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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Newcastle vs Wollongong in 2026: cost index 110 vs 113, rent $2,250 vs $2,300, income $76,000 vs $74,000, QoL 62 vs 63.
Newcastle vs Wollongong in 2026: cost index 110 vs 113, rent $2,250 vs $2,300, income $76,000 vs $74,000, QoL 62 vs 63.
Newcastle: cost index 110 (-3 vs national avg 113), rent $2,250/month.
New South Wales region average cost index: 112. Newcastle is -2 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.
Here's the finding that keeps coming up in different analyses: 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. Layer in taxes, though, and the math changes. 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 63/100. 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. Wollongong: cost index 113, rent $2,300/mo, income $74,000/yr, QoL 63/100.