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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Darwin air quality: AQI 18 — excellent. Green space 30%. Compared to Northern Territory cities in 2026.
Darwin air quality: AQI 18 — excellent. Green space 30%. Compared to Northern Territory cities in 2026.
Darwin: cost index 116 (+3 vs national avg 113), rent $2,350/month.
Northern Territory region average cost index: 113. Darwin is +3 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 55/100 — safety 48, healthcare 58, walkability 52.
Safety score: 48/100 (crime rate 85.4/1k). National average: 66/100.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darwin | 116 | $2,350 | $80,000 |
| 2 | Hobart | 100 | $1,920 | $68,000 |
| 3 | Cairns | 100 | $1,820 | $66,000 |
| 4 | Geelong | 107 | $2,050 | $72,000 |
| 5 | Perth | 118 | $2,650 | $87,000 |
| 6 | Canberra | 120 | $2,750 | $101,000 |
| 7 | Wollongong | 113 | $2,300 | $74,000 |
| 8 | Gold Coast | 109 | $2,400 | $72,000 |
| 9 | Adelaide | 104 | $2,100 | $72,000 |
| 10 | Newcastle | 110 | $2,250 | $76,000 |
| 11 | Brisbane | 112 | $2,550 | $80,000 |
| 12 | Sydney | 132 | $3,200 | $90,000 |
| 13 | Melbourne | 124 | $2,750 | $84,500 |
Let's cut to what actually matters here. Darwin has a cost index of 116 — 3 points above the Australia national average of 113. Median income is $80,000 with rent at $2,350/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 35%. That's a strong position by any measure.
Context matters here. looking at Northern Territory as a whole, the spread across all 13 cities is 8 points on the cost index. Melbourne sits at the other end with index 124 and rent of $2,750/mo. This stands out as genuinely impressive.
On quality of life, Darwin scores a composite score of 55/100 — reflecting its safety (48), healthcare (58), and walkability (52) metrics. That said, affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Australia is a good example of that tension.
Darwin — cost index 116, rent $2,350/mo, income $80,000, QoL 55/100.
Hobart — cost index 100, rent $1,920/mo, income $68,000, QoL 68/100.
Cairns — cost index 100, rent $1,820/mo, income $66,000, QoL 63/100.
Geelong — cost index 107, rent $2,050/mo, income $72,000, QoL 62/100.
Perth — cost index 118, rent $2,650/mo, income $87,000, QoL 63/100.
Darwin has a cost index of 116 (national avg: 113), rent $2,350/mo, median income $80,000/yr, and a quality of life score of 55/100.
The Northern Territory region of average QoL score is 63/100. Darwin leads with 55/100, 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.
Darwin: cost index 116, rent $2,350/mo, income $80,000/yr, QoL 55/100. Hobart: cost index 100, rent $1,920/mo, income $68,000/yr, QoL 68/100.
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.