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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Adelaide walkability score: 62/100, transit score 45/100, average commute 26 min. How walkable is Adelaide vs other South Australia cities?
Adelaide walkability score: 62/100, transit score 45/100, average commute 26 min. How walkable is Adelaide vs 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 | Walk Score | Transit Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide | 104 | $2,100 | $72,000 | 62 | 45 |
| 2 | Melbourne | 124 | $2,750 | $84,500 | 80 | 76 |
| 3 | Sydney | 132 | $3,200 | $90,000 | 76 | 72 |
| 4 | Newcastle | 110 | $2,250 | $76,000 | 62 | 38 |
| 5 | Brisbane | 112 | $2,550 | $80,000 | 62 | 55 |
| 6 | Hobart | 100 | $1,920 | $68,000 | 62 | 28 |
| 7 | Wollongong | 113 | $2,300 | $74,000 | 58 | 32 |
| 8 | Geelong | 107 | $2,050 | $72,000 | 58 | 28 |
| 9 | Perth | 118 | $2,650 | $87,000 | 58 | 48 |
| 10 | Cairns | 100 | $1,820 | $66,000 | 55 | 22 |
| 11 | Darwin | 116 | $2,350 | $80,000 | 52 | 22 |
| 12 | Gold Coast | 109 | $2,400 | $72,000 | 48 | 32 |
| 13 | Canberra | 120 | $2,750 | $101,000 | 48 | 38 |
One stat flips the usual narrative: 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%. This is an advantage that compounds over time.
Layer in taxes, though, and the math changes. looking at South Australia as a whole, the spread across all 13 cities is 16 points on the cost index. Canberra sits at the other end with index 120 and rent of $2,750/mo. That gap is hard to ignore.
On quality of life, Adelaide scores a composite score of 67/100 — reflecting its safety (70), healthcare (78), and walkability (62) metrics. Context matters here. 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.
Melbourne — cost index 124, rent $2,750/mo, income $84,500, QoL 62/100.
Sydney — cost index 132, rent $3,200/mo, income $90,000, QoL 62/100.
Newcastle — cost index 110, rent $2,250/mo, income $76,000, QoL 62/100.
Brisbane — cost index 112, rent $2,550/mo, income $80,000, QoL 62/100.
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. Melbourne: cost index 124, rent $2,750/mo, income $84,500/yr, QoL 62/100.
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.