😐A single person spends $2,182 per month in Australia vs $943 in New Caledonia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,216 per month in Australia vs $1,462 in New Caledonia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,250 per month in Australia vs $1,981 in New Caledonia, rent included.
😐Australia costs about 131% more than New Caledonia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Australia sits 63% above the global median, while New Caledonia is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17A$22.54
$14.73CFPF 1,504
9.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.6A$110
$97.2CFPF 9,931
-19.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.48A$13.21
$14.46CFPF 1,477
-34.44%
Cappuccino
$3.56A$4.96
$5.82CFPF 594
-38.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60A$3.62
$2.40CFPF 245
8.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21A$3.08
$1.11CFPF 113
99.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.47A$9.02
$11.21CFPF 1,145
-42.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19A$10.02
$7.41CFPF 757
-2.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56A$2.18
$1.24CFPF 127
25.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.53A$3.53
$3.08CFPF 315
-17.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.02A$2.82
$1.92CFPF 196
5.21%
Eggs
$4.47A$6.23
$5.72CFPF 585
-21.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.86A$12.35
$19.00CFPF 1,940
-53.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.38A$11.68
$22.36CFPF 2,284
-62.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.71A$19.10
$25.54CFPF 2,609
-46.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23A$4.50
$4.21CFPF 430
-23.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.84A$3.96
$7.19CFPF 734
-60.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.98A$4.15
$6.84CFPF 698
-56.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.38A$6.10
$7.37CFPF 753
-40.57%
Potato(1kg)
$2.45A$3.41
$3.89CFPF 397
-37.02%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11A$2.94
$3.25CFPF 332
-35.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.16A$3.02
$2.99CFPF 305
-27.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58A$2.21
$1.52CFPF 155
3.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$30.61A$42.65
$19.29CFPF 1,970
58.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.23A$19.83
$15.34CFPF 1,567
-7.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.55A$6.34
$5.41CFPF 552
-15.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.91A$6.84
$5.99CFPF 612
-18.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.89A$4.03
$2.93CFPF 300
-1.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.5A$136
$62.2CFPF 6,355
56.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.54A$4.94
$5.36CFPF 547
-33.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75A$2.43
$1.01CFPF 103
73.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.10A$53.1
$25.33CFPF 2,587
50.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16A$1.62
$1.69CFPF 173
-31.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8KA$40.1K
$34.2KCFPF 3.5M
-15.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KA$32.3K
$39.3KCFPF 4.0M
-41.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$179A$249
$203CFPF 20.7K
-11.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.75A$37.27
$40.52CFPF 4,139
-33.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7A$74.8
$56.8CFPF 5,801
-5.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.44A$67.5
$61.3CFPF 6,261
-20.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.88A$23.52
$7.89CFPF 806
113.94%
Cinema Ticket
$13.61A$18.97
$12.90CFPF 1,318
5.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,605A$2,236
$786CFPF 80.3K
104.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.7KA$17.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.4A$99.5
$111CFPF 11.3K
-35.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.0A$69.7
$57.1CFPF 5,837
-12.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.8A$139
$92.9CFPF 9,485
7.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109A$152
$243CFPF 24.8K
-55.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,385A$1,930
$762CFPF 77.8K
81.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,076A$1,500
$785CFPF 80.2K
37.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,284A$3,183
$1,615CFPF 165.0K
41.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,757A$2,448
$1,314CFPF 134.2K
33.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,462A$10.4K
$4,845CFPF 495.0K
54.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,617A$7,827
$3,596CFPF 367.3K
56.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
New Caledonia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,070A$5,672
$2,822CFPF 288.2K
44.24%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for New Caledonia: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,233 in Australia vs $458 in New Caledonia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,548 in Canberra and $785 in Noumea.
💰Average salary: $3,906 in Australia vs $2,889 in New Caledonia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 169% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 51% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 219% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 35% higher in Australia, giving New Caledonia 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 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 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 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.