Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and New Caledonia Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and New Caledonia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,185 per month in Australia vs $950 in New Caledonia, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,220 per month in Australia vs $1,466 in New Caledonia, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,254 per month in Australia vs $1,982 in New Caledonia, rent included.

The cost of living in Australia is about 130% higher than in New Caledonia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 64% above the global median, while New Caledonia is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 A$23.19
$14.42 CFPF 1,501
12.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1 A$111
$96.3 CFPF 10.0K
-19.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 A$13.57
$14.50 CFPF 1,509
-34.69%
Cappuccino
$3.46 A$4.95
$5.87 CFPF 611
-41.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 A$3.85
$2.49 CFPF 259
7.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 A$3.13
$1.06 CFPF 111
106.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.61 A$9.47
$11.02 CFPF 1,147
-40.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 A$10.18
$7.63 CFPF 793
-6.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 A$2.22
$1.17 CFPF 122
32.48%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 A$3.55
$3.09 CFPF 321
-20.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.10 A$3.01
$1.90 CFPF 198
10.53%
Eggs
$4.24 A$6.08
$5.53 CFPF 576
-23.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.57 A$12.28
$19.07 CFPF 1,985
-55.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.60 A$12.32
$22.43 CFPF 2,334
-61.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 A$19.79
$26.35 CFPF 2,741
-47.59%
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 A$4.55
$4.20 CFPF 437
-24.52%
Banana (1kg)
$2.72 A$3.90
$7.33 CFPF 763
-62.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 A$4.24
$6.68 CFPF 695
-55.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.31 A$6.17
$7.37 CFPF 767
-41.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.47 A$3.53
$3.73 CFPF 388
-33.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 A$3.00
$3.30 CFPF 343
-36.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 A$3.14
$2.88 CFPF 299
-23.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 A$2.19
$1.53 CFPF 160
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.29 A$44.83
$19.61 CFPF 2,041
59.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.94 A$19.97
$15.02 CFPF 1,563
-7.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.46 A$6.39
$5.19 CFPF 540
-14.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01 A$7.18
$6.08 CFPF 632
-17.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.00 A$4.30
$2.89 CFPF 301
3.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.0 A$138
$63.4 CFPF 6,598
51.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 A$5.11
$5.40 CFPF 562
-34.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 A$2.51
$1.00 CFPF 104
75.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.88 A$54.3
$25.07 CFPF 2,608
51.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 A$1.65
$1.69 CFPF 176
-31.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K A$42.1K
$34.0K CFPF 3.5M
-13.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K A$33.1K
$40.2K CFPF 4.2M
-42.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 A$249
$206 CFPF 21.5K
-15.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.88 A$38.51
$40.45 CFPF 4,208
-33.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.7 A$75.5
$58.2 CFPF 6,054
-9.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.69 A$68.3
$61.1 CFPF 6,352
-21.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.51 A$23.65
$7.55 CFPF 785
118.68%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73 A$19.67
$12.80 CFPF 1,331
7.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,555 A$2,227
$793 CFPF 82.5K
96.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K A$18.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6 A$99.7
$111 CFPF 11.6K
-37.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2 A$73.4
$57.7 CFPF 6,005
-11.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 A$146
$92.7 CFPF 9,645
9.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 A$161
$243 CFPF 25.2K
-53.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,359 A$1,947
$752 CFPF 78.2K
80.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,080 A$1,547
$777 CFPF 80.9K
38.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,300 A$3,296
$1,576 CFPF 163.9K
46.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,751 A$2,509
$1,359 CFPF 141.4K
28.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,618 A$10.9K
$4,769 CFPF 496.2K
59.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,762 A$8,255
$3,528 CFPF 367.1K
63.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,023 A$5,764
$2,756 CFPF 286.8K
45.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.35
2.33
172.53%

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

Last update for Australia: July 12, 2026

Last update for New Caledonia: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,231 in Australia vs $459 in New Caledonia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,549 in Canberra and $805 in Noumea.

Average salary: $3,775 in Australia vs $2,814 in New Caledonia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 168% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 54% more in Australia.

Public transport is 219% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 34% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in New Caledonia.

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 New Caledonia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than New Caledonia?
New Caledonia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 84% 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 New Caledonia, contributing to the overall 84% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Australia or in New Caledonia?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in New Caledonia, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to New Caledonia?
New Caledonia 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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