Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and India Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and India

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,185 per month in Australia vs $388 in India, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,220 per month in Australia vs $617 in India, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,254 per month in Australia vs $846 in India, rent included.

The cost of living in Australia is about 463% higher than in India on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 64% above the global median, while India is 71% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,575$2,824) than in India ($265$913), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 A$23.17
$2.53 ₹244
539.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1 A$110
$13.73 ₹1,322
461.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 A$13.56
$4.00 ₹385
136.75%
Cappuccino
$3.46 A$4.95
$1.91 ₹184
81.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 A$3.84
$0.43 ₹41.85
523.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 A$3.13
$0.17 ₹16.11
1188.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.61 A$9.46
$1.93 ₹186
242.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 A$10.17
$3.54 ₹341
100.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 A$2.22
$0.73 ₹69.9
112.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 A$3.54
$0.52 ₹50.1
375.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.10 A$3.00
$0.73 ₹69.9
187.67%
Eggs
$4.24 A$6.07
$0.95 ₹91.4
346.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.57 A$12.27
$5.32 ₹512
61.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.60 A$12.31
$3.10 ₹299
177.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 A$19.78
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 A$4.55
$2.16 ₹208
46.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.72 A$3.89
$0.70 ₹67.7
288.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 A$4.24
$1.05 ₹101
181.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.31 A$6.17
$0.53 ₹50.8
713.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.47 A$3.53
$0.39 ₹37.66
533.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 A$3.00
$0.48 ₹46.64
337.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 A$3.14
$0.52 ₹49.78
321.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 A$2.19
$0.36 ₹34.33
325.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.29 A$44.80
$4.02 ₹387
678.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.94 A$19.96
$7.28 ₹701
91.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.46 A$6.39
$1.90 ₹183
134.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01 A$7.17
$3.03 ₹292
65.35%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.84 ₹562
-
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.00 A$4.30
$0.36 ₹34.66
733.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.0 A$137
$9.84 ₹948
875.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 A$5.10
$0.95 ₹91.8
274.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 A$2.50
$0.30 ₹29.03
483.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.88 A$54.2
$1.79 ₹172
2016.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 A$1.65
$1.21 ₹117
-4.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K A$42.0K
$13.9K ₹1.3M
111.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K A$33.0K
$22.4K ₹2.2M
2.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 A$248
$40.16 ₹3,867
332.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.88 A$38.49
$3.76 ₹362
614.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.7 A$75.5
$8.04 ₹774
555.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.69 A$68.3
$16.25 ₹1,565
193.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.51 A$23.64
$7.56 ₹728
118.39%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73 A$19.66
$3.43 ₹330
300.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,555 A$2,226
$69.7 ₹6,713
2129.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K A$18.1K
$1,852 ₹178.3K
584.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6 A$99.6
$25.59 ₹2,463
171.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2 A$73.4
$26.30 ₹2,532
94.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 A$145
$44.89 ₹4,322
126.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 A$161
$33.20 ₹3,197
237.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,359 A$1,946
$174 ₹16.8K
679.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,080 A$1,546
$112 ₹10.8K
859.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,300 A$3,294
$405 ₹39.0K
468.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,751 A$2,507
$258 ₹24.8K
579.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,618 A$10.9K
$1,263 ₹121.6K
503.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,762 A$8,249
$653 ₹62.8K
782.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,023 A$5,760
$424 ₹40.8K
848.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.35
9.02
-29.60%

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

Last update for Australia: July 12, 2026

Last update for India: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,231 in Australia vs $127 in India. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,549 in Canberra and $242 in Delhi.

Average salary: $3,775 in Australia vs $398 in India. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 869% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 600% more in Australia.

Public transport is 644% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 848% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.

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
Australia vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than India?
India is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 273% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in India, contributing to the overall 273% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Australia or in India?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in India, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to India?
India is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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