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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,182 per month in Australia vs $388 in India, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,216 per month in Australia vs $617 in India, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,250 per month in Australia vs $846 in India, rent included.

Australia costs about 462% more than India on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 63% above the global median, while India is 71% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Australia has a wider regional cost range ($1,579$2,759) than India ($264$888), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Australia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 A$22.54
$2.49 ₹237
549.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.6 A$110
$14.20 ₹1,353
453.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.48 A$13.21
$3.98 ₹379
138.19%
Cappuccino
$3.56 A$4.96
$1.88 ₹179
89.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 A$3.62
$0.44 ₹41.98
490.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 A$3.08
$0.19 ₹18.57
1063.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.47 A$9.02
$2.02 ₹192
220.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 A$10.02
$3.45 ₹329
108.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 A$2.18
$0.72 ₹68.3
116.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 A$3.53
$0.52 ₹49.26
386.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.02 A$2.82
$0.72 ₹68.7
180.56%
Eggs
$4.47 A$6.23
$0.93 ₹88.8
380.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.86 A$12.35
$5.24 ₹499
69.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.38 A$11.68
$3.07 ₹292
172.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.71 A$19.10
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 A$4.50
$2.17 ₹207
48.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 A$3.96
$0.76 ₹72.2
273.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 A$4.15
$1.05 ₹100
183.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.38 A$6.10
$0.53 ₹50.7
726.42%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 A$3.41
$0.39 ₹37.53
528.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 A$2.94
$0.49 ₹46.81
330.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 A$3.02
$0.52 ₹49.35
315.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 A$2.21
$0.33 ₹31.13
378.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$30.61 A$42.65
$4.05 ₹386
655.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.23 A$19.83
$7.39 ₹704
92.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.55 A$6.34
$1.84 ₹175
147.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.91 A$6.84
$2.90 ₹277
69.31%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.65 ₹538
-
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.89 A$4.03
$0.36 ₹34.59
702.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.5 A$136
$9.74 ₹928
900.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 A$4.94
$0.95 ₹90.6
272.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 A$2.43
$0.30 ₹28.64
483.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.10 A$53.1
$1.73 ₹165
2102.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 A$1.62
$1.23 ₹117
-5.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K A$40.1K
$13.9K ₹1.3M
107.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K A$32.3K
$22.6K ₹2.2M
2.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 A$249
$40.88 ₹3,894
337.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.75 A$37.27
$3.91 ₹372
584.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7 A$74.8
$7.81 ₹744
587.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.44 A$67.5
$16.15 ₹1,538
199.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.88 A$23.52
$7.49 ₹713
125.37%
Cinema Ticket
$13.61 A$18.97
$3.42 ₹326
297.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,605 A$2,236
$69.9 ₹6,660
2194.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K A$17.7K
$1,793 ₹170.8K
610.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.4 A$99.5
$25.83 ₹2,460
176.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.0 A$69.7
$26.61 ₹2,535
88.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 A$139
$45.24 ₹4,309
120.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 A$152
$33.68 ₹3,208
223.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,385 A$1,930
$178 ₹17.0K
677.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,076 A$1,500
$115 ₹10.9K
838.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,284 A$3,183
$407 ₹38.8K
461.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,757 A$2,448
$264 ₹25.1K
566.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,462 A$10.4K
$1,240 ₹118.1K
502.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,617 A$7,827
$631 ₹60.1K
789.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,070 A$5,672
$432 ₹41.2K
842.01%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for India: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,233 in Australia vs $127 in India. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,548 in Canberra and $239 in Delhi.

Average salary: $3,906 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 871% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 600% more in Australia.

Public transport is 644% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 881% higher in Australia, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.

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 277% 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 277% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Australia or 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 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.

Australia vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries