Is $70,000 a good salary in Australia?

AUD 70,000 a year is a workable single-person salary in Australia, with the comfort level depending heavily on city. After Australian federal income tax and the 2 percent Medicare levy, AUD 70,000 nets roughly AUD 56,000 a year, or about AUD 4,700 a month. In Brisbane or Perth (moderate benchmarks $3,200 and $3,225), that leaves comfortable monthly slack. In Melbourne ($3,425) it covers moderate living with modest room for savings. In Sydney ($3,925) it sits below the moderate single-person threshold, making rent the main pressure: a one-bedroom in inner Sydney runs AUD 2,500 to 3,500 a month. For a household of two, AUD 70,000 alone is tight in any capital. For the full picture, see our Australia cost of living page.