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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Can you afford Geelong on a A$150K salary? Rent would be 16% of gross monthly income — within the recommended 30% threshold. Budget breakdown vs Victoria peers below.
Can you afford Geelong on a A$150K salary? Rent would be 16% of gross monthly income — within the recommended 30% threshold. Budget breakdown vs Victoria peers below.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geelong | 107 | $2,050 | $72,000 |
| 2 | Cairns | 100 | $1,820 | $66,000 |
| 3 | Hobart | 100 | $1,920 | $68,000 |
| 4 | Adelaide | 104 | $2,100 | $72,000 |
| 5 | Newcastle | 110 | $2,250 | $76,000 |
| 6 | Wollongong | 113 | $2,300 | $74,000 |
| 7 | Darwin | 116 | $2,350 | $80,000 |
| 8 | Gold Coast | 109 | $2,400 | $72,000 |
| 9 | Brisbane | 112 | $2,550 | $80,000 |
| 10 | Perth | 118 | $2,650 | $87,000 |
| 11 | Melbourne | 124 | $2,750 | $84,500 |
| 12 | Canberra | 120 | $2,750 | $101,000 |
| 13 | Sydney | 132 | $3,200 | $90,000 |
Geelong: cost index 107 (-6 vs national avg 113), rent $2,050/month.
Victoria region average cost index: 113. Geelong is -6 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 62/100 — safety 68, healthcare 72, walkability 58.
Safety score: 68/100 (crime rate 45.5/1k). National average: 66/100.
On a A$150K salary, rent in Geelong is 16% of gross monthly income — within the 30% rule.
One stat flips the usual narrative: Geelong has a cost index of 107 — 6 points below the Australia national average of 113. Median income is $72,000 with rent at $2,050/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 34%. Financially, that's significant.
That said, looking at Victoria as a whole, the spread across all 13 cities is 25 points on the cost index. Sydney sits at the other end with index 132 and rent of $3,200/mo. This stands out as genuinely impressive.
On quality of life, Geelong scores a composite score of 62/100 — reflecting its safety (68), healthcare (72), and walkability (58) metrics. Pair that with the housing data, and the pattern sharpens. affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Australia is a good example of that tension.
Geelong — cost index 107, rent $2,050/mo, income $72,000, QoL 62/100.
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.
Adelaide — cost index 104, rent $2,100/mo, income $72,000, QoL 67/100.
Newcastle — cost index 110, rent $2,250/mo, income $76,000, QoL 62/100.
Geelong has a cost index of 107 (national avg: 113), rent $2,050/mo, median income $72,000/yr, and a quality of life score of 62/100.
In Geelong, rent would be about 16% of your gross monthly income on A$150K. Well within the recommended 30% threshold.
The Victoria region of average QoL score is 63/100. Geelong leads with 62/100, 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.
Geelong: cost index 107, rent $2,050/mo, income $72,000/yr, QoL 62/100. 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.