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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Adelaide climate: 2681 sunshine hours/year, avg summer 29°C / winter 11°C. Compared to other South Australia cities.
Adelaide climate: 2681 sunshine hours/year, avg summer 29°C / winter 11°C. Compared to other South Australia cities.
Adelaide: cost index 104 (-9 vs national avg 113), rent $2,100/month.
South Australia region average cost index: 113. Adelaide is -9 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 67/100 — safety 70, healthcare 78, walkability 62.
Safety score: 70/100 (crime rate 42.8/1k). National average: 66/100.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income | Sunshine hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide | 104 | $2,100 | $72,000 | 2681 |
| 2 | Perth | 118 | $2,650 | $87,000 | 3212 |
| 3 | Darwin | 116 | $2,350 | $80,000 | 3100 |
| 4 | Brisbane | 112 | $2,550 | $80,000 | 2884 |
| 5 | Gold Coast | 109 | $2,400 | $72,000 | 2884 |
| 6 | Cairns | 100 | $1,820 | $66,000 | 2800 |
| 7 | Canberra | 120 | $2,750 | $101,000 | 2738 |
| 8 | Sydney | 132 | $3,200 | $90,000 | 2636 |
| 9 | Newcastle | 110 | $2,250 | $76,000 | 2573 |
| 10 | Wollongong | 113 | $2,300 | $74,000 | 2475 |
| 11 | Melbourne | 124 | $2,750 | $84,500 | 2363 |
| 12 | Hobart | 100 | $1,920 | $68,000 | 2264 |
| 13 | Geelong | 107 | $2,050 | $72,000 | 2212 |
Here's the finding that keeps coming up in different analyses: Adelaide has a cost index of 104 — 9 points below the Australia national average of 113. Median income is $72,000 with rent at $2,100/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 35%. Financially, that's significant.
Here's where it gets complicated: looking at South Australia as a whole, the spread across all 13 cities is 3 points on the cost index. Geelong sits at the other end with index 107 and rent of $2,050/mo. That's a difference you notice every single month.
On quality of life, Adelaide scores a composite score of 67/100 — reflecting its safety (70), healthcare (78), and walkability (62) metrics. Layer in taxes, though, and the math changes. affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Australia is a good example of that tension.
Adelaide — cost index 104, rent $2,100/mo, income $72,000, QoL 67/100.
Perth — cost index 118, rent $2,650/mo, income $87,000, QoL 63/100.
Darwin — cost index 116, rent $2,350/mo, income $80,000, QoL 55/100.
Brisbane — cost index 112, rent $2,550/mo, income $80,000, QoL 62/100.
Gold Coast — cost index 109, rent $2,400/mo, income $72,000, QoL 60/100.
Adelaide has a cost index of 104 (national avg: 113), rent $2,100/mo, median income $72,000/yr, and a quality of life score of 67/100.
The South Australia region of average QoL score is 63/100. Adelaide leads with 67/100, reflecting safety, healthcare access, walkability, and green space.
Our index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Sub-categories cover housing, food, transport, utilities, and healthcare. Data sources include ABS, CoreLogic, ATO.
Adelaide: cost index 104, rent $2,100/mo, income $72,000/yr, QoL 67/100. Perth: cost index 118, rent $2,650/mo, income $87,000/yr, QoL 63/100.
This analysis uses data from ABS, CoreLogic, ATO to rank cities in Australia. The cost of living index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Quality of life scores combine safety, healthcare, walkability, air quality, green space, and transit metrics. Salary ranges use national occupation data adjusted for local cost differences. Data is updated regularly to reflect current market conditions.