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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Perth vs Cairns in 2026: cost index 118 vs 100, rent $2,650 vs $1,820, income $87,000 vs $66,000, QoL 63 vs 63.
Perth vs Cairns in 2026: cost index 118 vs 100, rent $2,650 vs $1,820, income $87,000 vs $66,000, QoL 63 vs 63.
Perth: cost index 118 (+5 vs national avg 113), rent $2,650/month.
Western Australia region average cost index: 109. Perth is +9 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 63/100 — safety 68, healthcare 80, walkability 58.
Safety score: 68/100 (crime rate 48.5/1k). National average: 66/100.
If you remember nothing else from this page, remember this: Perth has a cost index of 118 — 5 points above the Australia national average of 113. Median income is $87,000 with rent at $2,650/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 37%. Financially, that's significant.
On quality of life, Perth scores a composite score of 63/100 — reflecting its safety (68), healthcare (80), and walkability (58) metrics. Zooming out, affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Australia is a good example of that tension.
Perth has a cost index of 118 (national avg: 113), rent $2,650/mo, median income $87,000/yr, and a quality of life score of 63/100.
The Western Australia region of average QoL score is 63/100. Perth leads with 63/100, 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.
Perth: cost index 118, rent $2,650/mo, income $87,000/yr, QoL 63/100. Cairns: cost index 100, rent $1,820/mo, income $66,000/yr, QoL 63/100.