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Living in Wagga Wagga

Foreign-born residents accounted for 12.9% of the population in 2021. Wagga Wagga, a city in Australia, had a population of 17,026 in August 2021. In March 2026, the unemployment rate was 3.6%.

Which Australia-wide rules apply when you move to Wagga Wagga?

National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.

Visa and entry rulesPassport-specific entry and national residence context.BenefitsCountry-wide eligibility and official application routes.Taxes in AustraliaNational rates and thresholds that apply in Wagga Wagga.Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

Median rent was A$351 per week, and median monthly mortgage repayment was A$1,647 in August 2021.

City-level rent is published below; no city-level cost-of-living basket is published for Wagga Wagga yet.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Dwellings9,044 dwellings31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics3Official
G05 Main Residential Dwellings6,970 dwellings31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics3Official
Median Weekly Rent Aud351 AUD/week10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia3Official

Work and income

Median personal income was A$612 per week in August 2021. Median household income was A$1,167 per week in August 2021.

What is the unemployment rate in Wagga Wagga?

The unemployment rate is 3.6 % (March 2026). Source: DEWR — Small Area Labour Markets, smoothed unemployment rate by LGA, March quarter 20267

Unemployment across cities in AustraliaUnemployment in Wagga Wagga is 3.6%. Of 100 cities with data, 29 have unemployment of 4 to under 5%.
unemployment rate, % · measured cities in Australia per band4 cities: 1% to under 2%41–29 cities: 2% to under 3%92–323 cities: 3% to under 4%233–4Wagga Wagga 3.6%29 cities: 4% to under 5%294–518 cities: 5% to under 6%185–69 cities: 6% to under 7%96–73 cities: 7% to under 8%37–82 cities: 8% to under 9%28–91 city: 9% to under 10%19–102 cities: 13% to under 14%213–14

Unemployment rate (%)

MetricValuePeriodSource
Employment Full Time Count3,057 people31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics3Official
Employment rate45.1 %31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics3Official
Median Household Income Aud Week1,167 AUD/week10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia3Official
Median Personal Income Aud Week612 AUD/week10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia3Official
Median gross salary (regional)1,388 EUR/month31 Dec 2021www.abs.gov.au6Official
Unemployment rate3.6 %country median 4.4%31 Mar 2026DEWR — Small Area Labour Markets, smoothed unemployment rate by LGA, March quarter 20267Independent

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Wagga Wagga. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.

Country-level information

Workforce Australia — Public employment service

Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

Job Search
Open official service
Open the Australia service overview

Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Wagga Wagga. Sources checked through 11 Aug 2026.

Family and education

MetricValuePeriodSource
Language Other Than English At Home Share Percent4.15 %10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia3Official

Language courses and integration in Wagga Wagga

1 exact course-location record is linked to this city. Check the linked source for dates, availability and enrolment.

Verified locally
1verified local records
Check courses in Wagga WaggaHow the country programme works
Exact city-linked record checked 2026-08-10. Provider-supplied records are supplemental and are not presented as official accreditation.

Climate and air quality

Is the air quality good in Wagga Wagga?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 7.5 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³.

Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.

  • PM2.5 — annual mean: 7.48 µg/m³ · data.airquality.nsw.gov.au2
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits
Wagga Wagga annual air pollutant levels against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limitsCity valueWHO guidelineEU limit5257.5PM2.5µg/m³

City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.

PM2.5 across cities in AustraliaAnnual PM2.5 in Wagga Wagga is 7.5 µg/m³. Of 25 cities with data, 7 have annual PM2.5 of 5 to under 6 µg/m³.
annual PM2.5, µg/m³ · measured cities in Australia per band4 cities: 4 µg/m³ to under 5 µg/m³44–57 cities: 5 µg/m³ to under 6 µg/m³75–66 cities: 6 µg/m³ to under 7 µg/m³66–74 cities: 7 µg/m³ to under 8 µg/m³47–8Wagga Wagga 7.52 cities: 8 µg/m³ to under 9 µg/m³28–92 cities: 9 µg/m³ to under 10 µg/m³29–10

Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)

MetricValuePeriodSource
PM2.5 — annual mean7.48 µg/m³31 Dec 2024data.airquality.nsw.gov.au2Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context

Cities of a similar size in Australia

Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.

All Australia cities
St Georges Basin - Sanctuary Point17,018 residentsKarratha17,013 residentsMelbourne16,985 residentsBatemans Bay17,524 residentsBroken Hill17,588 residentsPort Lincoln16,307 residents

Population and city profile

The city covered 192.1 km² in 2016. Population density was 298.1 people per km² in 2021.

How many people live in Wagga Wagga?

The published population was 17,026 people in August 2021. Source: 2021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia3

Who lives hereResidents by nationality, % of population
Wagga Wagga residents by nationalityBy nationalityNational passport60.1%Foreign residents39.9%

Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.

MetricValuePeriodSource
City area192.1 km²1 Jul 2016Official ASGS2016 SUA area from ABS ArcGIS attributes, area_albers_sqkm. Exact queue geography; not GCCSA or LGA.4Official
Foreign-resident share19.1 %31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics1Official
Foreign residents6,787 people10 Aug 2021Official 2021 Census GCP G01 Birthplace_Elsewhere_P: persons born outside Australia, at exact associated 2021 SUA grain. This is foreign-born, not foreign nationality.3Official
Population density298.1 people/km²30 Jun 2021Reproducible exact-ASGS2016-SUA density: ABS ERP at 30 June 2021 divided by ABS ASGS2016 SUA area. Existing local population baseline is only a recovered cross-check; no GCCSA/LGA observation.5Official
Population Female8,802 people31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics3Official
Population Male8,222 people31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics3Official
Population17,026 people10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia3Official
Population over time25 published observations, 2001–2025
Population in Wagga Wagga by year, residents13,49014,95016,40917,86920012005201120152021202517,567residents

Population rose 27.4% between 2001 and 2025, from 13,792 to 17,567.

International community in Wagga Wagga

Named groups from exact city-grain official distributions. Citizenship, birthplace, language and ancestry answer different questions and stay separate.

Country of birth

Persons usually resident in the ABS Significant Urban Area; 2021 Census G01 total persons denominator · 2021 Census

Published groupPeopleShare
Total persons17,026100.0%
Australia13,77180.9%
Elsewhere (excludes country of birth not stated)2,20312.9%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source3

Country of birth

Persons usually resident in the ABS Significant Urban Area; 2021 Census G09 PERSONS total across age groups and sex · 2021 Census

Published groupPeopleShare
Total17,026100.0%
Australia13,77180.9%
Country of birth not stated1,0496.2%
England7374.3%
New Zealand2341.4%
Born elsewhere(d)2131.3%
Scotland960.6%
Italy800.5%
Germany780.5%
Philippines730.4%
United States of America680.4%
Show 35 more groups
Published groupPeopleShare
Netherlands600.4%
South Africa550.3%
India430.3%
Malta350.2%
Thailand350.2%
Canada290.2%
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)(c)280.2%
Croatia260.2%
Wales260.2%
Ireland220.1%
Korea, Republic of (South)190.1%
Chile170.1%
Vietnam170.1%
Malaysia160.1%
France150.1%
Poland140.1%
Greece130.1%
Hong Kong (SAR of China)(c)130.1%
Japan130.1%
Papua New Guinea130.1%
Zimbabwe130.1%
Brazil110.1%
Indonesia110.1%
Singapore110.1%
Lebanon90.1%
North Macedonia90.1%
Bosnia and Herzegovina80.0%
Sri Lanka70.0%
Egypt60.0%
Iran60.0%
Pakistan60.0%
Taiwan40.0%
Fiji30.0%
Mauritius30.0%
Turkey30.0%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source3

Citizenship

Persons usually resident in the ABS Significant Urban Area; 2021 Census G01 total persons denominator · 2021 Census

Published groupPeopleShare
Total persons17,026100.0%
Australian citizen15,50991.1%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source3

Is Wagga Wagga a good place to live?

There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.

Try your profile
Remote worker37%strong on work, weak on safety · range 27–47%
Skilled employee47%strong on legal route, weak on safety · range 39–55%
Student34%strong on education, weak on safety · range 26–42%
Family45%strong on family, weak on safety · range 36–54%
Retirement48%strong on air quality, weak on admin · range 35–61%
Foreign residents6,787 people10 Aug 2021Official source · Official 2021 Census GCP G01 Birthplace_Elsewhere_P: persons born outside Australia, at exact associated 2021 SUA grain. This is foreign-born, not foreign nationality.
Population17,026 people10 Aug 2021Official source · 2021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia
Dwellings9,044 dwellings31 Dec 2021Official source · Australian Bureau of Statistics
Employment rate45.1 %31 Dec 2021Official source · Australian Bureau of Statistics
Median gross salary (regional)1,388 EUR/month31 Dec 2021Official source · www.abs.gov.au
Unemployment rate3.6 %31 Mar 2026Independent source · DEWR — Small Area Labour Markets, smoothed unemployment rate by LGA, March quarter 2026
Every value keeps its source, geographic scope and verification date · Last checked 2026-08-27

Additional context

MetricValuePeriodSource
Residents born abroad12.94 %10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia3Official
Households6,970 households31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics3Official
Labour force participation rate47.1 %31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics3Official
Median age52 years10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia3Official
Median Monthly Mortgage Repayment Aud1,647 AUD/month10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia3Official

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Wagga Wagga when the national insurance or residence conditions are met.

Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.

Open the official coverage guide
Country rule verified 2026-08-03.

Common questions

Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.

How many people live in Wagga Wagga?

The published population was 17,026 people in August 2021. Source: 2021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia.

Is the air quality good in Wagga Wagga?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 7.5 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: data.airquality.nsw.gov.au.

What is the unemployment rate in Wagga Wagga?

The unemployment rate is 3.6 % (March 2026). Source: DEWR — Small Area Labour Markets, smoothed unemployment rate by LGA, March quarter 2026.

What is the typical salary around Wagga Wagga?

The median gross salary is 1,388 EUR/month. Source: www.abs.gov.au.

How many foreign residents live in Wagga Wagga?

6,787 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Official 2021 Census GCP G01 Birthplace_Elsewhere_P: persons born outside Australia, at exact associated 2021 SUA grain. This is foreign-born, not foreign nationality..

Is Wagga Wagga a good place to live?

Wagga Wagga may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.

How many people born in Australia live in Wagga Wagga?

The official country of birth distribution records 13,771 people (80.9%) in the source-defined population for 2021 Census. This is a country of birth measure, not a general estimate of ethnicity or migration status.

Cite this page

Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.

APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, September 12). Wagga Wagga, Australia: rent, salary, jobs [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/au/wagga-wagga/ Retrieved 2026-09-12. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_wagga-wagga-australia-rent-salary-jobs_5cd09c7b0abb,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Wagga Wagga, Australia: rent, salary, jobs},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-09-12},
  version = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  snapshot = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/au/wagga-wagga/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-09-12. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Wagga Wagga, Australia: rent, salary, jobs](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/au/wagga-wagga/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; retrieved 2026-09-12; built 2026-09-12.

This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.

Sources

JSON Markdown
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics abs.gov.au · checked 2026-08-03
  2. data.airquality.nsw.gov.au data.airquality.nsw.gov.au · checked 2026-08-26
  3. Official 2021 Census GCP G01 Birthplace_Elsewhere_P: persons born outside Australia, at exact associated 2021 SUA grain. This is foreign-born, not foreign nationality. abs.gov.au · checked 2021-08-10
  4. Official ASGS2016 SUA area from ABS ArcGIS attributes, area_albers_sqkm. Exact queue geography; not GCCSA or LGA. geo.abs.gov.au · checked 2016-07-01
  5. Reproducible exact-ASGS2016-SUA density: ABS ERP at 30 June 2021 divided by ABS ASGS2016 SUA area. Existing local population baseline is only a recovered cross-check; no GCCSA/LGA observation. abs.gov.au · checked 2021-06-30
  6. www.abs.gov.au abs.gov.au · checked 2026-08-27
  7. DEWR — Small Area Labour Markets, smoothed unemployment rate by LGA, March quarter 2026 DEWR · dewr.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26

Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.