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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Adelaide for students: rent $2,100/mo, cost index 104 vs UK median 113, 3 universities. Compared to 12 other South Australia cities below.
Adelaide for students: rent $2,100/mo, cost index 104 vs UK median 113, 3 universities. 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 | Cairns | 100 | $1,820 | $66,000 |
| 3 | Hobart | 100 | $1,920 | $68,000 |
| 4 | Geelong | 107 | $2,050 | $72,000 |
| 5 | Newcastle | 110 | $2,250 | $76,000 |
| 6 | Wollongong | 113 | $2,300 | $74,000 |
| 7 | Darwin | 116 | $2,350 | $80,000 |
| 8 | Gold Coast | 109 | $2,400 | $72,000 |
| 9 | Brisbane | 112 | $2,550 | $80,000 |
| 10 | Perth | 118 | $2,650 | $87,000 |
| 11 | Melbourne | 124 | $2,750 | $84,500 |
| 12 | Canberra | 120 | $2,750 | $101,000 |
| 13 | Sydney | 132 | $3,200 | $90,000 |
Here's where the conversation shifts from 'affordable' to 'strategic': 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 combination is rare — and valuable.
Layer in taxes, though, and the math changes. looking at South Australia as a whole, the spread across all 13 cities is 28 points on the cost index. Sydney sits at the other end with index 132 and rent of $3,200/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. 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.
Adelaide — cost index 104, rent $2,100/mo, income $72,000, QoL 67/100.
Cairns — cost index 100, rent $1,820/mo, income $66,000, QoL 63/100.
Hobart — cost index 100, rent $1,920/mo, income $68,000, QoL 68/100.
Geelong — cost index 107, rent $2,050/mo, income $72,000, QoL 62/100.
Newcastle — cost index 110, rent $2,250/mo, income $76,000, QoL 62/100.
Adelaide scores 67/100 on the relevant index for students — 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. 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.