Cost of living in Australia

Summary of cost of living in Australia

  • Family of four estimated monthly costs: AU$8,526
  • Single person estimated monthly costs: AU$4,852
  • Cost of living in Australia is more expensive than in 92% of countries in the World (6 out of 62)
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Food
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district AU$23
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) AU$15
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast AU$7
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk AU$2.01
12 eggs, large AU$7
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes AU$5.89
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese AU$9
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples AU$5.20
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes AU$3.82
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket AU$7
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality AU$21
2 liters of coca-cola AU$3.96
Bread for 2 people for 1 day AU$3.11
Housing
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area AU$4,172
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area AU$2,862
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat AU$246
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area AU$2,656
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area AU$2,044
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio AU$198
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) AU$71
40” flat screen tv AU$649
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) AU$266
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) AU$16
Hourly rate for cleaning help AU$41
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) AU$124
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) AU$93
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) AU$167
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes AU$185
Transportation
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new AU$39,588
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas AU$1.97
Monthly ticket public transport AU$165
Personal Care
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) AU$8
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) AU$23
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) AU$86
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) AU$7
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) AU$5.40
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) AU$9
4 rolls of toilet paper AU$4.39
Tube of toothpaste AU$4.31
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city AU$38
Entertainment
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub AU$74
2 tickets to the movies AU$46
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) AU$297
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert AU$129
1 cocktail drink in downtown club AU$22
Cappuccino in expat area of the city AU$5.25
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) AU$12
Ipad wi-fi 128gb AU$958
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) AU$0.86
1 month of gym membership in business district AU$89
1 package of marlboro cigarettes AU$45

Map of Cost of Living in Australia

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This map shows only the top cities in Australia. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan

The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.

What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.

Cost of Living Ranking in Australia

(top cities by data quality)

Ranking City Price Index *
1st Sydney 183
2nd Melbourne 169
3rd Brisbane 165
4th Perth 159
5th Adelaide 147
6th Canberra 141
7th Darwin 133
8th Cairns 128
9th Newcastle, Australia 127
10th Wollongong 116
11th Townsville 105

Price Index:

To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.

Are you moving to Australia? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?

Find out what is the real equivalent in Australia of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.

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Prices recently added

  • 2 tickets to the movies in Brisbane costs AU$40 (1 day ago)
  • One-way ticket in public transport in Brisbane costs AU$0.50 (1 day ago)
  • Public transport in Brisbane costs AU$30 (1 day ago)
  • Hourly rate for domestic cleaning help in Brisbane costs AU$35 (1 day ago)
  • Internet 8 mbps, 1 month in Brisbane costs AU$30 (1 day ago)
  • Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Brisbane costs AU$15 (1 day ago)
  • 40ml deodorant, roll-on in Sydney costs AU$3.75 (3 days ago)
  • 1 liter of gasoline in Sydney costs AU$1.89 (3 days ago)
  • Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new in Sydney costs AU$40,000 (3 days ago)
  • Furnished accommodation in normal area, weekly rent - 85m2 in Sydney costs AU$2,580 (3 days ago)

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