American expat Brooke Laven baffled people don’t like Sydney

An American expat has shared the one thing she’s noticed since moving to Australia that she doesn’t agree with.

Brooke Laven has noticed one habit most Aussies who don’t live in Sydney share – and it’s that they love to ‘rip’ on the harbour city.

The American revealed that people she’s met on her travels to Melbourne and Brisbane claim to ‘hate’ Sydney and will begin to list several reasons why.

But Sydneysiders have ‘nothing bad to say’ about other cities, in Brooke’s experience.

‘I picked up on this thing about Australians that if you don’t live in Sydney, you love ripping on Sydney,’ she said.

‘If somebody brings up Sydney they’ll say they hate the city and list all these different reasons. 

‘But if you ask someone who lives in Sydney about other cities in Australia, they’ll just say they’d love to visit, they have nothing bad to say.’

Brooke admitted to falling victim to the stereotype, revealing moving to Sydney wasn’t on her radar at first.

‘Before I moved to Australia, I initially wanted to go to Melbourne and Brisbane and thought Sydney was so basic. But now that I live here, I love it. I never want to leave.’

Many Sydneysiders were similarly infatuated with the city. 

‘Sydney is objectively the best city in Australia, but no one wants to admit it,’ a man wrote. ‘Yeah, it’s expensive, but there’s a reason.’

‘Spot on. We love visiting the other cities. We’re so lucky to live here,’ another said.

‘I think everyone secretly wishes they lived in Sydney, but it’s too expensive, so it’s easier to just rip into it,’ a woman said.

But others weren’t so convinced.

‘Sydney looks good but it doesn’t feel good. I don’t like the vibe,’ a Melbourne man said.

A second said, ‘Sydney is a tourist destination. It’s not a place to live. Objectively ruder, more crowded, longer commutes, more noisy.’

‘When I visited Sydney a few years ago, I walked all over the city and not one person took the time of day to return a smile,’ an old man said. ‘Give me Hobart any day.’