In its 27th Cost of Living Report Update released this week, the Northern Territory Council of Social Service, (NTCOSS) shows the extent that households are doing it tough.
Some of those doing it the toughest will finally get some relief with the doubling of Newstart and Youth Allowance for the next six months.
The report reveals that high and rising housing and transport costs impact on some particular regions in the NT. Alice Springs has more expensive weekly median private rental than Palmerston, Katherine and Darwin’s northern suburbs ($650 for a four-bedroom house and $535 for a three-bedroom house). Katherine’s median house price is also very high at $550 per week for a four-bedroom house.