australians have been saying for years: the western capital is a great place to live – better, in fact, than the nation’s cultural hub of Melbourne.

Don’t believe us? Check out the Living in Australia 2025 report from research firm Informed Decisions.

The report, published on Thursday, corralled a team of geographers, demographers, economists, urban planners and social researchers to measure 16 attributes “that reflect community values and lived experiences”.

Canberra and Sydney came in first and second, respectively, with “liveability” scores of 64.2 and 64.1 out of a possible 100.

But it was the battle for third that piqued your blogger’s interest.

There, Perth and Adelaide tied on scores of 62.9 – well ahead of Melbourne, in fourth, with 60.6.

Out of the metro areas, regional WA was the most attractive place to live, with a score of 61 putting it at the top of the list.

The major values that respondents to the report ranked as important were “feeling safe”, “affordable decent housing”, “access to the natural environment” and “high quality health services”.

“In 2025, Perth has solidified its position as one of Australia’s most liveable cities,” the report read.

“The city’s most valued factor was feeling safe, with 67 per cent of residents identifying it as a key contributor to their quality of life.

“Other standout strengths include access to the natural environment and reliable, efficient public transport, and the community’s belief that Perth has a prosperous economy.

“While affordable decent housing was the second most valued factor (56 per cent), it also presents a clear opportunity for improvement.

“Additionally, Perth’s lifestyle offerings remain strong, with sports and recreation scoring 7.0 out of 10, reflecting the city’s active and outdoors-oriented culture.”

And if you surveyed the WAtoday newsroom, we’d say the coffee’s better too.