--- title: "Australia for digital nomads: 20 cities compared (2026)" url: https://nostos.navoy.io/countries/australia description: "Australia for remote workers: 20 cities scored on cost, safety, healthcare, internet, visas, climate and air. Best city Brisbane (74/100). Australia has no d…" dataset: 2026.10.7 (2026-10-13) license: CC BY 4.0 --- # Australia for digital nomads: 20 cities compared (2026) Australia has 20 cities in the dataset. Brisbane scores highest under balanced weights at 74/100; Perth is the cheapest with a city-level price at $2,613 a month. Australia has no digital-nomad visa. ## Cities in Australia, ranked | # | City | Score | Cost/mo (USD) | Download (Mbps) | Known for | Page | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Brisbane | 74 | 2806 | 41.8 | Warm winters; River city | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/brisbane | | 2 | Perth | 74 | 2613 | 39.2 | Beaches; Sunniest capital | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/perth | | 3 | Sydney | 72 | 3599 | 44.2 | Bondi and harbour beaches; Outdoor lifestyle | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/sydney | | 4 | Newcastle (NSW) | 71 | 3350 (national estimate) | 46.5 | City beaches; Ocean baths | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/newcastle-au | | 5 | Wollongong | 69 | 3350 (national estimate) | 48.5 | Surf beaches; Illawarra Escarpment | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/wollongong | | 6 | Melbourne | 69 | 2869 | 42.9 | Coffee culture; Laneways and arts | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/melbourne | | 7 | Townsville | 69 | 3350 (national estimate) | 38.7 | The Strand and Castle Hill; Magnetic Island ferry 20 min | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/townsville | | 8 | Gold Coast | 69 | 3350 (national estimate) | 46.5 | Surf beaches; Theme parks | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/gold-coast | | 9 | Geelong | 68 | 3350 (national estimate) | 63.9 | Waterfront and Eastern Beach; Great Ocean Road gateway | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/geelong | | 10 | Byron Bay | 68 | 3350 (national estimate) | 44.3 | Surf and beaches; Wellness scene | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/byron-bay | | 11 | Adelaide | 68 | 3350 (national estimate) | 39.2 | Festivals; Barossa wine | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/adelaide | | 12 | Cairns | 67 | 3350 (national estimate) | 40.6 | Great Barrier Reef; Daintree rainforest | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/cairns | | 13 | Port Douglas | 67 | 3350 (national estimate) | 41 | Four Mile Beach; Great Barrier Reef trips | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/port-douglas | | 14 | Sunshine Coast | 67 | 3350 (national estimate) | 45.7 | Noosa and Mooloolaba beaches; Glass House Mountains | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/sunshine-coast | | 15 | Canberra | 65 | 3350 (national estimate) | 46.7 | National museums; Cycling city | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/canberra | | 16 | Alice Springs | 64 | 3350 (national estimate) | 41.6 | MacDonnell Ranges; Aboriginal art galleries | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/alice-springs | | 17 | Darwin | 63 | 3350 (national estimate) | 43.6 | Kakadu; Closer to Bali than Sydney | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/darwin | | 18 | Launceston | 62 | 3350 (national estimate) | 38.5 | Cataract Gorge; Tamar Valley wineries | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/launceston | | 19 | Hobart | 62 | 3350 (national estimate) | 38.9 | MONA; Wilderness | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/hobart | | 20 | Broome | 62 | 3350 (national estimate) | 40.1 | Cable Beach sunsets; Kimberley gateway | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/broome | ## National figures shared by every city | Figure | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Homicide rate | 0.94 per 100,000 | Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year), 2024 | | Political stability | 79th percentile | Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100), 2025 | | Health coverage index | 89/100 | UHC service coverage index, 2023 | | Life expectancy | 83.1 years | Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes, 2021 | | Human Development Index | 0.958 | Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023), 2023 | | English proficiency | native | EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band), 2024 | ## Visas and entry | Passport | Entry rule | | --- | --- | | US | eTA required | | EU (Germany) | eTA required | | UK | eTA required | Source: Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations), 2026-02. No long-stay guide for Australia yet. ## Compare - https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/melbourne-vs-sydney - https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/brisbane-vs-sydney - https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/brisbane-vs-perth - https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/brisbane-vs-newcastle-au ## FAQ ### Is Australia good for digital nomads? Brisbane scores 74/100 under balanced weights, which ranks it 22 of 1,000 cities in the dataset. Australia's 20 cities average 67.3/100. Strongest factors in Brisbane: quality of life and air quality; weakest: cost of living. ### What is the cheapest city in Australia for a remote worker? Perth, at about $2,613 a month for one person including rent (WhereNext city cost estimates 2026 (city pages), 2026-09). Sydney is the most expensive city-priced option at $3,599. ### Does Australia have a digital nomad visa? Not according to the sources the dataset uses. Short visits follow the entry rules for your passport. ### How long can a US, EU or UK citizen stay in Australia without a visa? US passport: eTA required. EU passport (Germany as reference): eTA required. UK passport: eTA required. Source: Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations), 2026-02. ### Which city in Australia has the fastest internet? Geelong, with a measured median download of 63.9 Mbps (M-Lab, 2024). Measured speeds run below advertised plans everywhere; 40 Mbps measured is already good. ### How safe is Australia? Australia records 0.94 homicides per 100,000 people (Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year), 2024) and sits at the 79th percentile for political stability (World Bank WGI, 2025). These are national figures; city pages note local caveats. HTML page: https://nostos.navoy.io/countries/australia