Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Saint Helena Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Saint Helena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,509 per month in Australia vs $299 in Saint Helena, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,641 per month in Australia vs $623 in Saint Helena, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,772 per month in Australia vs $947 in Saint Helena, rent included.

The cost of living in Australia is about 739% higher than in Saint Helena on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 83% above the global median, while Saint Helena is 78% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,174$3,292) than in Saint Helena ($90.0$508), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.16 A$25.50
$15.89 SHP 11.86
14.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.9 A$121
$68.6 SHP 51.2
25.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.87 A$15.26
$13.67 SHP 10.20
-20.48%
Cappuccino
$4.11 A$5.77
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 A$4.27
$1.25 SHP 0.93
143.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 A$3.46
$1.03 SHP 0.77
139.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.87 A$11.05
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.98 A$11.20
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 A$2.43
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 A$3.90
$1.95 SHP 1.45
42.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.38 A$3.34
-
-
Eggs
$5.08 A$7.14
$5.29 SHP 3.95
-3.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.98 A$14.01
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.24 A$12.97
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.49 A$21.75
$11.00 SHP 8.21
40.82%
Apples (1kg)
$3.73 A$5.24
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$3.02 A$4.24
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 A$4.54
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$4.88 A$6.86
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 A$4.04
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 A$3.32
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 A$3.49
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 A$2.35
$1.36 SHP 1.02
23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$38.51 A$54.1
$11.77 SHP 8.78
227.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 A$20.01
$15.83 SHP 11.81
-9.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.07 A$7.12
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.19 A$7.29
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.78 A$3.90
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.8 A$133
$40.08 SHP 29.91
136.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.52 A$4.95
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 A$2.24
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.42 A$56.8
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 A$1.79
$2.59 SHP 1.94
-50.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K A$39.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K A$40.2K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 A$283
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.08 A$40.84
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.6 A$83.7
$219 SHP 163
-72.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.3 A$83.2
$20.18 SHP 15.06
193.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.13 A$28.26
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.75 A$22.11
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,197 A$3,086
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.2K A$25.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.3 A$111
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.2 A$80.4
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 A$160
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 A$175
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,581 A$2,220
$741 SHP 553
113.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,291 A$1,812
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,530 A$3,553
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,982 A$2,783
$520 SHP 388
281.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,571 A$12.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,120 A$8,593
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,979 A$5,588
$777 SHP 580
412.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.93
0
-

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

Last update for Australia: September 12, 2026

Last update for Saint Helena: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average salary: $3,903 in Australia vs $781 in Saint Helena. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 273% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 140% more in Australia.

Public transport is 295% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 400% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Saint Helena.

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 Saint Helena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Saint Helena?
Saint Helena is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 647% 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 Saint Helena, contributing to the overall 647% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Australia or in Saint Helena?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Saint Helena, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Saint Helena?
Saint Helena 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

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