Cost of Living Comparison Between Albany and Brisbane Cost of Living Comparison Between Albany and Brisbane

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,187 in Albany versus $2,290 in Brisbane.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,239 in Albany versus $3,294 in Brisbane.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,291 in Albany versus $4,298 in Brisbane.

Living in Albany costs roughly 5% less than in Brisbane, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Albany 64% above, Brisbane 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.43 A$20.54

$16.57 A$23.58

-12.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.1 A$110

$72.1 A$103

6.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.79 A$11.09

$9.89 A$14.07

-21.23%

Cappuccino

$3.98 A$5.66

$3.72 A$5.30

6.99%

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

$2.32 A$3.30

$2.73 A$3.89

-15.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 A$2.31

$2.24 A$3.18

-27.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.28 A$10.36

$6.47 A$9.21

12.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.29 A$10.37

$8.00 A$11.39

-8.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 A$2.13

$1.55 A$2.21

-3.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.31 A$3.29

$2.23 A$3.17

3.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 A$2.90

$1.89 A$2.69

7.94%

Eggs

$4.24 A$6.03

$4.33 A$6.17

-2.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.41 A$11.97

$8.31 A$11.83

1.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.22 A$11.70

$8.41 A$11.98

-2.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.78 A$19.61

$13.27 A$18.89

3.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 A$4.57

$3.26 A$4.64

-1.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 A$4.08

$2.84 A$4.05

0.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 A$4.15

$2.73 A$3.88

6.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 A$5.96

$4.26 A$6.06

-1.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 A$3.47

$2.46 A$3.50

-0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 A$3.13

$2.35 A$3.35

-6.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 A$2.96

$2.24 A$3.18

-7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 A$2.22

$1.25 A$1.78

24.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$30.31 A$43.14

$33.09 A$47.09

-8.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 A$21.61

$12.68 A$18.04

19.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.53 A$6.45

$4.56 A$6.49

-0.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.42 A$7.71

$4.07 A$5.80

33.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.61 A$3.72

$0.32 A$0.45

715.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.4 A$91.6

$27.52 A$39.17

133.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 A$5.17

$2.34 A$3.33

55.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 A$2.29

$1.60 A$2.27

0.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.27 A$47.36

$33.75 A$48.03

-1.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 A$1.62

$1.19 A$1.70

-4.20%

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

$29.0K A$41.3K

$28.4K A$40.4K

2.28%

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

$22.3K A$31.7K

$22.6K A$32.1K

-1.11%

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

$185 A$263

$145 A$207

27.15%

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

$27.19 A$38.70

$25.93 A$36.90

4.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.11 A$51.4

$53.9 A$76.8

-33.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.26 A$68.7

$48.29 A$68.7

-0.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.93 A$22.68

$16.90 A$24.05

-5.74%

Cinema Ticket

$13.04 A$18.56

$13.26 A$18.87

-1.66%

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

$1,599 A$2,275

$1,610 A$2,292

-0.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.2K A$17.4K

$8,630 A$12.3K

41.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 A$97.0

$72.0 A$102

-5.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.3 A$71.6

$43.16 A$61.4

16.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.2 A$141

$92.0 A$131

7.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 A$150

$98.9 A$141

6.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 A$1,810

$1,631 A$2,322

-22.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,081 A$1,539

$1,259 A$1,792

-14.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 A$2,877

$2,589 A$3,686

-21.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,650 A$2,349

$1,870 A$2,662

-11.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,672 A$8,073

$8,117 A$11.6K

-30.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,937 A$7,028

$5,833 A$8,303

-15.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,609 A$3,713

$4,158 A$5,919

-37.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.34

6.24

1.60%

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

Last update for Albany: July 26, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,272 in Albany and $1,631 in Brisbane. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brisbane pays 59% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $77.0 in Albany vs $72.0 in Brisbane for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $339 vs $327 per month, with Brisbane cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Albany vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Albany wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Brisbane. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Albany the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 59% lower in Brisbane. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,272 in Albany versus $1,631 in Brisbane. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,187 per month in Albany versus $2,290 in Brisbane – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Albany runs roughly 134% less than in Brisbane. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,187 in Albany versus $2,290 in Brisbane, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Albany but tight or insufficient in Brisbane. The gap between the two cities makes Albany the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Albany and Brisbane are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Albany gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Brisbane. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.