Salary by City Australia — Good Salary Guide for Every Major City

What counts as a “good salary” varies significantly across Australia’s major cities. The primary driver is housing cost — rent and mortgage repayments consume very different proportions of income in Sydney versus Adelaide. But transport, childcare, and lifestyle costs also vary meaningfully by city.

A salary that provides a comfortable life in Adelaide or Hobart may feel tight in Sydney. Understanding city-by-city salary benchmarks helps you assess job offers, plan relocations, and understand your relative financial position.

Quick Comparison: Comfortable Single Income by City (2025–26)

“Comfortable single income” defined as sufficient to rent independently, cover all living costs, and save meaningfully. Median rents and prices sourced from Domain Q1 2025.

Average Full-Time Earnings by State (2024–25)

Average full-time earnings in Australia vary by state, primarily driven by industry mix. States with significant mining, energy, or finance industries tend to have higher average salaries.

Source: ABS Average Weekly Earnings, November 2024.

The ACT has the highest average earnings because the public service is overrepresented in Canberra’s economy. WA’s high average reflects the mining and resources sector, where salaries are significantly above the national average. SA and TAS have the lowest averages partly due to their lighter representation in high-paying industries.

What Drives Cost of Living Differences Between Cities

Housing: The single largest variable. Sydney’s median rents are 40–60% higher than Adelaide’s. Mortgage repayments on median properties differ even more dramatically. A household spending 30% of income on rent in Adelaide might spend 45–55% on the same lifestyle in Sydney.

Transport: Cities with less developed public transport infrastructure (Perth historically, most of Brisbane) require car ownership more frequently, adding $10,000–$20,000/year in vehicle running costs. Sydney’s train network and Melbourne’s tram network reduce this dependency.

Childcare: Childcare costs in capital cities are broadly similar, though availability (and therefore implicit subsidy from avoiding waitlists) varies. The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) applies nationally but the out-of-pocket cost depends on your income and the centre’s daily fee.

Groceries and food: Major supermarket (Woolworths, Coles, Aldi) prices are broadly nationally consistent. Fresh food, dining out, and cafes are more expensive in Sydney and Melbourne than in other cities.

Utilities: Energy costs have increased nationally, but are highest in South Australia (where retail electricity prices are among the highest in the world per kwh) and NSW. Victoria and QLD tend to be lower.

Salary and Career by City

Sydney: Financial services (banking, asset management, insurance), professional services (law, consulting, accounting), technology, and media. High salaries in finance and technology, driven by competitive market and international firm presence.

Melbourne: Professional services, healthcare, retail, education, technology, and creative industries. Melbourne’s professional services salary market is closely comparable to Sydney, though housing costs are lower.

Brisbane: Mining and resources (via fly-in fly-out and HQ roles), agriculture, construction, and growing technology sector. Post-2021 population growth has increased salary competition. Infrastructure projects (2032 Olympics and related) have created strong engineering and construction demand.

Perth: Mining, energy, and resources dominate. FIFO workers in resources roles often earn significantly above the national average. Perth’s cost of living has risen materially since 2021 as demand has outpaced supply.

Canberra: Public service dominated. APS (Australian Public Service) salary bands are transparent and publicly available; the APS 5/6 and EL1/EL2 bands represent the core of Canberra’s professional workforce. Defence, intelligence, and public service technology roles pay premium rates.

The Salary-to-Housing-Cost Ratio

A useful metric for comparing cities is the ratio of median full-time salary to median annual rent:

Canberra’s high salary-to-rent ratio reflects the public service salary premium. Sydney’s low ratio reflects extreme housing costs relative to income. Rent figures are approximate 2024–25 weekly medians annualised.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth moving cities for a salary increase? Depends on the net after-housing cost. A $20,000 salary increase to move from Melbourne to Sydney may be entirely absorbed by the higher rent. Model the actual after-housing take-home pay before deciding. Factor in moving costs, social disruption, and career network effects.

Do remote workers need to consider city salary benchmarks? Remote workers earning a Sydney-calibre salary while living in Adelaide or Hobart have a significant financial advantage — effectively capturing a higher salary against a lower cost base. This is an increasingly important consideration in salary negotiations for remote roles.

Are government (APS) salaries competitive with the private sector? For most roles, APS salaries are below the private sector equivalents in equivalent-complexity roles — particularly in technology, law, and finance. APS offers significant non-salary compensation: job security, flexible working, generous leave provisions, and defined career paths.

City Guides

• Good Salary in Sydney
• Good Salary in Melbourne
• Good Salary in Brisbane
• Good Salary in Perth

For advice tailored to your situation, speak with a licensed financial adviser. You can find one through the ASIC financial advisers register or MoneySmart.

Housing Cost as the Key Variable

The most critical variable determining whether a given salary is “comfortable” in a particular Australian city is housing cost — specifically, what percentage of after-tax income is consumed by rent or mortgage repayments.

The general benchmark used in housing affordability analysis is 30% of gross income — above this, a household is considered “housing stressed.” In Sydney, this benchmark is routinely breached by middle-income earners. In Adelaide or Hobart, the same income leaves substantial room for other expenses.

Example comparison: $90,000 salary

This illustrates why $90,000 can feel very different in different cities. In Adelaide or Hobart it provides a comfortable single income; in Sydney, it creates severe housing stress as a solo renter.

City-Specific Career Strategies

Sydney and Melbourne: Career acceleration is faster in Sydney and Melbourne due to the concentration of head offices, international firms, and seniority. If your career goal is to reach senior leadership in finance, professional services, or technology, these cities offer pathways that smaller cities cannot. The salary premium tends to be 15–25% above equivalent roles in Brisbane or Adelaide.

Perth: For engineering, mining, resources, and construction roles, Perth is Australia’s highest-paying city. FIFO roles from Perth into the Pilbara or other mining regions can generate household incomes in the $200,000–$400,000 range — numbers rarely seen in other industries at the same experience level.

Canberra: The public service salary scale is publicly available and highly predictable. APS 6 to EL2 roles ($85,000–$160,000) provide excellent job security and non-salary benefits (generous leave, flexible working, defined career paths). For those whose skills translate to government work, Canberra offers a very strong cost-of-living-adjusted standard of living.

Brisbane: The post-COVID population surge and 2032 Olympics preparation have made Brisbane the fastest-growing major economy in Australia by some measures. Infrastructure, property, and construction roles have seen salary growth above other cities. Technology sector growth is also accelerating.

When Relocation Makes Financial Sense

Relocating for a higher-paying job — or moving to a lower-cost city with comparable pay — can dramatically change your financial position. Before making the decision, model the full financial picture:

Net income improvement: Account for income tax on the higher salary, and HECS repayment changes if applicable. A $120,000 salary vs $100,000 means ~$14,000 more in take-home pay — not $20,000 (due to marginal tax rates).

Housing cost change: Moving from Melbourne to Perth for a $20,000 salary increase but equivalent rent? The net benefit is close to the full $14,000 after-tax gain. Moving from Adelaide to Sydney for the same increase could see you worse off after rent.

Relocation costs: Moving interstate costs $5,000–$15,000+ for household goods, plus temporary accommodation, lost time, and establishing new services. Factor this as a one-off offset to the annual benefit.

Career network and progression: Some relocations trade short-term financial gain for better long-term career positioning — being in Sydney or Melbourne for finance or technology roles creates opportunities that may not exist elsewhere.

A thorough financial model over 3–5 years (not just year 1) gives the most accurate picture of whether a city change is financially worthwhile.

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