Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Suriname Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Suriname

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,509 per month in Australia vs $325 in Suriname, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,641 per month in Australia vs $548 in Suriname, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,772 per month in Australia vs $771 in Suriname, rent included.

The cost of living in Australia is about 672% higher than in Suriname on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 83% above the global median, while Suriname is 76% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Suriname
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.16 A$25.50
$13.25 SRD 502
37.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.9 A$121
$46.24 SRD 1,752
85.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.87 A$15.26
$10.67 SRD 405
1.87%
Cappuccino
$4.11 A$5.77
$2.84 SRD 108
44.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 A$4.27
$1.48 SRD 56.3
105.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 A$3.46
$0.87 SRD 33.15
183.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.87 A$11.05
$2.43 SRD 92.3
223.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.98 A$11.20
$3.82 SRD 145
108.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Suriname
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 A$2.43
$1.83 SRD 69.4
-5.46%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 A$3.90
$1.40 SRD 52.9
98.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.38 A$3.34
$1.36 SRD 51.6
75.00%
Eggs
$5.08 A$7.14
$2.93 SRD 111
73.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.98 A$14.01
$10.88 SRD 412
-8.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.24 A$12.97
$6.41 SRD 243
44.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.49 A$21.75
$9.77 SRD 370
58.55%
Apples (1kg)
$3.73 A$5.24
$4.83 SRD 183
-22.77%
Banana (1kg)
$3.02 A$4.24
$2.24 SRD 84.8
34.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 A$4.54
$3.66 SRD 139
-11.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.88 A$6.86
$5.83 SRD 221
-16.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 A$4.04
$1.28 SRD 48.61
124.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 A$3.32
$1.91 SRD 72.5
23.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 A$3.49
$1.55 SRD 58.7
60.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 A$2.35
$1.41 SRD 53.3
19.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$38.51 A$54.1
$5.85 SRD 222
558.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 A$20.01
$8.04 SRD 305
77.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.07 A$7.12
$2.07 SRD 78.6
144.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.19 A$7.29
$3.77 SRD 143
37.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Suriname
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.78 A$3.90
$0.60 SRD 22.92
363.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.8 A$133
$91.8 SRD 3,479
3.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.52 A$4.95
$2.95 SRD 112
19.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 A$2.24
$2.04 SRD 77.2
-21.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.42 A$56.8
$9.88 SRD 374
309.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 A$1.79
$1.15 SRD 43.70
10.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K A$39.8K
$25.3K SRD 957.2K
12.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K A$40.2K
$24.7K SRD 937.3K
15.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Suriname
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 A$283
$38.34 SRD 1,453
426.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.08 A$40.84
$25.01 SRD 948
16.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.6 A$83.7
$30.50 SRD 1,156
95.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Suriname
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.3 A$83.2
$13.30 SRD 504
345.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.13 A$28.26
$20.02 SRD 759
0.55%
Cinema Ticket
$15.75 A$22.11
$5.03 SRD 191
213.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Suriname
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,197 A$3,086
$63.3 SRD 2,400
3370.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.2K A$25.6K
$1,733 SRD 65.7K
953.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Suriname
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.3 A$111
$37.59 SRD 1,425
110.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.2 A$80.4
$26.48 SRD 1,004
116.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 A$160
$72.1 SRD 2,733
58.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 A$175
$105 SRD 3,980
18.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Suriname
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,581 A$2,220
$492 SRD 18.7K
221.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,291 A$1,812
$264 SRD 9,996
389.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,530 A$3,553
$1,157 SRD 43.8K
118.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,982 A$2,783
$507 SRD 19.2K
291.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,571 A$12.0K
$469 SRD 17.8K
1728.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,120 A$8,593
$407 SRD 15.4K
1404.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Suriname
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,979 A$5,588
$279 SRD 10.6K
1324.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.93
16.25
-63.51%

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

Last update for Australia: September 12, 2026

Last update for Suriname: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,387 in Australia vs $120 in Suriname. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,829 in Canberra and $481 in Paramaribo.

Average salary: $3,903 in Australia vs $290 in Suriname. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1056% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 282% more in Australia.

Public transport is 259% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 1246% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.

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 Suriname: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Suriname?
Suriname is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 305% 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 Suriname, contributing to the overall 305% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Australia or in Suriname?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Suriname, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Suriname?
Suriname 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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