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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Hobart quality of life score: 68/100 (Australia avg: 63/100). Combines safety (75), healthcare (72), walkability (62), air quality (AQI 14) and green space (45%). Compared to Tasmania peers in 2026.
Hobart quality of life score: 68/100 (Australia avg: 63/100). Combines safety (75), healthcare (72), walkability (62), air quality (AQI 14) and green space (45%). Compared to Tasmania peers in 2026.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income | QoL | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hobart | 100 | $1,920 | $68,000 | 68 | 75 |
| 2 | Adelaide | 104 | $2,100 | $72,000 | 67 | 70 |
| 3 | Canberra | 120 | $2,750 | $101,000 | 67 | 78 |
| 4 | Wollongong | 113 | $2,300 | $74,000 | 63 | 72 |
| 5 | Cairns | 100 | $1,820 | $66,000 | 63 | 58 |
| 6 | Perth | 118 | $2,650 | $87,000 | 63 | 68 |
| 7 | Sydney | 132 | $3,200 | $90,000 | 62 | 68 |
| 8 | Newcastle | 110 | $2,250 | $76,000 | 62 | 65 |
| 9 | Melbourne | 124 | $2,750 | $84,500 | 62 | 64 |
| 10 | Geelong | 107 | $2,050 | $72,000 | 62 | 68 |
| 11 | Brisbane | 112 | $2,550 | $80,000 | 62 | 66 |
| 12 | Gold Coast | 109 | $2,400 | $72,000 | 60 | 62 |
| 13 | Darwin | 116 | $2,350 | $80,000 | 55 | 48 |
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.
One stat flips the usual narrative: 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 is an advantage that compounds over time.
Layer in taxes, though, and the math changes. looking at Tasmania as a whole, the spread across all 13 cities is 16 points on the cost index. Darwin sits at the other end with index 116 and rent of $2,350/mo. Over a five-year window, that difference is life-changing.
On quality of life, Hobart scores a composite score of 68/100 — reflecting its safety (75), healthcare (72), and walkability (62) metrics. Here's where it gets complicated: 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.
Adelaide — cost index 104, rent $2,100/mo, income $72,000, QoL 67/100.
Canberra — cost index 120, rent $2,750/mo, income $101,000, QoL 67/100.
Wollongong — cost index 113, rent $2,300/mo, income $74,000, QoL 63/100.
Cairns — cost index 100, rent $1,820/mo, income $66,000, QoL 63/100.
Hobart has a composite quality of life score of 68/100, covering safety (75), healthcare (72), walkability (62), air quality, and green space. Australia average QoL: 63/100.
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. Adelaide: cost index 104, rent $2,100/mo, income $72,000/yr, QoL 67/100.
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.