Cost of Living in Brisbane - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Brisbane
Address: Brisbane, AU

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $936 (excluding rent), and $2,321 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,293 (excluding rent), and $4,424 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.37 A$23.24

$11.13 A$15.81

$19.64 A$27.89

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.9 A$101

$48.35 A$68.7

$142 A$201

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.70 A$13.77

$9.05 A$12.86

$12.93 A$18.36

Cappuccino

$3.66 A$5.19

$2.92 A$4.15

$5.18 A$7.36

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 A$3.75

$1.89 A$2.69

$3.48 A$4.94

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 A$3.07

$1.61 A$2.28

$3.20 A$4.55

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.54 A$9.29

$4.58 A$6.50

$9.82 A$13.94

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.76 A$11.02

$5.82 A$8.27

$9.71 A$13.79

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 A$2.21

$0.99 A$1.41

$2.56 A$3.63

White Bread (500g)

$2.19 A$3.12

$1.27 A$1.80

$3.49 A$4.96

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 A$2.57

$1.15 A$1.63

$3.82 A$5.42

Eggs

$4.33 A$6.15

$3.06 A$4.34

$5.73 A$8.14

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.08 A$11.47

$5.76 A$8.18

$15.38 A$21.84

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.15 A$11.57

$6.04 A$8.57

$10.80 A$15.34

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 A$18.93

$7.70 A$10.94

$19.27 A$27.36

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.61

$1.92 A$2.72

$4.47 A$6.35

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 A$4.04

$1.97 A$2.80

$4.60 A$6.54

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 A$3.73

$1.37 A$1.95

$6.36 A$9.04

Tomato (1kg)

$4.40 A$6.24

$2.00 A$2.85

$6.01 A$8.54

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 A$3.46

$1.28 A$1.81

$3.19 A$4.53

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 A$3.34

$1.32 A$1.87

$3.29 A$4.67

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.15 A$3.05

$1.60 A$2.27

$3.00 A$4.26

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 A$1.83

$0.53 A$0.75

$2.64 A$3.75

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$33.08 A$46.98

$26.46 A$37.57

$39.70 A$56.4

Wine (Bottle)

$12.89 A$18.31

$6.81 A$9.67

$17.91 A$25.44

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.53 A$6.43

$2.56 A$3.64

$7.76 A$11.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.14 A$5.88

$2.27 A$3.23

$7.78 A$11.05

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 A$0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.34 A$38.83

$19.65 A$27.90

$99.7 A$142

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 A$3.25

$2.03 A$2.88

$4.25 A$6.04

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 A$2.25

$1.45 A$2.06

$1.90 A$2.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.51 A$47.58

$32.47 A$46.10

$38.18 A$54.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 A$1.70

$1.05 A$1.49

$1.36 A$1.93

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.0K A$41.2K

$26.1K A$37.1K

$29.4K A$41.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.3K A$31.7K

$20.8K A$29.6K

$24.1K A$34.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$144 A$205

$80.3 A$114

$273 A$388

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.80 A$36.63

$13.14 A$18.65

$52.5 A$74.6

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.4 A$74.4

$41.51 A$58.9

$69.6 A$98.9

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.56 A$69.0

$19.43 A$27.59

$77.7 A$110

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.90 A$24.00

$12.79 A$18.16

$22.38 A$31.77

Cinema Ticket

$13.17 A$18.70

$10.54 A$14.96

$16.46 A$23.37

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,622 A$2,303

$652 A$926

$2,495 A$3,543

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,690 A$12.3K

$3,853 A$5,471

$16.1K A$22.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.6 A$102

$45.58 A$64.7

$97.7 A$139

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.89 A$60.9

$19.18 A$27.24

$63.9 A$90.8

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.2 A$132

$65.1 A$92.5

$117 A$166

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 A$143

$64.9 A$92.2

$162 A$231

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,588 A$2,254

$1,280 A$1,818

$2,049 A$2,909

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,247 A$1,771

$996 A$1,415

$1,746 A$2,480

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,601 A$3,694

$1,939 A$2,753

$3,555 A$5,048

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,923 A$2,730

$1,446 A$2,053

$2,432 A$3,453

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,024 A$11.4K

$6,334 A$8,995

$11.6K A$16.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,269 A$7,481

$3,557 A$5,051

$8,536 A$12.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,397 A$6,243

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

4.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: February 28, 2026

Brisbane Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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Cost of Living in Brisbane - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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.