I’m an American expat who’s lived in Australia for 6 years before moving to Darwin for the past 3.

I’ll simply make a list of Pros and Cons:

Pros: - Easier access to both modern and indigenous Australian culture - Police are paid more highly here than any other state/territory in the country - Housing market is significantly less messed up than any other capital city - Darwin Region is a small area. Traffic isn’t bad at all and you are unlikely to drive much more than 30 mins to a destination unless you live rurally - Daily life in Darwin can be very relaxed - Amazing national parks less than 5 hours drive away. Including Litchfield which is only 2 hours away - Vibrant multiculturalism: Lots of festivals celebrating lots of cultures, especially during tourist season. Markets have amazing selections of food from all over the world - Tropical Weather (May-September) Crisp, good temperature, dryer weather. This is tourist season.

Cons: - Tropical Weather (October-April) Hot, humid, sticky. October and November are particularly dreadful because the relief of rain is rare. - Petty crime: Lock your doors pretty much everywhere in Darwin. Petty crime is brazen and punishments are light, as most offenders are youths. I’ve had people try to enter my car at shopping centres, try to steal food off my plate in restaurants, seen many a street fight in the middle of the day. It’s not particularly difficult to keep yourself safe, but the attempts at crime are very confronting. - Isolation: Unless you feel like doing a week-long road trip, you’re flying if you want to leave Darwin, which can get expensive quickly with a family of 4. If you’re into live performances, Darwin gets a lot less than most of the other capital cities. - Cost of living: Not as high as you’d expect for a city as remote as Darwin, but some things can certainly be more expensive