To survive comfortably in Australia, a single person generally needs $70k-$100k+ annually, while a family might need $120k-$160k+ combined, but this varies significantly by expensive cities (Sydney/Melbourne) vs. regional areas, lifestyle, and housing costs; generally, around $90k-$100k is seen as a solid base for a single person to manage, with higher amounts needed for families or luxury.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Australia? Living comfortably in Australia varies greatly depending on factors such as location, lifestyle and personal preferences. As a general guide, a single person living outside of a major city would need an annual income of $70 - $80k per annum or $5,800+ per month.
In 2022 the median income in Australia was $65,000 a year according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Anyone making less than this amount would be considered working class. Anyone making more than $137,000 falls in the top 10% which is considered upper class.
$100,000/year is above an average salary and if you're frugal enough, on $100,000/year, you should be able to live a good life and save some money too. Usually if you consider living in desirable locations of cities like Melbourne and Sydney, most of your income will be consumed in the house rents.
According to ABS data, just 2.61 million Aussies – or about 10 per cent of the population – earn $100,000 or more a year. Many people will never reach a six-figure income in their working lives.
While exact real-time figures vary, recent analyses suggest hundreds of thousands of Australians hold over $1 million in superannuation, though it's a minority, with estimates from around 2021 pointing to over 400,000 people, a number that has grown significantly due to investment returns, though many still don't reach this milestone. About 2.5% of the population held >$1 million in super as of mid-2021 (around 417,000 people), with forecasts indicating a larger number, while projections suggest over 10% of women and 15% of men retiring by 2060 could reach this goal, and recent studies highlight that a large majority (around 94%) of retirees don't hit $1 million.
Most Americans Earn Far Less Than $100k
According to last year's YouGov data, only 18% of U.S. adults earn more than $100,000 annually. And the biggest earners are mostly men—25%—and those aged 35 to 44—25%. For comparison, just 12% of women make six figures.
The average Australia needs to earn nearly $400,000 a year to feel rich, which is a 'far cry' from what the average person is actually putting away. For many Australians, earning a six-figure salary used to mean you had “made it” and were well-off in your career.
Calculation details
On a £100,000 salary, your take home pay will be £68,557.40 after tax and National Insurance. This equates to £5,713.12 per month and £1,318.41 per week. If you work 5 days per week, this is £263.68 per day, or £32.96 per hour at 40 hours per week.
Yearly / Monthly / Weekly / Hourly Converter
If you make $90,000 per year, your salary per hour is $45. 55.
Another quirky analysis in 2023 tried to put a price tag on “100% happiness” for Australians, factoring in our high living costs. It found that to be “fully happy” in Australia, you'd need an annual income of around A$190,000. That made Australia one of the most expensive countries in the world for happiness.
Australia has high demand for workers in Healthcare (nurses, aged/disability carers, allied health), Tech (software engineers, cybersecurity, data analysts), Construction & Trades (managers, electricians, fitters, civil engineers), and Education (teachers, early childhood educators) due to an aging population, infrastructure projects, and digital transformation, with roles like Chefs, Project Managers, and Automotive Technicians also sought after across various industries.
$2.4 Million Could Be the Sweet Spot
“Let's assume that 'rich enough' is being able to receive annual dividends of $120,000 from your investments,” said Arie Brish, a professor at St Edwards University, board director, and investor. “At a moderate assumption of 5% per year, this equates to a net worth of $2.4 million.”
$500,000 in Australian retirement can last anywhere from 10-20+ years, depending heavily on your annual spending, investment returns (3-7% range), and eligibility for the Age Pension, potentially supporting a single person with $40k-$50k/year for 12-17 years, but combining it with the Age Pension can extend it significantly, with some scenarios showing it lasting 20-25 years by topping up Age Pension income for a comfortable life up to age 90-95.
Adelaide is often regarded as the cheapest place to live in Australia, with lower living costs compared to major cities. Regional areas are becoming more popular due to remote work opportunities, making them affordable choices.
The average Australian full-time worker is now earning more than $2000 a week for the first time in history. New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show the average ordinary full-time weekly earnings for adults hit $2011.40 before tax in May.
At this level, your personal allowance gradually starts to reduce. This is the amount of money you can earn without paying tax, and it's currently set at £12,570 per year. For every £2 you earn over £100,000, you lose £1 of your allowance. By the time you're earning £125,140, there's no personal allowance left.
It depends on the field you're in and your location, but $50,000 is below the average starting salary in the U.S. of $68,680 for college graduates in 2025. However, for those in certain fields, such as psychology, in which the average starting salary is $44,700, $50,000 would be a good entry level salary.
Summary of Key Points of the Article: A £75,000 salary in the UK for 2024/2025 results in an annual net take-home pay of approximately £54,057 after taxes. Income tax for this salary includes a combination of 20% basic rate and 40% higher rate, totaling approximately £16,432.
The median salary, the point at which 50 per cent earn more and 50 per cent earn less, is lower and includes the wages of part-time workers. It sits around $65,000. In technical terms, being a middle-income earner means you are bringing home between 75 per cent and 200 per cent of that median income.
Around 80,000 Australians had over $2 million in superannuation as of 2019-2020 data, with estimates suggesting this number might be higher now due to asset growth, potentially affecting around 80,000 people with balances over $3 million by 2025. While most with high balances are older, some young individuals (under 30) also hold over $2 million in super.
Most In-Demand Skills for 2026 and Beyond
Once you are aware of your salary every month, you should set aside a particular % of it for savings after spending on needs and wants, as per the 50-30-20 budget rule. This will ensure that you are saving at least 20% of your salary every month.
Side hustle ideas are everywhere.