Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and United States

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Australia is 11.1% cheaper than United States without rent, and 18% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Australia is 6.6% cheaper than United States without rent, and 19.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.97 A$24.47
$20.33 $20.33
-21.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.2 A$118
$74.4 $74.4
3.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.66 A$14.8
$11.49 $11.49
-15.93%
Cappuccino
$3.57 A$5.48
$5.09 $5.09
-29.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 A$4.04
$2.54 $2.54
3.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 A$3.41
$2.11 $2.11
5.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.57 A$10.06
$6.09 $6.09
7.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.98 A$10.7
$7.1 $7.1
-1.69%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Australia
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.5 A$2.3
$1.08 $1.08
38.89%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 A$3.7
$3.7 $3.7
-34.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.02 A$3.1
$4.65 $4.65
-56.56%
Eggs
$4.38 A$6.71
$4.21 $4.21
4.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.86 A$13.58
$12.75 $12.75
-30.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.26 A$12.66
$12.24 $12.24
-32.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.14 A$21.66
$16.08 $16.08
-12.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 A$4.96
$5.41 $5.41
-40.11%
Banana (1kg)
$2.68 A$4.11
$1.73 $1.73
54.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.86 A$4.39
$4.37 $4.37
-34.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.25 A$6.5
$4.94 $4.94
-13.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 A$3.91
$2.88 $2.88
-11.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 A$3.35
$3.07 $3.07
-28.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 A$3.43
$2.25 $2.25
-0.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 A$2.41
$2.21 $2.21
-28.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.36 A$48.04
$10.09 $10.09
210.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.32 A$20.41
$14.73 $14.73
-9.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.61 A$7.06
$1.91 $1.91
141.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.97 A$7.61
$3.54 $3.54
40.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.97 A$4.54
$2.56 $2.56
16.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98 A$150
$63.9 $63.9
53.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.62 A$5.55
$3.81 $3.81
-4.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 A$2.79
$1.77 $1.77
2.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.78 A$57.9
$30.4 $30.4
24.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.2 A$1.84
$0.94 $0.94
27.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K A$44.6K
$30K $30K
-2.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K A$34.5K
$25.8K $25.8K
-12.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 A$276
$209 $209
-13.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.23 A$40.19
$57.9 $57.9
-54.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.8 A$80.9
$71.1 $71.1
-25.69%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Australia
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.77 A$71.7
$45.88 $45.88
1.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.37 A$25.08
$22.25 $22.25
-26.43%
Cinema Ticket
$13.82 A$21.18
$14.14 $14.14
-2.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,599 A$2,450
$1,373 $1,373
16.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K A$18.8K
$22.4K $22.4K
-45.07%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Australia
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.7 A$110
$51.5 $51.5
39.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5 A$78.8
$41.96 $41.96
22.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 A$155
$88.3 $88.3
14.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 A$168
$112 $112
-1.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 A$2,137
$1,731 $1,731
-19.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,106 A$1,694
$1,446 $1,446
-23.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,271 A$3,480
$2,846 $2,846
-20.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,775 A$2,719
$2,366 $2,366
-24.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,985 A$10.7K
$3,245 $3,245
115.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,106 A$7,823
$2,667 $2,667
91.50%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Australia
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,626 A$5,555
$4,312 $4,312
-15.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.35
6.51
-2.46%

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

Last update for Australia: October 29, 2025

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

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