v256.0 · cost of living · AU · verified 2026-04
Australia cost of living
Cost-of-living breakdown for Australia — rent in capital + secondary cities, groceries, dining, public transport, utilities, internet, gym, healthcare, schools. Includes USA + UK cost comparison, currency stability, and recent inflation.
Overview
Sydney + Melbourne among world's most expensive cities for housing · High wages offset · Regional cities affordable · Public services strong · Healthcare via Medicare comprehensive
Rent — capital + secondary cities (AUD)
| 1-bed centre | Sydney CBD/Surry Hills: AUD 700-1,200/week (AUD 3,000-5,200/month) · Melbourne CBD: AUD 550-900/week · Brisbane CBD: AUD 550-800/week · Perth CBD: AUD 450-700/week |
| 1-bed outskirts | Sydney outer (Parramatta, Liverpool): AUD 450-700/week · Melbourne outer (Footscray, Frankston): AUD 350-550/week · Brisbane outer: AUD 380-550/week · Adelaide: AUD 350-500/week |
| 3-bed family | Sydney 3BR house: AUD 900-2,500/week · Melbourne 3BR: AUD 700-1,800 · Brisbane 3BR: AUD 600-1,200 · Perth 3BR: AUD 600-1,100 |
Groceries + dining
| Groceries (per person/month) | AUD 400-800 typical single · Woolworths + Coles dominant · Aldi value · IGA convenience · Costco bulk · Markets (Queen Vic, Sydney Fish, Adelaide Central) fresh |
| Dining out | Café brunch: AUD 18-30 · Pub meal: AUD 25-40 · Mid-tier restaurant: AUD 35-70/person · Fine dining: AUD 100-250/person · Flat white: AUD 5-7 · Pint of beer: AUD 11-15 · Glass of wine: AUD 9-15 |
Transport + utilities + internet
| Public transport + commuting | Sydney Opal weekly cap: AUD 50 · Melbourne Myki monthly: AUD 168 · Single zone 1 Sydney: AUD 4.20 · Uber 10-30% above taxi · Petrol AUD 1.80-2.20/litre · Vehicle rego + CTP AUD 700-1,500/year |
| Utilities + internet | Electricity + gas + water for 90sqm apt: AUD 250-450/month · NBN 100 Mbps: AUD 80-100/month · 1 Gbps NBN: AUD 110-130/month · Mobile 80 GB unlimited talk: AUD 45-65/month |
Gym + healthcare + schools
Gym membership: AUD 60-110/month (Anytime Fitness, Fitness First, F45, Plus Fitness budget) · Private health insurance (Medibank, Bupa, HCF): AUD 100-300/month adult · Medicare via Levy 2% taxable income · International schools AUD 25,000-45,000/year per child
Cost compared (relative)
| vs USA | ~95-115% of US cost (NYC/SF baseline) · Sydney rent comparable to NYC · Groceries higher · Healthcare via Medicare major cost-relief |
| vs UK | ~110-130% of UK cost (London baseline) |
Currency + inflation
| Currency stability | AUD floating · Resource-cycle correlated · USD/AUD ~0.62-0.68 range 2024-25 · Some volatility periods |
| Recent inflation | 2022 peak 7.8% · 2023 declined to 4.3% · 2024 ~3.5% · 2025 ~3.0% · RBA target 2-3% · Housing-cost inflation outpacing wages 2020-24 |
Source: official Australia statistics office · Last verified 2026-04
See also: Australia country profile · cost-of-living atlas