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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Sydney air quality: AQI 28 — good. Green space 28%. Compared to New South Wales cities in 2026.
Sydney air quality: AQI 28 — good. Green space 28%. Compared to New South Wales cities in 2026.
Sydney: cost index 132 (+19 vs national avg 113), rent $3,200/month.
New South Wales region average cost index: 118. Sydney is +14 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 62/100 — safety 68, healthcare 85, walkability 76.
Safety score: 68/100 (crime rate 42.5/1k). National average: 66/100.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sydney | 132 | $3,200 | $90,000 |
| 2 | Wollongong | 113 | $2,300 | $74,000 |
| 3 | Newcastle | 110 | $2,250 | $76,000 |
Strip away assumptions, and something unexpected emerges. Sydney has a cost index of 132 — 19 points above the Australia national average of 113. Median income is $90,000 with rent at $3,200/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 43%. That's a strong position by any measure.
On quality of life, Sydney scores a composite score of 62/100 — reflecting its safety (68), healthcare (85), and walkability (76) 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.
Sydney — cost index 132, rent $3,200/mo, income $90,000, QoL 62/100.
Wollongong — cost index 113, rent $2,300/mo, income $74,000, QoL 63/100.
Newcastle — cost index 110, rent $2,250/mo, income $76,000, QoL 62/100.
Sydney has a cost index of 132 (national avg: 113), rent $3,200/mo, median income $90,000/yr, and a quality of life score of 62/100.
The New South Wales region of average QoL score is 62/100. Sydney 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.
Sydney: cost index 132, rent $3,200/mo, income $90,000/yr, QoL 62/100. Wollongong: cost index 113, rent $2,300/mo, income $74,000/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.