diff --git a/sanic/request/types.py b/sanic/request/types.py
index 98f6e908..53d1a402 100644
--- a/sanic/request/types.py
+++ b/sanic/request/types.py
@@ -838,19 +838,31 @@ class Request(Generic[sanic_type, ctx_type]):
     @property
     def remote_addr(self) -> str:
         """
-        Client IP address, if available.
-        1. proxied remote address `self.forwarded['for']`
-        2. local remote address `self.ip`
+        Client IP address, if available from proxy.
 
         :return: IPv4, bracketed IPv6, UNIX socket name or arbitrary string
         :rtype: str
         """
         if not hasattr(self, "_remote_addr"):
-            self._remote_addr = str(
-                self.forwarded.get("for", "")
-            )  # or self.ip
+            self._remote_addr = str(self.forwarded.get("for", ""))
         return self._remote_addr
 
+    @property
+    def client_ip(self) -> str:
+        """
+        Client IP address.
+        1. proxied remote address `self.forwarded['for']`
+        2. local peer address `self.ip`
+
+        New in Sanic 23.6. Prefer this over `remote_addr` for determining the
+        client address regardless of whether the service runs behind a proxy
+        or not (proxy deployment needs separate configuration).
+
+        :return: IPv4, bracketed IPv6, UNIX socket name or arbitrary string
+        :rtype: str
+        """
+        return self.remote_addr or self.ip
+
     @property
     def scheme(self) -> str:
         """
diff --git a/tests/test_requests.py b/tests/test_requests.py
index 4a995d4c..6719025b 100644
--- a/tests/test_requests.py
+++ b/tests/test_requests.py
@@ -513,6 +513,7 @@ def test_standard_forwarded(app):
     request, response = app.test_client.get("/", headers=headers)
     assert response.json == {"for": "127.0.0.2", "proto": "ws"}
     assert request.remote_addr == "127.0.0.2"
+    assert request.client_ip == "127.0.0.2"
     assert request.scheme == "ws"
     assert request.server_name == "local.site"
     assert request.server_port == 80
@@ -737,6 +738,7 @@ def test_remote_addr_with_two_proxies(app):
     headers = {"X-Forwarded-For": "127.0.1.1"}
     request, response = app.test_client.get("/", headers=headers)
     assert request.remote_addr == ""
+    assert request.client_ip == "127.0.0.1"
     assert response.body == b""
 
     headers = {"X-Forwarded-For": "127.0.0.1, 127.0.1.2"}