Compare countries · Australia vs United States
Australia vs United States
Australia(Oceania)·
United States(North America)
Across 12 comparable indicators: Australia leads on 7, United States on 2, 3 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Australia cheaper than United States?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Australia at 67.9 and United States at 68.8. The two are effectively tied (under 2% apart).
Which has the higher quality of life, Australia or United States?
On the UN Human Development Index, Australia scores 0.958 and United States scores 0.938. Australia scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Australia compared to United States?
GNI per capita runs $64,120 in Australia against $88,810 in United States; people live 83.1 years on average against 78.9; Numbeo users rate healthcare 72 against 67. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Australia
67.9
Worse than 87% of countries
United States
68.8
Worse than 90% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Australia
33.7
Worse than 92% of countries
United States
40.7
Worse than 95% of countries
Australia: 17% cheaper rents.
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Australia
52.5
Worse than 57% of countries
United States
50.8
Worse than 63% of countries
Australia: higher perceived safety (52.5 vs 50.8).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Australia
0.958
Better than 96% of countries
United States
0.938
Better than 91% of countries
Australia: higher human development (0.958 vs 0.938).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Australia
$71,934
Better than 88% of countries
United States
$90,027
Better than 95% of countries
United States: 25% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Australia
83.1 yrs
Better than 91% of countries
United States
78.9 yrs
Better than 75% of countries
Australia: 4.2 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Australia
72.0
Better than 76% of countries
United States
67.0
Better than 59% of countries
Australia: better-rated healthcare (72.0 vs 67.0).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Australia
157 Mbps
Better than 69% of countries
United States
308 Mbps
Better than 96% of countries
United States: 97% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Australia
75/100
Better than 81% of countries
United States
63/100
Better than 64% of countries
Australia: freer press (75 vs 63 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Australia
6.92
Better than 90% of countries
United States
6.82
Better than 85% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Australia
700
Better than 94% of countries
United States
700
Better than 94% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Australia
91.9
Better than 80% of countries
United States
75.8
Worse than 60% of countries
Australia: more pleasant climate rating (91.9 vs 75.8).
Not comparable for this pair
- Peace — Global Peace Index: The Global Peace Index doesn't cover one of these countries.
Deciding between Australia and United States for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
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70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full United States profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.