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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Safest cities in New South Wales, Australia in 2026. Wollongong leads with a safety score of 72/100 and crime rate of 38.8/1k. Average safety across the region is 68/100.
Safest cities in New South Wales, Australia in 2026. Wollongong leads with a safety score of 72/100 and crime rate of 38.8/1k. Average safety across the region is 68/100.
Wollongong ranks #1 with a cost index of 113 and rent of $2,300/month.
The median city is Sydney — cost index 132, rent $3,200/mo.
Average cost index across these cities: 118 (+5 vs national average of 113).
Average quality of life: 62/100. Top: Wollongong at 63/100.
Safest city: Wollongong (72/100 safety score).
Most comparisons stop at rent. We didn't. Wollongong stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 113 and median income of $74,000, it offers competitive value despite costs slightly above the national median. That's a strong position by any measure.
On quality of life, Wollongong leads with a composite score of 63/100 — reflecting its safety (72), healthcare (72), and walkability (58) metrics. Context matters here. 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 | QoL | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wollongong | 113 | $2,300 | $74,000 | 63 | 72 |
| 2 | Sydney | 132 | $3,200 | $90,000 | 62 | 68 |
| 3 | Newcastle | 110 | $2,250 | $76,000 | 62 | 65 |
Wollongong — cost index 113, rent $2,300/mo, income $74,000, QoL 63/100.
Sydney — cost index 132, rent $3,200/mo, income $90,000, QoL 62/100.
Newcastle — cost index 110, rent $2,250/mo, income $76,000, QoL 62/100.
Wollongong ranks #1 in New South Wales for this analysis with a cost index of 113 and median income of $74,000.
The region average QoL score is 63/100. Wollongong leads with 63/100, 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.
Wollongong (ranked #1) has a cost index of 113 and rent of $2,300/mo. Newcastle (#3) has index 110 and rent $2,250/mo — a 3-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.