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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Best time to move to Canberra: median rent $2,750/mo, avg summer 28°C / winter 5°C. Seasonal rent trends and cost context for 2026.
Best time to move to Canberra: median rent $2,750/mo, avg summer 28°C / winter 5°C. Seasonal rent trends and cost context for 2026.
Canberra: cost index 120 (+7 vs national avg 113), rent $2,750/month.
Australian Capital Territory region average cost index: 113. Canberra is +7 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 67/100 — safety 78, healthcare 85, walkability 48.
Safety score: 78/100 (crime rate 28.5/1k). National average: 66/100.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canberra | 120 | $2,750 | $101,000 |
| 2 | Cairns | 100 | $1,820 | $66,000 |
| 3 | Hobart | 100 | $1,920 | $68,000 |
| 4 | Geelong | 107 | $2,050 | $72,000 |
| 5 | Adelaide | 104 | $2,100 | $72,000 |
| 6 | Newcastle | 110 | $2,250 | $76,000 |
| 7 | Wollongong | 113 | $2,300 | $74,000 |
| 8 | Darwin | 116 | $2,350 | $80,000 |
| 9 | Gold Coast | 109 | $2,400 | $72,000 |
| 10 | Brisbane | 112 | $2,550 | $80,000 |
| 11 | Perth | 118 | $2,650 | $87,000 |
| 12 | Melbourne | 124 | $2,750 | $84,500 |
| 13 | Sydney | 132 | $3,200 | $90,000 |
The conventional wisdom says one thing. The data says another: Canberra has a cost index of 120 — 7 points above the Australia national average of 113. Median income is $101,000 with rent at $2,750/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 33%. That's a strong position by any measure.
That said, looking at Australian Capital Territory as a whole, the spread across all 13 cities is 12 points on the cost index. Sydney sits at the other end with index 132 and rent of $3,200/mo. That's a strong position by any measure.
On quality of life, Canberra scores a composite score of 67/100 — reflecting its safety (78), healthcare (85), and walkability (48) metrics. And here's the trade-off: affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Australia is a good example of that tension.
Canberra — cost index 120, rent $2,750/mo, income $101,000, QoL 67/100.
Cairns — cost index 100, rent $1,820/mo, income $66,000, QoL 63/100.
Hobart — cost index 100, rent $1,920/mo, income $68,000, QoL 68/100.
Geelong — cost index 107, rent $2,050/mo, income $72,000, QoL 62/100.
Adelaide — cost index 104, rent $2,100/mo, income $72,000, QoL 67/100.
Canberra has a cost index of 120 (national avg: 113), rent $2,750/mo, median income $101,000/yr, and a quality of life score of 67/100.
The Australian Capital Territory region of average QoL score is 63/100. Canberra 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.
Canberra: cost index 120, rent $2,750/mo, income $101,000/yr, QoL 67/100. Cairns: cost index 100, rent $1,820/mo, income $66,000/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.