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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,538 per month in Australia vs $365 in India, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,664 per month in Australia vs $579 in India, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,789 per month in Australia vs $792 in India, rent included.

The cost of living in Australia is about 595% higher than in India on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 85% above the global median, while India is 73% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,207$3,344) than in India ($231$827), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.15 A$25.38
$2.06 ₹196
781.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.3 A$122
$10.63 ₹1,009
721.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.04 A$15.44
$3.70 ₹351
198.38%
Cappuccino
$4.01 A$5.60
$1.74 ₹165
130.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 A$4.16
$0.37 ₹35.31
702.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 A$3.34
$0.17 ₹16.34
1300.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.91 A$11.06
$1.93 ₹183
309.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.96 A$11.13
$3.06 ₹290
160.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 A$2.56
$0.62 ₹58.9
195.16%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 A$4.03
$0.49 ₹46.68
487.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.39 A$3.35
$0.63 ₹60.1
279.37%
Eggs
$5.19 A$7.26
$0.94 ₹88.9
452.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 A$13.91
$4.67 ₹443
112.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.14 A$12.79
$2.88 ₹274
217.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.28 A$21.37
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 A$5.12
$1.91 ₹181
91.62%
Banana (1kg)
$3.07 A$4.30
$0.64 ₹60.9
379.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.24 A$4.53
$0.98 ₹93.3
230.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.70 A$6.57
$0.51 ₹48.13
821.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.90 A$4.05
$0.34 ₹32.07
752.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 A$3.44
$0.42 ₹39.87
485.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.50 A$3.49
$0.48 ₹45.67
420.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 A$2.46
$0.29 ₹27.41
506.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$38.84 A$54.3
$4.91 ₹466
691.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.50 A$20.29
$7.27 ₹690
99.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.92 A$6.88
$1.65 ₹157
198.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12 A$7.16
$2.66 ₹253
92.48%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.22 ₹495
-
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.95 A$4.13
$0.27 ₹25.80
992.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.9 A$133
$8.45 ₹802
1022.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 A$5.11
$0.96 ₹91.3
280.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 A$2.25
$0.27 ₹25.87
496.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.79 A$57.1
$1.60 ₹152
2449.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 A$1.81
$1.12 ₹106
16.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K A$39.5K
$12.7K ₹1.2M
121.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K A$41.3K
$20.4K ₹1.9M
44.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 A$285
$37.48 ₹3,558
443.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.50 A$41.26
$3.50 ₹332
742.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.7 A$82.1
$7.16 ₹679
719.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.3 A$80.2
$14.79 ₹1,405
287.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.45 A$27.21
$7.08 ₹672
174.72%
Cinema Ticket
$15.70 A$21.96
$3.06 ₹290
413.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,139 A$2,992
$57.0 ₹5,408
3655.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.4K A$25.8K
$1,679 ₹159.4K
998.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.7 A$113
$22.56 ₹2,142
257.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 A$80.4
$24.04 ₹2,282
139.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 A$164
$40.60 ₹3,855
188.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 A$178
$30.39 ₹2,885
319.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,635 A$2,287
$145 ₹13.8K
1026.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,289 A$1,803
$91.4 ₹8,673
1311.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,474 A$3,461
$335 ₹31.8K
639.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,961 A$2,742
$209 ₹19.9K
837.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,452 A$11.8K
$1,233 ₹117.1K
585.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,152 A$8,606
$626 ₹59.4K
883.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,067 A$5,689
$443 ₹42.1K
817.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.92
8.94
-33.78%

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

Last update for Australia: August 31, 2026

Last update for India: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,423 in Australia vs $120 in India. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,824 in Canberra and $272 in Delhi.

Average salary: $3,932 in Australia vs $408 in India. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1086% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 750% more in Australia.

Public transport is 1043% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 864% 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 330% 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 330% 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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