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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Safest cities in Queensland, Australia in 2026. Brisbane leads with a safety score of 66/100 and crime rate of 50.8/1k. Average safety across the region is 62/100.
Safest cities in Queensland, Australia in 2026. Brisbane leads with a safety score of 66/100 and crime rate of 50.8/1k. Average safety across the region is 62/100.
Brisbane ranks #1 with a cost index of 112 and rent of $2,550/month.
The median city is Gold Coast — cost index 109, rent $2,400/mo.
Average cost index across these cities: 107 (-6 vs national average of 113).
Average quality of life: 62/100. Top: Brisbane at 62/100.
Safest city: Brisbane (66/100 safety score).
Here's the finding that keeps coming up in different analyses: Brisbane stands out as the top-ranked city in this analysis. With a cost index of 112 and median income of $80,000, it offers below-average costs relative to the rest of Australia. That's a strong position by any measure.
On quality of life, Cairns leads with a composite score of 63/100 — reflecting its safety (58), healthcare (62), and walkability (55) metrics. Here's where it gets complicated: 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 | Brisbane | 112 | $2,550 | $80,000 | 62 | 66 |
| 2 | Gold Coast | 109 | $2,400 | $72,000 | 60 | 62 |
| 3 | Cairns | 100 | $1,820 | $66,000 | 63 | 58 |
Brisbane — cost index 112, rent $2,550/mo, income $80,000, QoL 62/100.
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 ranks #1 in Queensland for this analysis with a cost index of 112 and median income of $80,000.
The region average QoL score is 63/100. Brisbane leads with 62/100, 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.
Brisbane (ranked #1) has a cost index of 112 and rent of $2,550/mo. Cairns (#3) has index 100 and rent $1,820/mo — a 12-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.