We’re great value
The price is right for life in Toowoomba
TOOWOOMBA is one of the cheapest places to live in Queensland, but life gets a lot more affordable if you live just down the Range.
The latest index of retail prices, released by the State Government, shows life in Toowoomba is five per cent less expensive than in the greater Brisbane region.
The Garden City is the 12th least expensive of Queensland’s regional centres.
Items such as food, non-alcoholic beverages, housing, insurance services and financial services all cost less in Toowoomba, according to the price index.
Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Andrew Wielandt said the
statistics showed shoppers were not losing out when they made the decision to buy locally.
“Here’s another reason to be ‘Town Proud’,” he said.
Mr Wielandt said variety and range could still force some people to travel out of town to spend their money, but that may soon not be a reasonable excuse.
“QIC’s $350 million investment in the CBD will go a long way to dealing with this leakage,” he said.
Toowoomba’s housing came in 20.4% cheaper than in Brisbane’s, which Mr Wielandt said was a strong point for the Garden City’s liveability.
“I believe this is our best kept secret,” he said.
“As housing is also the highest cost item in the basket, lower cost of housing for Toowoomba is a positive for the hip pocket.”
However, life really only gets more affordable once you’re dressed and if you don’t smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol.
Toowoomba shoppers pay 6.5% more for clothing and footwear than their Brisbane counterparts. It is the third most expensive location for those items.
They also pay 2.3% more for alcohol and tobacco, and 1.8% more for recreation and culture.
But Gatton is the place to live if you want to get real bang for your buck.
Life’s necessities don’t get much cheaper than in Gatton – they are 10.5% less expensive than in Brisbane.