Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Can you afford Sydney on a A$150K salary? Rent would be 26% of gross monthly income — within the recommended 30% threshold. Budget breakdown vs New South Wales peers below.
Can you afford Sydney on a A$150K salary? Rent would be 26% of gross monthly income — within the recommended 30% threshold. Budget breakdown vs New South Wales peers below.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sydney | 132 | $3,200 | $90,000 |
| 2 | Newcastle | 110 | $2,250 | $76,000 |
| 3 | Wollongong | 113 | $2,300 | $74,000 |
Sydney: cost index 132 (+19 vs national avg 113), rent $3,200/month.
New South Wales region average cost index: 118. Sydney is +14 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 62/100 — safety 68, healthcare 85, walkability 76.
Safety score: 68/100 (crime rate 42.5/1k). National average: 66/100.
On a A$150K salary, rent in Sydney is 26% of gross monthly income — within the 30% rule.
Here's the finding that keeps coming up in different analyses: Sydney has a cost index of 132 — 19 points above the Australia national average of 113. Median income is $90,000 with rent at $3,200/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 43%. This is where the math gets real for actual people.
On quality of life, Sydney scores a composite score of 62/100 — reflecting its safety (68), healthcare (85), and walkability (76) metrics. That said, affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Australia is a good example of that tension.
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.
Wollongong — cost index 113, rent $2,300/mo, income $74,000, QoL 63/100.
Sydney has a cost index of 132 (national avg: 113), rent $3,200/mo, median income $90,000/yr, and a quality of life score of 62/100.
In Sydney, rent would be about 26% of your gross monthly income on A$150K. Well within the recommended 30% threshold.
The New South Wales region of average QoL score is 62/100. Sydney 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.
Sydney: cost index 132, rent $3,200/mo, income $90,000/yr, QoL 62/100. Newcastle: cost index 110, rent $2,250/mo, income $76,000/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.