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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Cost of living in Brisbane, Australia (2026): cost index 112 (-1 vs national avg), rent $2,550/mo, median income $80,000/yr. Rent takes 38% of gross income. Full breakdown vs Queensland peers below.
Cost of living in Brisbane, Australia (2026): cost index 112 (-1 vs national avg), rent $2,550/mo, median income $80,000/yr. Rent takes 38% of gross income. Full breakdown vs Queensland peers below.
Brisbane: cost index 112 (-1 vs national avg 113), rent $2,550/month.
Queensland region average cost index: 107. Brisbane is +5 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 62/100 — safety 66, healthcare 78, walkability 62.
Safety score: 66/100 (crime rate 50.8/1k). National average: 66/100.
Here's where the conversation shifts from 'affordable' to 'strategic': Brisbane has a cost index of 112 — 1 points below the Australia national average of 113. Median income is $80,000 with rent at $2,550/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 38%. This combination is rare — and valuable.
On quality of life, Brisbane scores a composite score of 62/100 — reflecting its safety (66), healthcare (78), and walkability (62) 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.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brisbane | 112 | $2,550 | $80,000 |
| 2 | Cairns | 100 | $1,820 | $66,000 |
| 3 | Gold Coast | 109 | $2,400 | $72,000 |
Brisbane — cost index 112, rent $2,550/mo, income $80,000, QoL 62/100.
Cairns — cost index 100, rent $1,820/mo, income $66,000, QoL 63/100.
Gold Coast — cost index 109, rent $2,400/mo, income $72,000, QoL 60/100.
Brisbane has a cost index of 112 (national avg: 113). Median rent is $2,550/month, median income $80,000/year, giving a rent-to-income ratio of 38%.
The Queensland region of average QoL score is 62/100. Brisbane 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.
Brisbane: cost index 112, rent $2,550/mo, income $80,000/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.