Cheapest priced cityBrisbane$2,245 essentials/mo
Priciest priced citySydney$2,738 essentials/mo
Average 1-bed outside centre$1,448across 8 priced cities
Tourist stay signalETA or eVisitor for most nationalities: free-to-AUD20, 3 months per visit.as of 2026-07
City-by-city monthly costs
Essentials are sourced rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining, and local transport. They are not a full lifestyle budget.
| City | Essentials | 1-bed outside | 1-bed centre | Groceries | Dining | Utilities | Transport | Avg salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | $2,245 | $1,413 | $1,930 | $195 | $379 | $237 | $21 | $4,251 |
| Newcastle | $2,292 | $1,197 | $1,574 | $187 | $474 | $281 | $153 | $3,082 |
| Adelaide | $2,315 | $1,374 | $1,758 | $225 | $392 | $240 | $84 | $3,877 |
| Melbourne | $2,404 | $1,382 | $1,737 | $215 | $390 | $278 | $139 | $4,439 |
| Gold Coast | $2,484 | $1,468 | $2,415 | $213 | $474 | $273 | $56 | $4,199 |
| Canberra | $2,492 | $1,491 | $1,759 | $211 | $453 | $244 | $93 | $4,369 |
| Perth | $2,507 | $1,552 | $1,900 | $201 | $400 | $256 | $98 | $4,343 |
| Sydney | $2,738 | $1,705 | $2,484 | $196 | $406 | $278 | $153 | $4,218 |
Single person, USD. Data updated July 29, 2026.
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