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Cost of Living by City — Australia 2026

Compare rent, groceries, transport, and lifestyle costs across Australia's six major cities. All figures are monthly estimates for a single adult unless noted.

Updated March 2026·Sources: CoreLogic, ABS, Numbeo
Part of🏠 Buying a Home📦 Moving Cities🚪 Moving Out of Home
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Route examples
Sydney to Melbourne moving costMelbourne to Brisbane moving costSydney to Perth moving cost
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Sydney
NSW
Cost index
100
1-bed rent$2,800/mo
2-bed rent$3,600/mo
Groceries$600/mo
Transport$215/mo
Utilities$220/mo
Dining out$28/meal
Median salary$95,000/yr

Most expensive Australian city. Rents highest in inner suburbs and Northern Beaches.

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Melbourne
VIC
Cost index
91
1-bed rent$2,200/mo
2-bed rent$2,900/mo
Groceries$570/mo
Transport$185/mo
Utilities$200/mo
Dining out$26/meal
Median salary$90,000/yr

Strong cafe culture drives food costs. Inner suburbs and Bayside are highest rent.

☀️
Brisbane
QLD
Cost index
84
1-bed rent$1,950/mo
2-bed rent$2,500/mo
Groceries$540/mo
Transport$165/mo
Utilities$230/mo
Dining out$24/meal
Median salary$85,000/yr

Fastest growing city. Rents have risen sharply since 2021. Lower personal tax via QLD lifestyle.

🌅
Perth
WA
Cost index
82
1-bed rent$1,900/mo
2-bed rent$2,400/mo
Groceries$550/mo
Transport$145/mo
Utilities$240/mo
Dining out$24/meal
Median salary$92,000/yr

Mining sector drives above-average salaries. Strong affordability relative to Sydney / Melbourne.

🍷
Adelaide
SA
Cost index
74
1-bed rent$1,600/mo
2-bed rent$2,100/mo
Groceries$520/mo
Transport$140/mo
Utilities$210/mo
Dining out$22/meal
Median salary$80,000/yr

Most affordable capital city. Lower salaries but significantly lower housing costs.

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Canberra
ACT
Cost index
90
1-bed rent$2,200/mo
2-bed rent$2,900/mo
Groceries$590/mo
Transport$120/mo
Utilities$210/mo
Dining out$27/meal
Median salary$105,000/yr

Highest median salary of any Australian city, driven by public service. No public transport surcharge.

About the cost index

Sydney = 100 (baseline). All other cities are indexed relative to Sydney's overall cost of living. The index covers rent, groceries, utilities, transport, and entertainment in roughly equal weighting. Individual categories may vary.

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Frequently asked questions

Which Australian city is the most affordable to live in?
Adelaide is consistently the most affordable Australian capital city, with median rents and living costs significantly below Sydney and Melbourne. Hobart is also affordable but has seen sharp rent increases since 2020.
Is Sydney really that much more expensive than Melbourne?
Sydney is approximately 10% more expensive than Melbourne overall, driven primarily by higher rents. Groceries, transport, and dining costs are broadly similar. The gap widens considerably for families needing larger homes.
How does the cost of living affect salary comparisons?
A $90,000 salary in Adelaide provides significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in Sydney. When comparing job offers across cities, a rough rule of thumb is to add 15–20% to a Sydney salary requirement to account for higher rent and living costs.