There's no single "best" state as it depends on priorities, but Tasmania often ranks high for liveability, low crime, and affordability (especially outside Hobart). ACT (Canberra) also scores well for liveability and safety, while Queensland (Brisbane) attracts many with warmer weather and a laid-back vibe. For culture, Victoria (Melbourne) shines, but has higher costs and competitive housing.
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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.
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.
Not only did Canberra top the global list, but it also ranked as the highest Australian city across four of the six core quality-of-life indicators: income per person, income equality, housing expenditure and life expectancy. Discover more about what makes Canberra stand out.
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 2025 Living in Australia report by . id (informed decisions) ranks the ACT and Greater Sydney as the country's most liveable areas, followed by Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and South East Queensland.
New South Wales (NSW): Thriving Cities and Expanding Regional Appeal. New South Wales remains one of Australia's most in-demand property markets, anchored by Sydney's global status and supported by high levels of infrastructure spending, employment diversity, and strong rental demand.
States with the lowest combined sales taxes:
Yes, AUD 5,000 (around $3,300 USD) can be enough for a single person's month in Australia, especially in regional areas or if you're budget-conscious and can find work quickly, but it will be tight in major cities like Sydney or Melbourne, where it covers basics but leaves little for luxury, according to Anzuk Education and Reddit users, as city living costs, especially rent, can quickly consume most of that, requiring careful planning for accommodation, food, and activities.
But despite the economic uptick of recent years, Tasmania is still the poorest Australian state.
That is, Victoria is the most lawless state in Australia. Victoria has recorded increases of up to 58 per cent in the number of victims in eight out of 16 crime categories, including kidnapping/abduction, motor vehicle theft, armed robbery, and other offences including retail crime.
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Toorak – The Undisputed Richest Suburb in Melbourne
From multi-million-dollar mansions to elite private schools and exclusive shopping strips, it has long been regarded as the richest area in Melbourne. Toorak is also home to Australia's wealthiest business leaders, celebrities, and international investors.
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Yes, $70k is a fair salary in Australia, often near the median income, making it a decent living for a single person, especially outside major cities, but it can be tight in expensive areas or for those with high living costs like mortgages, with full-time averages now closer to $90k-$100k.
States with the highest state income tax include California with a top marginal rate of 12.3% (with an additional 1% income tax on personal income in excess of $1 million per year), Hawaii at 11%, and New York at 10.9%.
Last updated: May 2025. As of 2025, nine U.S. states levy no personal income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. For high-net-worth individuals, understanding the nuances of these tax structures is crucial for effective financial planning.
Among the countries with the lowest tax rates in the world are Malta, Cyprus, Andorra, Montenegro and Singapore. Aside from zero income tax, in Antigua and Barbuda, individuals are also free from paying taxes on wealth, capital gains, and inheritance.
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Suburbs set for a boom in 2025, particularly in Australia, are driven by affordability, lifestyle appeal (beaches, cafes), infrastructure (new transport links), and demographic shifts, with hotspots identified in Perth's northern coastal areas (Alkimos, Yanchep), Regional Queensland (Toowoomba), Melbourne's outer areas (Werribee, Keilor East), and Brisbane's growth zones (Springwood, Gold Coast's Coomera), as people seek value and better living environments outside major city centers.
The 2% property rule is a real estate investing guideline to quickly assess if a rental property could generate positive cash flow, suggesting the monthly rent should be at least 2% of the total purchase price (including necessary repairs); if a $200,000 property can't rent for $4,000/month (2% of $200k), it might not be a strong cash flow investment, helping investors filter potential deals, though it's a simplified metric not guaranteeing profitability and works best in affordable markets.
Adelaide declared Australia's happiest city of 2025. Adelaide has been ranked Australia's happiest city in the global Happy City Index, scoring highly across 82 measures of liveability and wellbeing.
NSW has the highest population of any state in Australia, with 8,153,000 residents as of 30 June 2022. Nearly a third of all Australians live in NSW, with most living in the Greater Sydney region.
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