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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Adelaide for digital nomads: DN score 69/100, internet 75 Mbps, walk score 62/100, rent $2,100/mo. Compared to 12 other South Australia cities below.
Adelaide for digital nomads: DN score 69/100, internet 75 Mbps, walk score 62/100, rent $2,100/mo. Compared to 12 other South Australia cities below.
Adelaide: cost index 104 (-9 vs national avg 113), rent $2,100/month.
South Australia region average cost index: 113. Adelaide is -9 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 67/100 — safety 70, healthcare 78, walkability 62.
Safety score: 70/100 (crime rate 42.8/1k). National average: 66/100.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide | 104 | $2,100 | $72,000 |
| 2 | Melbourne | 124 | $2,750 | $84,500 |
| 3 | Sydney | 132 | $3,200 | $90,000 |
| 4 | Brisbane | 112 | $2,550 | $80,000 |
| 5 | Perth | 118 | $2,650 | $87,000 |
| 6 | Hobart | 100 | $1,920 | $68,000 |
| 7 | Canberra | 120 | $2,750 | $101,000 |
| 8 | Newcastle | 110 | $2,250 | $76,000 |
| 9 | Geelong | 107 | $2,050 | $72,000 |
| 10 | Gold Coast | 109 | $2,400 | $72,000 |
| 11 | Wollongong | 113 | $2,300 | $74,000 |
| 12 | Cairns | 100 | $1,820 | $66,000 |
| 13 | Darwin | 116 | $2,350 | $80,000 |
After analyzing dozens of cities, one thing stands out: Adelaide has a cost index of 104 — 9 points below the Australia national average of 113. Median income is $72,000 with rent at $2,100/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 35%. This stands out as genuinely impressive.
Looking at the bigger picture, looking at South Australia as a whole, the spread across all 13 cities is 12 points on the cost index. Darwin sits at the other end with index 116 and rent of $2,350/mo. Financially, that's significant.
On quality of life, Adelaide scores a composite score of 67/100 — reflecting its safety (70), healthcare (78), and walkability (62) metrics. Context matters here. affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Australia is a good example of that tension.
For digital nomads specifically, Adelaide earns a DN score of 69/100, powered by 75 Mbps internet, walkability of 62/100, and a nightlife score of 68/100. Financially, that's significant.
Adelaide — cost index 104, rent $2,100/mo, income $72,000, QoL 67/100.
Melbourne — cost index 124, rent $2,750/mo, income $84,500, QoL 62/100.
Sydney — cost index 132, rent $3,200/mo, income $90,000, QoL 62/100.
Brisbane — cost index 112, rent $2,550/mo, income $80,000, QoL 62/100.
Perth — cost index 118, rent $2,650/mo, income $87,000, QoL 63/100.
Adelaide scores 67/100 on the relevant index for digital nomads — with rent of $2,100/month and cost index 104 (9 points below the national average of 113).
The South Australia region of average QoL score is 63/100. Adelaide leads with 67/100, 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.
Adelaide: cost index 104, rent $2,100/mo, income $72,000/yr, QoL 67/100. Melbourne: cost index 124, rent $2,750/mo, income $84,500/yr, QoL 62/100.
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.