Al Zahra College
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International Curriculum
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Country guide
Overview
Australia🇦🇺
At a Glance
How Australia compares across key indices
Cost of Living
94 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
90/100
Healthcare
76/100
Quality of Life
179/200
Cost of Living
How far your money goes in Australia
Cost of Living
94
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
70
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
94
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
98
100 = NYC dining
Safety & Crime
Low RiskHow safe residents feel in Australia - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
90/100
Crime Index
3/100
Lower is better
Walking Safety
Daytime100
Nighttime100
0 point drop from day to night
Cities in Australia
Australia has 300 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $1,857 in Hervey Bay to $2,306 in Melbourne. Hervey Bay leads on safety, scoring 94/100. Pakenham ranks highest for quality of life at 178/200.
đź’¸Most Affordable
Hervey Bay
$1,857/mo
Safest
Hervey Bay
94/100
Best Quality of Life
Pakenham
178/200
Best Healthcare
Sydney
87/100
City filter
Featured
Curated and popular cities first.
40 of 300 shown| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canberra | $2,296 | 88/100 | 174/200 | 84/100 | 19 |
| Sydney | $2,306 | 84/100 | 171/200 | 87/100 | 27 |
| Melbourne | $2,306 | 84/100 | 171/200 | 87/100 | 27 |
| Brisbane | $2,248 | 85/100 | 172/200 | 85/100 | 24 |
| Perth | $2,230 | 86/100 | 173/200 | 85/100 | 24 |
| Adelaide | $2,184 | 87/100 | 173/200 | 83/100 | 22 |
| Gold Coast | $2,104 | 88/100 | 175/200 | 80/100 | 19 |
| Newcastle | $2,081 | 89/100 | 175/200 | 80/100 | 18 |
| Central Coast | $2,042 | 90/100 | 175/200 | 78/100 | 16 |
| Sunshine Coast | $2,042 | 90/100 | 175/200 | 78/100 | 16 |
| Logan City | $2,042 | 90/100 | 175/200 | 78/100 | 16 |
| Geelong | $2,024 | 90/100 | 176/200 | 78/100 | 15 |
| Wollongong | $2,022 | 90/100 | 176/200 | 78/100 | 15 |
| Hobart | $2,011 | 90/100 | 176/200 | 77/100 | 15 |
| Townsville | $1,991 | 91/100 | 176/200 | 77/100 | 14 |
| Cairns | $1,962 | 91/100 | 177/200 | 76/100 | 13 |
| Toowoomba | $1,956 | 92/100 | 177/200 | 76/100 | 13 |
| Darwin | $1,954 | 92/100 | 177/200 | 76/100 | 13 |
| Mackay | $1,939 | 92/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 12 |
| City of Port Phillip | $1,933 | 92/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 12 |
| Ballarat | $1,933 | 92/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 12 |
| Bendigo | $1,925 | 92/100 | 177/200 | 75/100 | 11 |
| Caloundra | $1,917 | 92/100 | 177/200 | 74/100 | 11 |
| Launceston | $1,913 | 93/100 | 178/200 | 74/100 | 11 |
| Mandurah | $1,911 | 93/100 | 178/200 | 74/100 | 11 |
| Maitland | $1,911 | 93/100 | 178/200 | 74/100 | 11 |
| Tuggeranong Administrative District | $1,911 | 93/100 | 178/200 | 74/100 | 11 |
| Rockhampton | $1,900 | 93/100 | 178/200 | 74/100 | 10 |
| Coffs Harbour | $1,898 | 93/100 | 178/200 | 74/100 | 10 |
| Blue Mountains | $1,896 | 93/100 | 178/200 | 74/100 | 10 |
| Bunbury | $1,894 | 93/100 | 178/200 | 74/100 | 10 |
| Bundaberg | $1,892 | 93/100 | 178/200 | 73/100 | 10 |
| Adelaide Hills | $1,890 | 93/100 | 178/200 | 73/100 | 10 |
| Point Cook | $1,882 | 93/100 | 178/200 | 73/100 | 10 |
| Craigieburn | $1,880 | 93/100 | 178/200 | 73/100 | 10 |
| Pittwater | $1,876 | 93/100 | 178/200 | 73/100 | 9 |
| Melbourne City Centre | $1,871 | 93/100 | 178/200 | 73/100 | 9 |
| Tarneit | $1,865 | 94/100 | 178/200 | 73/100 | 9 |
| Pakenham | $1,861 | 94/100 | 178/200 | 72/100 | 9 |
| Hervey Bay | $1,857 | 94/100 | 178/200 | 72/100 | 9 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Families
Schools
218 verified school profiles across 4 cities in Australia — language model, grade range, credentials, and published tuition. A sample is shown here; filter the full set in the School Finder.
Australian International Academy - Caroline Springs Campus
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
Australian International Academy - Kellyville Campus
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
Australian International Academy - Strathfield Campus
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
Australian International Academy of Education
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
Anglican Church Grammar School
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Primary Years
194 more verified schools in Australia are available in the School Finder, with filters for city, age, language, credentials, and tuition.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare
Healthcare system overview for Australia
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Environment
CleanAir quality, water, and environmental conditions in Australia
Pollution Index
17/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
8.3ug/m3
Good
Environmental Quality
Air Quality100/100
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about living in Australia, answered with data
What is the cost of living in Australia?
Australia has a cost of living index of 94 relative to New York City (100). It is on par with or more expensive than major US cities. Monthly costs for a single person start around $1,925 in Bendigo and reach $2,306 in Melbourne.
What is the cheapest city in Australia for expats?
Bendigo is the most affordable city in Australia in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $1,925 for a single person including rent. City of Port Phillip is the next most affordable at $1,933/mo.
Is Australia safe for expats?
Australia has a safety index of 90/100, making it very safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Bendigo scores highest on safety at 92/100.
What is the best city in Australia for expats and digital nomads?
Bendigo ranks highest for quality of life in Australia, scoring 177/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $1,925/mo for a single person.
How good is healthcare in Australia?
Australia scores 76/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it excellent by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
What is the air quality and pollution like in Australia?
Australia has a pollution index of 17/100 (lower = cleaner). This is relatively clean by global standards, making it appealing for those prioritising air quality and outdoor lifestyle.
Before You Go
Core tools and insurance next steps for planning a move to Australia
Plan Your Move
Where Can I Move?
Check whether this country fits your passport, budget, work setup, safety floor, and priorities.
Build My Escape Plan
Turn this country into a practical move plan with visa, insurance, housing, banking, and scouting-trip next steps.
Compare Countries
Side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, safety, healthcare, and more.
Cost of Living
Model monthly costs with Freedom Abroad estimates before you narrow the shortlist.
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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