Cost of Living in Brisbane - Updated Prices & Insights

66.77
Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $915 (excluding rent), and $2,294 including rent.
Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,300 (excluding rent), and $4,366 including rent.
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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.95 A$24.44
$10.85 A$16.62
$19.14 A$29.33
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.2 A$108
$47.89 A$73.4
$140 A$215
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 A$15.16
$9.23 A$14.15
$13.19 A$20.2
Cappuccino
$3.77 A$5.77
$3.01 A$4.61
$5.34 A$8.18
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 A$4.23
$1.98 A$3.03
$3.64 A$5.57
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 A$3.29
$1.6 A$2.45
$3.19 A$4.89
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.41 A$9.82
$4.49 A$6.87
$9.62 A$14.74
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.78 A$11.92
$5.83 A$8.94
$9.73 A$14.91
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 A$2.4
$1 A$1.54
$2.58 A$3.96
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 A$3.48
$1.31 A$2.01
$3.61 A$5.53
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 A$2.81
$1.16 A$1.77
$3.86 A$5.91
Eggs
$4.43 A$6.79
$3.13 A$4.79
$5.87 A$8.99
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 A$12.66
$5.9 A$9.03
$15.73 A$24.1
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.3 A$12.72
$6.15 A$9.43
$11.01 A$16.87
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 A$20.77
$7.83 A$12
$19.59 A$30.02
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 A$5.1
$1.97 A$3.02
$4.59 A$7.04
Banana (1kg)
$2.89 A$4.43
$2.01 A$3.07
$4.68 A$7.17
Oranges (1kg)
$2.73 A$4.18
$1.43 A$2.18
$6.62 A$10.14
Tomato (1kg)
$4.41 A$6.75
$2.01 A$3.08
$6.02 A$9.23
Potato (1kg)
$2.44 A$3.74
$1.28 A$1.96
$3.2 A$4.9
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 A$3.61
$1.32 A$2.02
$3.3 A$5.06
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 A$3.39
$1.65 A$2.52
$3.09 A$4.73
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 A$1.92
$0.51 A$0.78
$2.56 A$3.92
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$32.65 A$50
$26.12 A$40.01
$39.18 A$60
Wine (Bottle)
$12.79 A$19.59
$6.39 A$9.79
$15.98 A$24.48
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.46 A$6.84
$2.52 A$3.86
$7.64 A$11.71
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 A$6.54
$2.35 A$3.59
$8.02 A$12.29
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 A$0.48
$0.32 A$0.48
$0.32 A$0.48
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 A$40.78
$19.13 A$29.3
$97 A$149
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 A$3.43
$1.98 A$3.04
$4.15 A$6.36
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 A$2.4
$1.43 A$2.19
$1.88 A$2.87
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.95 A$52
$32.9 A$50.4
$38.69 A$59.3
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 A$1.89
$1.08 A$1.66
$1.4 A$2.14
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K A$44.5K
$26.2K A$40.1K
$29.4K A$45.1K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K A$33.6K
$20.4K A$31.3K
$23.6K A$36.2K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$147 A$225
$82.1 A$126
$279 A$428
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.04 A$39.89
$13.26 A$20.31
$53 A$81.2
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54 A$82.8
$42.8 A$65.6
$71.8 A$110
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.8 A$73.2
$19.13 A$29.3
$76.5 A$117
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.46 A$26.75
$13.21 A$20.25
$23.12 A$35.42
Cinema Ticket
$13.15 A$20.15
$10.52 A$16.12
$16.44 A$25.18
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,646 A$2,521
$662 A$1,014
$2,532 A$3,879
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,735 A$13.4K
$3,873 A$5,933
$16.1K A$24.7K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.5 A$111
$46.11 A$70.6
$98.8 A$151
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.28 A$67.8
$19.8 A$30.34
$66 A$101
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 A$145
$66.3 A$102
$119 A$183
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 A$155
$65.6 A$100
$164 A$251
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,631 A$2,499
$1,316 A$2,016
$2,105 A$3,225
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,230 A$1,884
$982 A$1,505
$1,722 A$2,638
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,616 A$4,008
$1,950 A$2,988
$3,575 A$5,477
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,889 A$2,895
$1,421 A$2,177
$2,390 A$3,661
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,925 A$13.7K
$5,584 A$8,555
$13.1K A$20.1K
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,958 A$9,127
$3,211 A$4,919
$9,953 A$15.2K
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,755 A$5,752
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.24
4.5
7
Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
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Cost of Living in Brisbane - Frequently Asked Questions
How does Brisbane stack up in overall affordability, and who tends to get good value there?
Brisbane tends to offer more affordable everyday living than Sydney or Melbourne, which makes it a solid value for travelers, expats, and digital nomads. You will find rents and groceries comfortable if you are mindful of location, and many neighborhoods balance price with access to parks, river views, and transit. In general, you will notice a practical mix of modern apartments and character homes, with shorter commutes if you pick a well-connected inner-suburb. The city's outdoor lifestyle and mild winters add value that is not purely price-driven. Cost of Living in Brisbane, Australia varies by neighborhood, season, and your pace of life. Tip: start with a needs list and test a few areas before committing.
What does daily life look like for housing, food options, transport, and errands?
Housing search in Brisbane benefits from starting with inner-suburbs that balance price and transit. Look for older buildings with good insulation; aim for a place near a ferry stop or light rail to cut commute time. For groceries, local markets and buy-from-the-shelf produce are cost-effective options; dining out ranges from casual cafes to riverside restaurants; co-working spaces are common for digital nomads, often in Fortitude Valley, CBD, or West End. Brisbane, Australia living cost is a handy shorthand when comparing rents, utilities, and proximity to events. Tip: use weekend open inspections and talk to locals about commute times to avoid long, costly trips.
What about quality of life, budgeting frameworks, seasonality, and neighborhood fit?
Quality of life and budgeting: set a framework like 50/30/20 for necessities, wants, and savings, and adjust for hot summer humidity when electricity bills rise for cooling. Seasonality affects outdoor activities; winter can be mild but still require light layers; plan around events and free activities along the river and beaches. When choosing a neighborhood, weigh access to parks, cafes, and coworking; South Bank for a lively scene, Teneriffe for laid-back charm, or bayside areas for family-friendly spaces. Tip: build a flexible plan that prioritizes transit access and air-conditioned shelters during peak heat.
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