Cost of Living in Australia: Rent, Housing & Income

Australia is a large country, and prices change a lot between a Sydney harbor suburb and a regional town. The figures on this page describe the country as a whole, which makes them a starting point rather than a quote for any particular city. They are crowd-sourced estimates from Numbeo and Livingcost, converted to US dollars, so exchange rates affect them.

The latest check date is Oct 13, 2026. Where the two sources disagree, the table near the end shows both.

The World Bank's price level ratio for Australia was 90.1 in 2025, with the U.S. at 100. At market exchange rates, the same basket of goods and services cost about 90% of its U.S. price.

GDP per capita, adjusted for purchasing power, was 71,934 international dollars in 2025 (U.S.: 90,027 international dollars in 2025). Consumer prices rose 2.9% in 2025 (U.S.: 2.9% in 2024).

Without rent, a single person spends about $1,114.60/mo. A family of four spends $4,012.40/mo on the same basis. Livingcost's total with rent for one person is $2,460/mo, and its total without rent is $990/mo.

The gap between the rent-free figure and the total with rent shows how much of an Australian budget goes to housing. It is also the number most likely to change if you choose a smaller city.

A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is $1,022.97 – $2,516.09/mo, and outside the centre $835.08 – $1,742.81/mo. The widest part of those ranges reflects the difference between the biggest cities and everywhere else.

Three-bedroom places are $1,530.98 – $4,930.68/mo in the centre and $1,391.80 – $3,051.77/mo outside. Families have a real choice here: a house in an outer suburb often costs less than an apartment near the center of a large city, though it adds commuting time and car costs.

Basic utilities for an 85 square meter apartment are $111.34 – $394.34/mo. Broadband is $48.02 – $73.07/mo and a mobile plan $13.92 – $48.71/mo. A monthly public transport pass is $20.88 – $153.10/mo.

Heating and cooling matter, so utility costs depend on the region and season. Ask a landlord or a current tenant for a typical bill before you sign.

An inexpensive restaurant meal averages $17.40 each. A liter of milk is $1.71 each and a dozen large eggs are $5 each.

Restaurant meals are the main place where small habits change a monthly total. The grocery staples are modest, so cooking at home usually keeps a budget in check.

The average monthly net salary after tax is $3,968.10/mo.

That is a country average. Wages for skilled work, hospitality or casual jobs differ, so use the figure as a reference point, not as a promise of what you will earn.

Numbeo and Livingcost count different things. Numbeo adds up item prices into a total that excludes rent, and Livingcost reports a total with and without rent for one person and four. The two rent-free totals for a single person differ because they weight categories differently.

Pick the line that matches what you want to compare and keep the labels in mind: some include rent and some do not.

• Health insurance for visitors or temporary residents.
• Visa application fees and related charges.
• Flights, shipping and furniture.
• School fees and childcare.
• Taxes. Check the official Australian government immigration and tax pages and ask a licensed advisor.

Because the national average blends very different places, start with the rent table and decide whether the center or the outside suits you. Then estimate how you would get to work. A lower rent that needs a second car may cost more overall than a smaller apartment near a station. Browse current listings in the specific suburb and compare them with the ranges above.

The widest rent ranges in the table come from mixing Australia's biggest cities with smaller places. A one-bedroom in the center of a major city can reach the top of the $1,022.97 – $2,516.09/mo range, while a regional town sits near the bottom. If you work remotely, a smaller place can change your monthly total more than any grocery habit.

Moving between cities is expensive in its own right. Budget for a bond, a first-month rental payment and the cost of setting up utilities and internet, which is $48.02 – $73.07/mo on its own.