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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Canberra quality of life score: 67/100 (Australia avg: 63/100). Combines safety (78), healthcare (85), walkability (48), air quality (AQI 20) and green space (40%). Compared to Australian Capital Territory peers in 2026.
Canberra quality of life score: 67/100 (Australia avg: 63/100). Combines safety (78), healthcare (85), walkability (48), air quality (AQI 20) and green space (40%). Compared to Australian Capital Territory peers in 2026.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income | QoL | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canberra | 120 | $2,750 | $101,000 | 67 | 78 |
| 2 | Hobart | 100 | $1,920 | $68,000 | 68 | 75 |
| 3 | Adelaide | 104 | $2,100 | $72,000 | 67 | 70 |
| 4 | Wollongong | 113 | $2,300 | $74,000 | 63 | 72 |
| 5 | Cairns | 100 | $1,820 | $66,000 | 63 | 58 |
| 6 | Perth | 118 | $2,650 | $87,000 | 63 | 68 |
| 7 | Sydney | 132 | $3,200 | $90,000 | 62 | 68 |
| 8 | Newcastle | 110 | $2,250 | $76,000 | 62 | 65 |
| 9 | Melbourne | 124 | $2,750 | $84,500 | 62 | 64 |
| 10 | Geelong | 107 | $2,050 | $72,000 | 62 | 68 |
| 11 | Brisbane | 112 | $2,550 | $80,000 | 62 | 66 |
| 12 | Gold Coast | 109 | $2,400 | $72,000 | 60 | 62 |
| 13 | Darwin | 116 | $2,350 | $80,000 | 55 | 48 |
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.
Here's the finding that keeps coming up in different analyses: 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%. Financially, that's significant.
And here's the trade-off: looking at Australian Capital Territory as a whole, the spread across all 13 cities is 4 points on the cost index. Darwin sits at the other end with index 116 and rent of $2,350/mo. That's not a marginal difference — it reshapes your monthly budget.
On quality of life, Canberra scores a composite score of 67/100 — reflecting its safety (78), healthcare (85), and walkability (48) metrics. Here's where it gets complicated: 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.
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.
Wollongong — cost index 113, rent $2,300/mo, income $74,000, QoL 63/100.
Cairns — cost index 100, rent $1,820/mo, income $66,000, QoL 63/100.
Canberra has a composite quality of life score of 67/100, covering safety (78), healthcare (85), walkability (48), air quality, and green space. Australia average QoL: 63/100.
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. Hobart: cost index 100, rent $1,920/mo, income $68,000/yr, QoL 68/100.
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.