The offer seemed too good to be true: a two-storey, six-bedroom Sydney home with a pool that the owner was willing to swap with anyone in Melbourne. He would even, he said, "trade for less".

Hidden in the bottom of the letters section of The Age on Wednesday, the offer came as part of a message telling Melburnians they didn't know how lucky they had it.

Grant Taylor was only half-joking about being willing to trade his house in Greystanes, 29 kilometres from Sydney's CBD.

After spending the Anzac Day long weekend in Melbourne – his first visit in 30 years – the Sydneysider was dumbfounded by the city's vibrant nightlife and free public transport.