Best places to retire in Australia
Top retirement cities in Australia
- Bendigo — retire score 71/100 (cost 50, climate 100, safety 69)
- City of Port Phillip — retire score 71/100 (cost 50, climate 100, safety 69)
- Ballarat — retire score 71/100 (cost 50, climate 100, safety 69)
- Hobart — retire score 70/100 (cost 48, climate 100, safety 71)
- Geelong — retire score 70/100 (cost 48, climate 100, safety 70)
- Wollongong — retire score 69/100 (cost 48, climate 100, safety 66)
- Toowoomba — retire score 69/100 (cost 49, climate 100, safety 64)
- Newcastle — retire score 67/100 (cost 46, climate 100, safety 63)
- Central Coast — retire score 67/100 (cost 47, climate 100, safety 62)
- Adelaide — retire score 66/100 (cost 44, climate 100, safety 63)
- Gold Coast — retire score 66/100 (cost 46, climate 98, safety 61)
- Logan City — retire score 66/100 (cost 47, climate 96, safety 63)
Why these cities rank for retirement in Australia
The retire score weights affordability at 40%, climate comfort at 30% and safety at 30%, because fixed-income retirees feel cost most, then weather, then security. In Australia, Bendigo leads at 71/100 — cost 50, climate 100, safety 69 — while Bendigo is the most affordable base (cost 50/100). Cost is anchored to Australia's World Bank price level, climate to WorldClim normals (so you can judge whether winters and summers suit you), and safety blends natural-disaster exposure with crime. Two things our score deliberately omits — healthcare quality and retirement-visa eligibility — are decisive for retirees, so treat this as the affordability-climate-safety shortlist and verify health cover and residency rules for Australia separately before you commit.
The shortlist, by the numbers
Bendigo scores 71/100 (cost 50, climate 100, safety 69; warmest-month highs ~21.0°C, coldest-month lows ~7.5°C). City of Port Phillip scores 71/100 (cost 50, climate 100, safety 69; warmest-month highs ~20.4°C, coldest-month lows ~9.6°C). Ballarat scores 71/100 (cost 50, climate 100, safety 69; warmest-month highs ~18.0°C, coldest-month lows ~6.4°C). Hobart scores 70/100 (cost 48, climate 100, safety 71; warmest-month highs ~16.4°C, coldest-month lows ~7.5°C). Each balances the three retirement levers differently — Bendigo leads overall, while a city like Bendigo wins purely on budget — so rank them by what your pension stretches to and the climate your health prefers.
FAQ
Where is the best place to retire in Australia?
Bendigo ranks highest in our retirement score (71/100), balancing affordability, mild climate and safety.
Is Australia a good place to retire?
Australia's best retirement city scores 71/100; the most affordable is Bendigo (cost 50/100). We weigh cost, climate and natural-disaster + crime safety — not healthcare or visas, which you should check separately.
What's the cheapest place to retire in Australia?
Bendigo has the lowest cost of living in Australia in our data.