If you’re looking for a home in the heart of Western Sydney, look no further than Parramatta. Diversity, delicious food and drink, a well-connected transport system – there are so many awesome reasons to live in Parramatta, but we reckon we can convince you with just these 10.
Parramatta accommodation is more affordable
Those living in Parramatta will be glad to hear that housing in the region is far more affordable than in the city. As of March 2023, the median rent price for a one-bedroom unit in Parramatta is $450 per week – much lower than the median rent price of $650 per week in the Sydney CBD.
Learn more about the cost of living in Western Sydney here or by using our cost of living calculator.
Parramatta is linguistically diverse
The 2021 Census of Population and Housing found that Parramatta is one of the most diverse areas in NSW. Roughly 56 per cent of Parramatta residents speak a language other than English at home, compared to 37 per cent of Greater Sydney residents. The most commonly spoken languages in Parramatta include Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Hindi and Arabic.
A foodie’s dream
Love food? Well, in Parramatta, you can find an entire street dedicated to it!
Church Street in Parramatta is known to the locals as ‘Eat Street’ – and for good reason. When you get to Eat Street Parramatta, you’ll find over 35 restaurants, cafés, bars and bistros, offering a range of cuisines including Korean, Japanese, South American, Middle Eastern, South East Asian and more.
Of course, Eat Street isn’t the only place in the region to enjoy a delicious bite to eat. There are plenty of other must-visit Parramatta cafes and restaurants for the foodies among us, like LILYMU, Ruse Bar and Brasserie, and Willo Parramatta.
Parramatta is highly liveable
The verdict is in – according to The Sydney Morning Herald, Parramatta is one of the most liveable suburbs in Greater Sydney.
With an overall suburb score of 73.6 (out of a possible 90), Parramatta landed in the top 10 most liveable Sydney suburbs. It scored particularly well in the Health care category (an impressive 10/10) and Hospitality category (a 9.9/10)!
Read more: 10 Day Trips and Fun Things to do in Western Sydney
Vibrant nightlife
If you’re a night owl, you’ll love Parramatta, which houses an amazing selection of bars, pubs and clubs. Some popular pubs include General Bourke, The Commercial Hotel or The Woolpack Hotel.
If you’re looking for something a little more glamorous, Nick and Nora’s is an elegant prohibition-style bar where you can sip cocktails and champagne. Or, head back to Eat Street to Alex & Co, Parramatta’s cosmopolitan bar and restaurant.
Watch live music at The Winston every Friday and Saturday or head to Club Parramatta for DJ sets from 8pm until late. You can also catch the big names in local and international touring at Qudos Bank Arena.
A sports fan’s dream
If you love getting behind a local sporting team, Parramatta is home to National Rugby League (NRL) team the Parramatta Eels. You can soak up the atmosphere in person when you attend an Eels match at the CommBank Stadium in Parramatta. If NRL isn’t your thing, CommBank Stadium also hosts football/soccer and rugby matches.
Plus, Accor Stadium is just a 40-minute train ride from Parramatta and will host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 starting in July!
Parramatta is also an ideal place to get involved in sports. Join one of the many local clubs spanning from cricket to croquet, and everything in between.
Never a dull moment
With so many recreational activities and events on offer, you’ll never find yourself wondering what to do in Parramatta.
Whether it’s swimming, cycling, archery, live music performances or simply enjoying the region’s many parks and reserves, there’s something for everyone when it comes to recreation in Parramatta.
Not to mention, Parramatta has recently welcomed an exciting new community, cultural and civic hub, PHIVE. A place to study, explore and be inspired, PHIVE features a variety of creative spaces, a café, maker spaces, sound recording studios and much more.
Read more: What’s On in Western Sydney: An Events Calendarfor International Students
Get in (or on) the water!
If you love swimming, boating and simply relaxing by a body of water, you’ll be glad to know that the Lake Parramatta Reserve is located only two kilometres from Parramatta CBD!
Lake Parramatta is open for swimming during summer, with designated areas patrolled by lifeguards. Here you can also hire kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, stand-up paddle boards, and row boats.
If you’d prefer to stay dry, explore the bushwalking tracks and nearby picnic/BBQ spots. There’s even a café with a charming, shaded terrace where you can relax.
Parramatta has a great transport network
It’s simple to get around when you live in Parramatta, with easily accessible buses, trains and ferries.
Trains from Parramatta Station and buses from the nearby interchange quickly connect commuters with other Sydney suburbs, while the river ferry (known as the Parramatta RiverCat) connects Parramatta Wharf to Circular Quay – not to mention a great cycling network, highly walkable streets and a free shuttle bus operating on a continuous loop.
Parramatta is eco-conscious
If sustainability matters to you, you’ll feel right at home in Parramatta. The City of Parramatta is working to save energy and reduce carbon emissions, increase diversion from landfill and decrease litter, and make water use more efficient.
There are 10,000 trees set to be planted in Parramatta in the next two years, building on Parramatta’s existing parks and greenways, bushland and waterways. Thanks to the city’s extensive Urban Forest plan, which is already in the works, canopy cover in Parramatta is set to increase to 40 per cent by 2050.
Image courtesy of Destination NSW.
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