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Adjust the inputs on the left — every figure on this page recalculates from your salary, city and suburb.
Cost comparison (a.k.a. how much worse it could be)
Methodology & assumptions
Rent & prices. City-level medians are drawn from 2026 national rental market reporting (Cotality, Domain, SQM Research); suburb figures apply an inner/middle/outer multiplier to that city median as an indicative scaling, not a live listing feed.
Tax. Uses simplified Australian resident income-tax brackets plus a flat 2% Medicare levy. Offsets, HECS repayments and other deductions are not modelled.
Living costs. A national baseline of $650/week for a single adult (groceries, transport, utilities, insurance, incidentals) is scaled by the city's relative cost-of-living index. It does not vary by suburb or household size.
Savings. after-tax income − annual rent − estimated living costs. Excludes debt repayments, super contributions above the mandatory rate, and one-off costs.
Mortgage affordability. Borrowing capacity is approximated at 5.5× gross annual salary, a common rule-of-thumb serviceability multiple that ignores existing debts, dependents and interest-rate stress tests. "Max affordable price" grosses this up assuming a 20% deposit.
This tool is for general illustration only and is not financial, lending or tax advice — nor is it emotional support, though it will happily provide neither.