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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Cost of living in Gold Coast, Australia (2026): cost index 109 (-4 vs national avg), rent $2,400/mo, median income $72,000/yr. Rent takes 40% of gross income. Full breakdown vs Queensland peers below.
Cost of living in Gold Coast, Australia (2026): cost index 109 (-4 vs national avg), rent $2,400/mo, median income $72,000/yr. Rent takes 40% of gross income. Full breakdown vs Queensland peers below.
Gold Coast: cost index 109 (-4 vs national avg 113), rent $2,400/month.
Queensland region average cost index: 107. Gold Coast is +2 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 60/100 — safety 62, healthcare 72, walkability 48.
Safety score: 62/100 (crime rate 58.5/1k). National average: 66/100.
The conventional wisdom says one thing. The data says another: Gold Coast has a cost index of 109 — 4 points below the Australia national average of 113. Median income is $72,000 with rent at $2,400/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 40%. Over a five-year window, that difference is life-changing.
On quality of life, Gold Coast scores a composite score of 60/100 — reflecting its safety (62), healthcare (72), and walkability (48) metrics. Layer in taxes, though, and the math changes. affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and Australia is a good example of that tension.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gold Coast | 109 | $2,400 | $72,000 |
| 2 | Cairns | 100 | $1,820 | $66,000 |
| 3 | Brisbane | 112 | $2,550 | $80,000 |
Gold Coast — cost index 109, rent $2,400/mo, income $72,000, QoL 60/100.
Cairns — cost index 100, rent $1,820/mo, income $66,000, QoL 63/100.
Brisbane — cost index 112, rent $2,550/mo, income $80,000, QoL 62/100.
Gold Coast has a cost index of 109 (national avg: 113). Median rent is $2,400/month, median income $72,000/year, giving a rent-to-income ratio of 40%.
The Queensland region of average QoL score is 62/100. Gold Coast leads with 60/100, 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.
Gold Coast: cost index 109, rent $2,400/mo, income $72,000/yr, QoL 60/100. 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.