Auckland vs Sydney

Sydney leads Auckland by 3 points on the CIRA Index, 75 to 72. Auckland grades better on 9 measures, Sydney on 10; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Auckland 72, Sydney 75
• OECD: Auckland 69, Sydney 75
• UN Tourism: Auckland 71, Sydney 73
• UNDRR: Auckland 62, Sydney 71

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Auckland 54, Sydney 85
• Economy and jobs: Auckland 75, Sydney 94
• Climate and hazards: Auckland 70, Sydney 90
• Water and environment: Auckland 69, Sydney 75
• Community and housing: Auckland 94, Sydney 25
• Access and continuity: Auckland 75, Sydney 71

Where Auckland is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 60.8 % of nights by residents of the same country (region figure) (Auckland Council / Auckland Economic Monitor (Accommodation Data Programme / MBIE), YE March 2025). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Tropical nights: 5.4 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4.
• Country disaster risk: 1.6 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). At or below 2: grade 4/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 141 kg per resident per year (region figure) (Auckland Council, Waste Minimisation and Management Plan 2024, 2024). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
• Tourism intensity: 4.1 visitor nights per resident per year (region figure) (Auckland Council / Auckland Economic Monitor & Stats NZ, YE March 2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Rent growth: -1 % change in rents over the last 12 months (region figure) (Infometrics / MBIE Tenancy Bond Database, Regional Economic Profile, Year to March 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
• Short-let density: 0.9 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (region figure) (AirDNA & Stats NZ 2023 Census, August 2026). Between 0.5 and 1: grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A written destination crisis plan (Regional Tourism New Zealand & Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, 2024). Grade 2/4.

Where Sydney is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 13.9 % of international arrivals or nights (region figure) (NSW Government / Destination NSW, Tourism Research Australia (IVS), 2025-2026). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Average length of stay: 13.7 nights per visitor (NSW Government / Tourism Research Australia via 150 Day Street Planning Report, 2023/24). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 76.9 % average annual occupancy (STR / Savills Australian Hotel Market Outlook Q3 2024, Jan–Sep 2024). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 5.7 % of employment in accommodation and food services (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
• Unemployment rate: 4.1 % of the labour force (metro figure) (Jobs and Skills Australia / Australian Bureau of Statistics via economy.id, March quarter 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Income per head: 71,934 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4.
• Flood hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 100 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (metro figure) (Sydney Water, Wastewater systems / Annual Environmental Performance Report, 2024–25). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Green space: 21.9 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (metro figure) (NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Urban heat and canopy data, 2024–25). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• New Zealand: #25 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Australia: #4 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Auckland in full · Sydney in full

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