Average price of a gym membership (1 month)

This FACT indicates the price of a one-month gym membership in Australian capital cities.

The data were collected on the survey website, Expatistan.com for the year 2018. According to this source, which used on average price points per city to derive the average price, the city with the highest cost is Sydney, at $119 for one month. The city with the cheapest monthly gym membership is Brisbane, at $51.

Average weekly household expenditure on goods & services (dollars) (Regional)

This FACT indicates the total household expenditure on goods and services over a week in each state. While housing comprises the largest proportion of household expenditure, there are other costs of living which influence the affordability of cities. The ABS Household Expenditure Survey, conducted every five years, collects information on household expenditure on housing, transport, energy, water and a range of consumer goods and services. This is an important source of information, and affords important insight into the cost of living in each state.

Data from the 2015 & 2016 survey shows that Darwin households spend the most on goods and services in Australia, the average expenditure per household totalling $1,700 week. The state with the lowest is Hobart with $1,141 per week. This point makes it an interesting destination for thrifty and financially savvy travellers, and partly explains the increasing interest in Hobart as an Australian holiday destination.

Number of fast food restaurants per 10,000 persons

This FACT indicates the proportion of major fast food chain restaurants in each Australian capital city, as a proportion of 10,000 people. While fast food is the generic term given to food that can be prepared and served quickly, and can always be taken away to be consumed off the premises, this indicator examines major fast food outlets registered inside the yellow pages across Australia. T

The information for this indicator was taken from the yellow pages website in 2018. The city with the largest number of fast food restaurants per 10,000 people is Canberra, at 106.10 per 10,000. The city with the least is Sydney with 45.71 per 10,000. This indicator also appears in the Entertainment and Arts category, and is ranked high to low. It is here ranked low to high due to the negative effects of over-consumption of fast food has on individuals’ health.

Percentage of females with a bachelor's degree qualification

This FACT indicates the percentage of people with a bachelor’s degree qualification who are female. A bachelor’s degree is typically earned after undertaking 3 to 5 years undergraduate study, although this range can vary depending on the field of study, study load, and of course, the student’s diligence. 

Waste recovery per person (tonnes)

While society as a whole is creating far more waste than ever before, the collective conscious is far more attuned to the benefit and necessity of recycling. This FACT indicates the average amount of waste recovered, in tonnes per person in each Australian capital city. Recovered waste refers to the amount of waste (both recyclables and green waste) that was recycled or reused, and therefore not sent to landfill. This data was sourced from the Department of the Environment and Energy, Australian National Waste Report 2016. When it comes to waste recovery, Adelaide leads the way, at 1.953 tonnes per person.