What is a livable salary in Australia?

A livable salary in Australia runs roughly AUD 60,000 to 75,000 a year before tax for one person at the country average, covering CostLiving’s moderate lifestyle benchmark of $3,125 per person per month (about AUD 58,000). The figure rises sharply in capital cities: Sydney pulls up to AUD 75,000 to 90,000 for single-person comfort, Melbourne AUD 65,000 to 80,000, Brisbane and Perth AUD 55,000 to 70,000. Australia’s progressive income tax and 2 percent Medicare levy mean take-home runs roughly 75 to 80 percent of gross for middle incomes. The minimum wage (around AUD 24/hour as of 2026) supports rural and regional Australia but not capital-city moderate living. For the full breakdown, see our Australia cost of living page.