Cost of Living in Australia

Updated: December 01, 2024

If you've ever considered moving to Australia, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Australia?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Australia and whether the reported $2961 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $3775.82.

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Childcare

Clothing

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment

Salaries

Australia

restaurant Restaurants	Price	World Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	12.77 $
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	63.86 $
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	8.3 $
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	5.11 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	5.75 $
Cappuccino (regular)	3.03 $
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	2.26 $
Water (12 oz small bottle)	1.89 $

store Markets	Price	World Range
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	1.18 $
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	1.93 $
Rice (white), (1 lb)	1.78 $
Eggs (regular) (12)	3.26 $
Local Cheese (1 lb)	7.13 $
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	7.27 $
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	12.61 $
Apples (1 lb)	2.83 $
Banana (1 lb)	2.32 $
Oranges (1 lb)	2.5 $
Tomato (1 lb)	4.38 $
Potato (1 lb)	2.1 $
Onion (1 lb)	1.75 $
Lettuce (1 head)	2.17 $
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	1.42 $
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	10.86 $
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	3.72 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	3.99 $
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	25.54 $

commute Transportation	Price	World Range
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	2.87 $
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	97.12 $
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	2.68 $
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	1.39 $
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	31.93 $
Gasoline (1 gallon)	1.28 $
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	19156.7 $
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	17672.84 $

mark_as_unread Utilities (Monthly)	Price	World Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	132.47 $
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)	0.25 $
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	48.86 $

kitesurfing Sports And Leisure	Price	World Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	43.05 $
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	12.53 $
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	12.77 $

child_friendly Childcare	Price	World Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	1281.83 $
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	11150.74 $

checkroom Clothing And Shoes	Price	World Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	63.92 $
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	37.39 $
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	90.27 $
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	96.54 $

night_shelter Rent Per Month	Price	World Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1199.65 $
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	945.93 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	2071.92 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	1478.39 $

home Buy Apartment Price	Price	World Range
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	5217.36 $
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	3593.23 $

account_balance_wallet Salaries And Financing	Price	World Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	3775.82 $
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	3.23 %

Dining Out

The cost of dining varies with the type of establishment. A meal at an affordable restaurant averages around 12.77 USD, while a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant generally costs 63.86 USD.

Groceries

Basic grocery prices are accessible for most essentials. For instance, a gallon of milk costs about 1.18 USD, a loaf of bread 1.93 USD, and a dozen eggs approximately 3.26 USD.

Transportation

Public transport is relatively affordable, with a single trip priced at about 2.87 USD and a monthly pass around 97.12 USD. If you plan to use public transit regularly, these passes offer great value.

Utilities

For an 85 m² apartment, monthly utility bills—including electricity, heating, water, and waste services—average around 132.47 USD.

Sports and Recreation

For those interested in fitness and leisure, a monthly gym membership averages around 43.05 USD, while an hour on a tennis court on weekends costs about 12.53 USD.

Childcare and Education

Families looking for private childcare services will find that a month at a local preschool or kindergarten costs around 1281.83 USD. For international schooling options, annual tuition can reach approximately 11150.74 USD.

Clothing and Footwear

Clothing and shoe prices vary widely. A pair of Levi's 501 jeans, for example, costs about 63.92 USD, and mid-range Nike sneakers are priced around 90.27 USD.

Apartment Rentals

Rental prices depend on location, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averaging 1199.65 USD per month, while one outside the center costs around 945.93 USD.

Real Estate for Purchase

If you're considering buying property, prices per square foot vary as well. In central areas, the price per square foot is roughly 5217.36 USD, while in the suburbs, it's closer to 3593.23 USD.

Average Salary and Mortgage Rates

The average monthly net salary here is about 3775.82 USD after taxes, and mortgage interest rates for a 20-year fixed-rate loan average around 3.23% annually.

Cost of Living in Australia

Australia

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Utilities (Monthly)

Sports And Leisure

Childcare

Clothing And Shoes

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment Price

Salaries And Financing