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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Melbourne vs Darwin in 2026: cost index 124 vs 116, rent $2,750 vs $2,350, income $84,500 vs $80,000, QoL 62 vs 55.
Melbourne vs Darwin in 2026: cost index 124 vs 116, rent $2,750 vs $2,350, income $84,500 vs $80,000, QoL 62 vs 55.
Melbourne: cost index 124 (+11 vs national avg 113), rent $2,750/month.
Victoria region average cost index: 120. Melbourne is +4 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 62/100 — safety 64, healthcare 84, walkability 80.
Safety score: 64/100 (crime rate 48.2/1k). National average: 66/100.
The conventional wisdom says one thing. The data says another: Melbourne has a cost index of 124 — 11 points above the Australia national average of 113. Median income is $84,500 with rent at $2,750/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 39%. That's a strong position by any measure.
On quality of life, Melbourne scores a composite score of 62/100 — reflecting its safety (64), healthcare (84), and walkability (80) 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.
Melbourne has a cost index of 124 (national avg: 113), rent $2,750/mo, median income $84,500/yr, and a quality of life score of 62/100.
The Victoria region of average QoL score is 59/100. Melbourne 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.
Melbourne: cost index 124, rent $2,750/mo, income $84,500/yr, QoL 62/100. Darwin: cost index 116, rent $2,350/mo, income $80,000/yr, QoL 55/100.