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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Gold Coast quality of life score: 60/100 (Australia avg: 63/100). Combines safety (62), healthcare (72), walkability (48), air quality (AQI 22) and green space (22%). Compared to Queensland peers in 2026.
Gold Coast quality of life score: 60/100 (Australia avg: 63/100). Combines safety (62), healthcare (72), walkability (48), air quality (AQI 22) and green space (22%). Compared to Queensland peers in 2026.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income | QoL | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gold Coast | 109 | $2,400 | $72,000 | 60 | 62 |
| 2 | Cairns | 100 | $1,820 | $66,000 | 63 | 58 |
| 3 | Brisbane | 112 | $2,550 | $80,000 | 62 | 66 |
Gold Coast: cost index 109 (-4 vs national avg 113), rent $2,400/month.
Queensland region average cost index: 107. Gold Coast is +2 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 60/100 — safety 62, healthcare 72, walkability 48.
Safety score: 62/100 (crime rate 58.5/1k). National average: 66/100.
Here's what the headline numbers don't tell you: Gold Coast has a cost index of 109 — 4 points below the Australia national average of 113. Median income is $72,000 with rent at $2,400/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 40%. This is where the math gets real for actual people.
On quality of life, Gold Coast scores a composite score of 60/100 — reflecting its safety (62), healthcare (72), and walkability (48) metrics. And there's one more thing: affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Australia is a good example of that tension.
Gold Coast — cost index 109, rent $2,400/mo, income $72,000, QoL 60/100.
Cairns — cost index 100, rent $1,820/mo, income $66,000, QoL 63/100.
Brisbane — cost index 112, rent $2,550/mo, income $80,000, QoL 62/100.
Gold Coast has a composite quality of life score of 60/100, covering safety (62), healthcare (72), walkability (48), air quality, and green space. Australia average QoL: 63/100.
The Queensland region of average QoL score is 62/100. Gold Coast leads with 60/100, 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.
Gold Coast: cost index 109, rent $2,400/mo, income $72,000/yr, QoL 60/100. Cairns: cost index 100, rent $1,820/mo, income $66,000/yr, QoL 63/100.
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.