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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Hobart air quality: AQI 14 — excellent. Green space 45%. Compared to Tasmania cities in 2026.
Hobart air quality: AQI 14 — excellent. Green space 45%. Compared to Tasmania cities in 2026.
Hobart: cost index 100 (-13 vs national avg 113), rent $1,920/month.
Tasmania region average cost index: 113. Hobart is -13 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 68/100 — safety 75, healthcare 72, walkability 62.
Safety score: 75/100 (crime rate 35.2/1k). National average: 66/100.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hobart | 100 | $1,920 | $68,000 |
| 2 | Cairns | 100 | $1,820 | $66,000 |
| 3 | Darwin | 116 | $2,350 | $80,000 |
| 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 |
The conventional wisdom says one thing. The data says another: Hobart has a cost index of 100 — 13 points below the Australia national average of 113. Median income is $68,000 with rent at $1,920/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 34%. This combination is rare — and valuable.
Layer in taxes, though, and the math changes. looking at Tasmania as a whole, the spread across all 13 cities is 24 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, Hobart scores a composite score of 68/100 — reflecting its safety (75), healthcare (72), and walkability (62) metrics. But here's the flip side: affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Australia is a good example of that tension.
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.
Darwin — cost index 116, rent $2,350/mo, income $80,000, QoL 55/100.
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.
Hobart has a cost index of 100 (national avg: 113), rent $1,920/mo, median income $68,000/yr, and a quality of life score of 68/100.
The Tasmania region of average QoL score is 63/100. Hobart leads with 68/100, 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.
Hobart: cost index 100, rent $1,920/mo, income $68,000/yr, QoL 68/100. 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.