Brisbane vs Melbourne

Brisbane leads Melbourne by 8 points on the CIRA Index, 78 to 70. Brisbane grades better on 9 measures, Melbourne on 5; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Brisbane 78, Melbourne 70
• OECD: Brisbane 75, Melbourne 69
• UN Tourism: Brisbane 83, Melbourne 71
• UNDRR: Brisbane 74, Melbourne 69

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Brisbane 75, Melbourne 70
• Economy and jobs: Brisbane 94, Melbourne 100
• Climate and hazards: Brisbane 50, Melbourne 60
• Water and environment: Brisbane 88, Melbourne 63
• Community and housing: Brisbane 69, Melbourne 25
• Access and continuity: Brisbane 83, Melbourne 88

Where Brisbane is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 49.7 % of nights by residents of the same country (Brisbane Economic Development Agency / Tourism Research Australia, Brisbane's visitor economy surges to $17 billion, 2025). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Largest foreign market: 19.1 % of international arrivals or nights (Brisbane Economic Development Agency / Tourism Research Australia, Brisbane shines as Queensland's top visitor destination, YE March 2025). Between 15 and 20: grade 3/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 81 % average annual occupancy (CoStar / STR, Brisbane hotels posted record-high room rates in July, July 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Extreme heat days: 2.6 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Green space: 44 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Greens Councillor for Paddington Ward / Brisbane City Council data citation, 2024). At or above 40: grade 4/4.
• Tourism intensity: 39.5 visitor nights per resident per year (Brisbane Economic Development Agency & Australian Bureau of Statistics (via economy.id), 2025). Between 20 and 40: grade 1/4.
• Short-let density: 0.5 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (metro figure) (AirROI and Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021 Census), August 2025 – July 2026). At or below 0.5: grade 4/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (Brisbane City Council, Local Disaster Management Plan & Brisbane Severe Weather Alert Service, 2024). Grade 4/4.

Where Melbourne is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 30.4 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). Between 30 and 35: grade 3/4.
• Economic diversity: 81.3 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (City of Melbourne / economy.id (NIEIR National Accounts regional econometric model), 2024/25). At or above 80: grade 4/4.
• Tropical nights: 2.8 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.
• Rent growth: 5 % change in rents over the last 12 months (metro figure) (OpenAgent / Cotality (CoreLogic), year to August 2026). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source partly ring-fenced for residents, infrastructure or sustainability (State Revenue Office Victoria, Short Stay Levy Act 2024, 2025). Grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

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

Brisbane in full · Melbourne in full

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