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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Newcastle vs Darwin in 2026: cost index 110 vs 116, rent $2,250 vs $2,350, income $76,000 vs $80,000, QoL 62 vs 55.
Newcastle vs Darwin in 2026: cost index 110 vs 116, rent $2,250 vs $2,350, income $76,000 vs $80,000, QoL 62 vs 55.
Newcastle: cost index 110 (-3 vs national avg 113), rent $2,250/month.
New South Wales region average cost index: 113. Newcastle is -3 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 62/100 — safety 65, healthcare 74, walkability 62.
Safety score: 65/100 (crime rate 52.3/1k). National average: 66/100.
The numbers tell a story most people wouldn't expect. Newcastle has a cost index of 110 — 3 points below the Australia national average of 113. Median income is $76,000 with rent at $2,250/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 36%. That's a strong position by any measure.
On quality of life, Newcastle scores a composite score of 62/100 — reflecting its safety (65), healthcare (74), and walkability (62) 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.
Newcastle has a cost index of 110 (national avg: 113), rent $2,250/mo, median income $76,000/yr, and a quality of life score of 62/100.
The New South Wales region of average QoL score is 59/100. Newcastle 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.
Newcastle: cost index 110, rent $2,250/mo, income $76,000/yr, QoL 62/100. Darwin: cost index 116, rent $2,350/mo, income $80,000/yr, QoL 55/100.