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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Ranking of cities in Australia for 2026. Canberra leads with a cost index of 116 and rent of $2,500/month.
Ranking of cities in Australia for 2026. Canberra leads with a cost index of 116 and rent of $2,500/month.
Canberra ranks #1 with a cost index of 116 and rent of $2,500/month.
The median city is Perth — cost index 110, rent $2,300/mo.
Average cost index across these cities: 107 (0 vs national average of 107).
Average quality of life: 64/100. Top: Canberra at 68/100.
Safest city: Canberra (78/100 safety score).
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income | QoL | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canberra | 116 | $2,500 | $96,000 | 68 | 78 |
| 2 | Hobart | 94 | $1,700 | $64,000 | 70 | 75 |
| 3 | Wollongong | 108 | $2,050 | $70,000 | 65 | 72 |
| 4 | Adelaide | 96 | $1,800 | $68,000 | 69 | 70 |
| 5 | Sydney | 125 | $2,800 | $85,000 | 64 | 68 |
| 6 | Geelong | 102 | $1,800 | $68,000 | 63 | 68 |
| 7 | Perth | 110 | $2,300 | $82,000 | 65 | 68 |
| 8 | Brisbane | 105 | $2,200 | $76,000 | 64 | 66 |
| 9 | Newcastle | 105 | $2,000 | $72,000 | 63 | 65 |
| 10 | Melbourne | 118 | $2,400 | $80,000 | 63 | 64 |
| 11 | Gold Coast | 102 | $2,100 | $68,000 | 62 | 62 |
| 12 | Cairns | 95 | $1,600 | $62,000 | 64 | 58 |
| 13 | Darwin | 112 | $2,100 | $76,000 | 56 | 48 |
One stat flips the usual narrative: Canberra stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 116 and median income of $96,000, it offers competitive value despite costs slightly above the national median. This is an advantage that compounds over time.
Here's where it gets complicated: the spread across all 13 cities is 4 points on the cost index. Darwin sits at the other end with index 112 and rent of $2,100/mo. That's a strong position by any measure.
On quality of life, Hobart leads with a composite score of 70/100 — reflecting its safety (75), healthcare (72), and walkability (62) metrics. Zooming out, affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Australia is a good example of that tension.
Canberra — cost index 116, rent $2,500/mo, income $96,000, QoL 68/100.
Hobart — cost index 94, rent $1,700/mo, income $64,000, QoL 70/100.
Wollongong — cost index 108, rent $2,050/mo, income $70,000, QoL 65/100.
Adelaide — cost index 96, rent $1,800/mo, income $68,000, QoL 69/100.
Sydney — cost index 125, rent $2,800/mo, income $85,000, QoL 64/100.
The country average QoL score is 64/100. Canberra leads with 68/100, reflecting its 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.
Canberra (ranked #1) has a cost index of 116 and rent of $2,500/mo. Darwin (#13) has index 112 and rent $2,100/mo — a 4-point gap.
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.