🇦🇺 Australian Bureau of Statistics · Latest Data

Cost of
Living

The real numbers behind Australia's cost of living. Inflation, rent, wages, and employment — all from official ABS data.

3.7%
Inflation Rate
$2,304
Median Weekly Earnings
$282
Median Weekly Rent
4.3%
Unemployment Rate
📊 Source: ABS CPI, AWE, Labour Force Survey
State Comparison

Cost of living by state

Average income and rent across Australia's states, derived from 2,400+ SA2 suburb profiles.

New South Wales
8,072,118 residents
Avg Income $783/wk
Avg Rent $341/wk
Rent/Income 44%
Victoria
6,503,500 residents
Avg Income $780/wk
Avg Rent $274/wk
Rent/Income 35%
Queensland
5,156,239 residents
Avg Income $761/wk
Avg Rent $290/wk
Rent/Income 38%
Western Australia
2,660,111 residents
Avg Income $914/wk
Avg Rent $270/wk
Rent/Income 30%
South Australia
1,781,649 residents
Avg Income $764/wk
Avg Rent $246/wk
Rent/Income 32%
Tasmania
557,693 residents
Avg Income $679/wk
Avg Rent $256/wk
Rent/Income 38%
Australian Capital Territory
454,464 residents
Avg Income $1,200/wk
Avg Rent $434/wk
Rent/Income 36%
Northern Territory
232,575 residents
Avg Income $766/wk
Avg Rent $206/wk
Rent/Income 27%
Other Territories
4,796 residents
Avg Income $917/wk
Avg Rent $160/wk
Rent/Income 17%
City Profiles

Explore by city

Detailed cost of living data for each Australian capital city.

📊 Data Sources
ABS Consumer Price Index (6401.0)
Quarterly CPI measuring price changes. Used for inflation rate and category breakdown.
ABS CPI →
ABS Average Weekly Earnings (6302.0)
Biannual survey of employee earnings by state, industry, and demographic.
ABS AWE →
ABS Labour Force (6202.0)
Monthly unemployment and participation rate data by state and national.
ABS Labour Force →
ABS Census 2021
2,432 SA2 suburb profiles with income, rent, age, mortgage, and demographic data.