Tasmania is widely considered Australia's cleanest state, especially for air quality, with its capital Hobart often ranking globally for low pollution, and the Cape Grim region having some of the world's cleanest air; it also scores high for overall health due to its environment and lower emissions.
Inner Perth in Western Australia ranked as the healthiest region in the country, with an unhealthiness score of only 9.92 out of 100.
Tasmania has been named the nation's healthiest State to live, and Hobart as the healthiest capital city to live, based on a new ranking published by public health researchers at Monash University.
Key findings. Crime rates in NSW are generally low compared to other Australian states and territories. Across both violent and property offences, NSW consistently records some of the lowest victimisation rates nationally, and for many offences, the lowest in Australia.
Queensland is sunny and humid, making it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Melbourne and Tasmania are cooler compared to other Australian states. Adelaide and Perth have warm, dry summers and mild winters, which might suit you if you're into warmer weather.
Hobart, Tasmania, is widely recognized as the cheapest major city, but smaller regional towns in Queensland and South Australia can offer even lower living costs.
Western Australia (WA) is generally considered Australia's richest state, consistently topping economic performance rankings due to its strong mining sector, high exports (especially iron ore), and significant economic growth, leading in metrics like Gross State Product (GSP) per capita and overall economic strength.
Top 10 most dangerous cities in Australia
Iceland is consistently ranked as the #1 safest country in the world by the Global Peace Index (GPI), a position it has held for over a decade due to extremely low crime, no standing army, high social cohesion, and minimal conflict, though some other reports might place Switzerland or the Netherlands first based on different survey criteria.
Low crime rates for your peace of mind
Canberra is officially Australia's #1 safest city, with a crime index rating of 26 out of 100. That places it as the 49th safest city in the world. This ranking comes from Compare the Market Australia, which analysed 6 years of public data from Numbeo's crime index.
28 November 2024
When Australian residents were asked to rate their home against factors including its location and condition, Tasmanians were revealed as the happiest with their overall living situation (54%), followed by: Australian Capital Territory (46%) South Australia (43%) Queensland (40%)
Tasmania had the highest rate of obesity with 37% of adults reporting a BMI of 30 or higher, while the ACT had the lowest rate with just under 30% of adults reporting a BMI of 30 or higher.
Queensland is Australia's very own tropical paradise. Home to stunning beaches, dense rainforests, and a staggering quotient of biodiversity, QLD is an impressive testament to our country's natural beauty. Here's our picks for the stunning pieces of nature across the Sunshine State.
It's official! Adelaide is the happiest city in Australia, and one of the happiest in the world! 🙌 We ranked #29 globally in the Happy City Index across six categories - environment, economy, mobility, citizen wellbeing, health and governance.
The capital Vienna also regularly tops list as one of the most liveable places in the world, in part due to its low crime rates. But crime does happen in the country. Get daily updates from Austria straight to your inbox.
Yes, the outback town of Quilpie, Queensland, gained international attention for its "free land" scheme (actually a generous grant) to attract new residents, offering significant subsidies to people who buy a block and build a new home, effectively making the land free after meeting residency requirements, though it faced challenges with builder availability. The scheme aimed to boost the town's declining population by providing grants matching the land's value (around $12,500-$20,000) for new builds, with recipients needing to live there for six months.
For the fifth consecutive year, Afghanistan is the least peaceful country, followed by Yemen, Syria, Russia and South Sudan.
According to the latest 2025 CEOWORLD Health Care Index, Taiwan once again ranks as the country with the best healthcare in the world, maintaining its top position with an overall score of 78.72. South Korea (77.7) and Australia (74.11) remain in second and third place, respectively.
Ranked number one since 2008, Iceland remains the world's most peaceful nation, leading across all three domains: safety and security, ongoing conflict and militarisation.
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.
According to the latest National Homicide Monitoring Program report (July 2024 – June 2025), Australia saw a total of 277 homicides. Queensland had the highest number, with 111 victims, and Victoria wasn't far behind with 88 victims.
Brisbane has just been named as one of the friendliest cities in the world and we're the only Australian city to be listed in the top twenty. We've always known this about Brisbane but now the world is starting to discover it too.
Northern Territory
This is the least populated state in the country and one of the poorest. Mining is the principal economic activity here and provides jobs for over 4,600 people. This sector is focused on mineral and petroleum exploitation and production.
Western Australia (WA) is consistently the fastest-growing state in Australia, leading in population growth due to strong net overseas and interstate migration, with recent data showing it added the most people and had the highest growth rate among states, surpassing 3 million people in 2024. Other growing areas include Victoria and Queensland, driven by migration, while the Northern Territory also shows recent growth.
FAQs: Cost of Living in Australia
Sydney and Melbourne are among the most expensive, while Adelaide and Alice Springs are more affordable.