Cost of living in Australia

Summary of cost of living in Australia

  • Family of four estimated monthly costs: AU$9,042
  • Single person estimated monthly costs: AU$5,279
  • Cost of living in Australia is more expensive than in 94% of countries in the World (5 out of 66)
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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$2.04
12 eggs, large AU$7
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes AU$6
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese AU$10
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples AU$5.14
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes AU$3.62
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$3.70
Bread for 2 people for 1 day AU$3.35
Housing
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area AU$4,709
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area AU$3,109
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat AU$214
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area AU$2,788
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area AU$2,151
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio AU$174
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) AU$76
40” flat screen tv AU$793
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) AU$288
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) AU$18
Hourly rate for cleaning help AU$48
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) AU$129
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) AU$95
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) AU$179
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes AU$209
Transportation
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new AU$38,866
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas AU$1.99
Monthly ticket public transport AU$185
Personal Care
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) AU$7
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) AU$19
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) AU$81
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) AU$9
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) AU$5.56
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) AU$9
4 rolls of toilet paper AU$4.36
Tube of toothpaste AU$5.30
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city AU$36
Entertainment
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub AU$68
2 tickets to the movies AU$46
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) AU$262
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert AU$127
1 cocktail drink in downtown club AU$21
Cappuccino in expat area of the city AU$5.10
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) AU$11
Ipad wi-fi 128gb AU$1,070
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) AU$0.95
1 month of gym membership in business district AU$92
1 package of marlboro cigarettes AU$43

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 181
2nd Melbourne 170
3rd Perth 152
4th Brisbane 146
5th Adelaide 143
6th Cairns 122
7th Newcastle, Australia 114
8th Wollongong 110
9th Darwin 108
10th Townsville 102

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.

Get a salary calculation for:

Prices recently added

  • 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Sydney costs AU$30 (about 4 hours ago)
  • Cocktail drink in downtown club in Sydney costs AU$25 (about 4 hours ago)
  • Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Sydney costs AU$150 (about 4 hours ago)
  • 1 ticket to the movies in Sydney costs AU$50 (about 4 hours ago)
  • Basic dinner out in neighborhood pub, dinner for two in Sydney costs AU$70 (about 4 hours ago)
  • Utilities, monthly for 2 people in 85 m2 in Sydney costs AU$150 (about 4 hours ago)
  • Furnished accommodation in normal area, weekly rent - 85m2 in Sydney costs AU$3,010 (about 4 hours ago)
  • 600 g of bread in Sydney costs AU$2.92 (about 4 hours ago)
  • 2 kg bag of potatoes in Sydney costs AU$2.50 (about 4 hours ago)
  • 1 kg of tomatoes in Sydney costs AU$7 (about 4 hours ago)

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