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Brisbane
#61 of 124
Oceania

Brisbane

Australia

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Brisbane compare to Paris?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Brisbane is 69% better off vs in Paris

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Brisbane compared to Paris, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$82,611
+$12K (+17%) vs Paris
Based on 111 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$58,489
+$18K (+43%) vs Paris
Tax Rate: 29%

Community Insights

New

Brisbane presents a polarizing but attractive option for software engineers, defined by a lifestyle-first philosophy. While the city ranks exceptionally well for sunshine and pollution, it is currently grappling with growing pains—specifically a housing market that has become surprisingly expensive relative to local incomes (net income rank #54). The tech scene is smaller and more intimate, lacking the sheer volume of enterprise headquarters found in Sydney, but it compensates with a growing startup culture and a high acceptance of remote work. Ultimately, it is a city where you trade the "hustle" and nightlife of a global metropolis for weekends at the beach and a slower pace.

Resident Sentiment

Sentiment is currently mixed. Long-term residents express frustration at the rising cost of living, feeling that the city's traditional advantage—affordability—is eroding. However, transplants from Sydney and Melbourne often report high satisfaction with the pace of life and weather, frequently stating they have "no regrets" about leaving the "rat race" of bigger cities. There is a strong consensus that the best way to live in Brisbane is to bring a Sydney salary with you.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Paris.

Rankings

Comfortable Weather

Top 6%

#7

of 124 cities

87/100 weather score

Current value

Pollution Score

Top 21%

#26

of 124 cities

33.5/100

Current value (lower is better)

Tax Rate

Middle of the pack

#42

of 124 cities

29%

Current value (lower is better)

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Brisbane compared to Paris?

Avg. Property Price
$6,218 / m²
48% cheaper than Paris
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Brisbane to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
15% cheaper than Paris
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Brisbane

Atlassian logo
Atlassian
Canva logo
Canva
Amazon logo
Amazon

The Good

  • Remote work arbitrage: Many engineers live in Brisbane while working remotely for companies based in Sydney, Melbourne, or the US, allowing them to earn higher capital-city salaries while enjoying a relatively more relaxed lifestyle.
  • Laid-back lifestyle: The work culture is frequently described as less intense and more balanced than Sydney or Melbourne, with a strong focus on outdoor activities and weekends.
  • Weather and climate: Residents consistently praise the sunny, warm climate (high sunshine hours rank), which supports an active outdoor lifestyle year-round, unlike the gloomier weather in southern Australian capitals.
  • Growing startup ecosystem: While smaller than Sydney, Brisbane has a notable and tight-knit startup scene, with several successful local tech companies (e.g., Octopus Deploy, Clipchamp) providing high-quality engineering roles.
  • Commute and infrastructure: For those working hybrid or on-site, the commute is generally considered less stressful and shorter than the massive sprawls of Sydney or Melbourne, with decent public transport access to the CBD.

The Bad

  • Smaller job market: The volume of local opportunities is significantly lower than in Sydney or Melbourne, meaning fewer options for niche specializations or rapid job-hopping.
  • The 'Brisbane Tax': Local salaries for on-site roles are often lower than national averages, with many residents noting that local employers haven't kept pace with the rising cost of living.
  • Housing affordability crisis: A major complaint is the rapidly rising cost of housing; locals describe the rental market as "cooked" with high competition, making the city less affordable than its historical reputation suggests (housing affordability rank #84).
  • Limited nightlife: Younger transplants often find the city "boring" compared to major global hubs, citing a nightlife scene that shuts down early and fewer cultural events.
  • Humidity and heat: The subtropical summer can be oppressive for those not used to high humidity, with some residents struggling without quality air conditioning.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Remote workers with high-paying jobs based in Sydney, Melbourne, or overseas are the ideal demographic, as they can bypass the local salary "tax" while enjoying the climate. Families and mid-career seniors seeking a better work-life balance and outdoor lifestyle will also thrive here, particularly if they prioritize a detached house and warmer weather over career hyper-growth.

Skip it if...

Junior developers may struggle due to fewer mentorship opportunities and a competitive entry-level market. Ambitious career climbers who thrive on constant networking and hopping between top-tier global tech firms will likely find the local market too small. Additionally, nightlife enthusiasts and those sensitive to humidity often find the city frustrating.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather8.7/10+78% vs Paris
Safety62+47%
Pollution34-47%
Events1-94%
8.7/10TechCities weather score vs 4.9/10 in Paris

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
25°C(vs 16°C in Paris)
Average Low
16°C(vs 8°C in Paris)
Sunshine Hours
2,968h/yr+1251h/yr(+73%)
Hottest Month High
29°C(vs 25°C in Paris)
Coldest Month Low
10°C(vs 2°C in Paris)
Rainy Days
90/yr(same as Paris)

Community & Quality

Brisbane community pulse

Brisbane has 1 Luma events listed.

94% fewer events than Paris.

Safety Index

Middle of the pack

#49

of 124 cities

61.8/100

Current value

Net Income

Middle of the pack

#53

of 124 cities

$58,489/yr

Current value

Purchasing Power

Middle of the pack

#61

of 124 cities

Cost of Living

Middle of the pack

#62

of 124 cities

53/100

Current value (lower is better)

Home Affordability

Middle of the pack

#66

of 124 cities

≈8.5 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Community Events

Middle of the pack

#70

of 124 cities

1 event on luma

Current value

SWE Affordability
8.5 years
14.8 years quicker than Paris
Muggy Days
86/yr+83/yr(+2954%)
Cloud Cover
24%(vs 56% in Paris)