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 $2,184 per month in Australia vs $887 in Saint Helena, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,217 per month in Australia vs $1,421 in Saint Helena, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,249 per month in Australia vs $1,955 in Saint Helena, rent included.

Australia costs about 146% more than Saint Helena on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 63% above the global median, while Saint Helena is 34% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Australia has a wider regional cost range ($1,584$2,827) than Saint Helena ($520$1,254), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Australia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.24 A$22.73
$16.27 SHP 12.05
-0.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1 A$108
$53.4 SHP 39.57
44.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.81 A$13.74
$12.20 SHP 9.04
-19.59%
Cappuccino
$3.58 A$5.01
$3.11 SHP 2.31
15.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 A$3.60
$1.22 SHP 0.90
110.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 A$3.05
$1.18 SHP 0.87
84.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.63 A$9.28
$4.62 SHP 3.43
43.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12 A$9.97
$2.70 SHP 2.00
163.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 A$2.10
$1.88 SHP 1.40
-20.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 A$3.54
$1.82 SHP 1.35
39.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 A$2.90
$1.39 SHP 1.03
48.92%
Eggs
$4.29 A$6.01
$4.17 SHP 3.09
2.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.65 A$12.11
$8.23 SHP 6.10
5.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 A$11.68
$10.78 SHP 7.99
-22.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 A$19.47
$10.86 SHP 8.04
27.99%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 A$4.61
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.77 A$3.88
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 A$4.13
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 A$5.87
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.42 A$3.39
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 A$2.94
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 A$3.16
$2.77 SHP 2.05
-18.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 A$2.10
$2.30 SHP 1.71
-34.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.58 A$44.22
$11.49 SHP 8.51
174.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.29 A$20.00
$15.64 SHP 11.59
-8.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.59 A$6.42
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82 A$6.75
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.02 A$4.22
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.3 A$138
$41.39 SHP 30.67
137.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 A$4.88
$2.69 SHP 1.99
29.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 A$2.45
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.97 A$53.2
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 A$1.69
$2.57 SHP 1.90
-52.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K A$40.6K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K A$31.6K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 A$248
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.85 A$37.59
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4 A$73.4
$167 SHP 123
-68.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.57 A$66.6
$13.57 SHP 10.06
250.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.46 A$23.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.73 A$19.23
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,593 A$2,231
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K A$17.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.0 A$101
$41.34 SHP 30.63
74.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3 A$71.8
$20.49 SHP 15.18
150.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 A$144
$47.35 SHP 35.09
117.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 A$152
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,401 A$1,961
$703 SHP 521
99.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,080 A$1,512
$623 SHP 462
73.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,340 A$3,276
$701 SHP 519
233.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,756 A$2,459
$647 SHP 480
171.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,733 A$10.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,563 A$7,788
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Saint Helena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,000 A$5,600
$799 SHP 592
400.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.35
6.2
2.42%

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

Last update for Australia: April 27, 2026

Last update for Saint Helena: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,232 in Australia vs $718 in Saint Helena. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,529 in Canberra and $676 in Jamestown.

Average salary: $3,878 in Australia vs $799 in Saint Helena. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 72% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 33% more in Australia.

Public transport is 63% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 385% 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 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 149% 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 149% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Australia or Saint Helena?
$1,500 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 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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