Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Western Sahara Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Western Sahara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,184 per month in Australia vs $627 in Western Sahara, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,219 per month in Australia vs $1,026 in Western Sahara, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,253 per month in Australia vs $1,425 in Western Sahara, rent included.

Australia costs about 248% more than Western Sahara on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 63% above the global median, while Western Sahara is 53% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Australia has a wider regional cost range ($1,592$2,842) than Western Sahara ($627$627), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Australia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.44 A$23.23
$3.77 MAD 34.86
336.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.1 A$110
$29.37 MAD 272
165.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.94 A$14.05
$4.73 MAD 43.79
110.15%
Cappuccino
$3.60 A$5.08
$1.68 MAD 15.56
114.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 A$3.78
$0.52 MAD 4.83
415.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 A$3.02
$0.34 MAD 3.15
529.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.53 A$9.23
$3.44 MAD 31.85
89.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05 A$9.96
$4.57 MAD 42.23
54.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 A$2.23
$0.82 MAD 7.60
92.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 A$3.57
$0.55 MAD 5.12
360.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 A$2.93
$1.87 MAD 17.30
10.70%
Eggs
$4.30 A$6.08
$1.37 MAD 12.71
213.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.03 A$12.76
$11.45 MAD 106
-21.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.55 A$12.08
$3.45 MAD 31.92
147.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 A$19.72
$9.32 MAD 86.2
49.79%
Apples (1kg)
$3.18 A$4.49
$1.54 MAD 14.25
106.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 A$4.01
$1.18 MAD 10.88
140.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 A$4.17
$0.70 MAD 6.49
321.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.43 A$6.26
$0.60 MAD 5.56
638.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.46 A$3.47
$0.44 MAD 4.06
459.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 A$3.07
$0.37 MAD 3.38
486.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 A$3.24
$0.95 MAD 8.83
141.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 A$2.22
$0.59 MAD 5.48
166.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$30.87 A$43.61
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$14.06 A$19.86
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.55 A$6.43
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.81 A$6.80
$3.40 MAD 31.45
41.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.87 A$4.05
$0.60 MAD 5.51
378.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.8 A$135
$11.37 MAD 105
742.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 A$5.15
$0.76 MAD 7.02
380.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 A$2.49
$0.64 MAD 5.92
175.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.27 A$54.1
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 A$1.63
$1.28 MAD 11.81
-10.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K A$40.1K
$39.7K MAD 367.2K
-28.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K A$32.5K
$26.7K MAD 246.9K
-13.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 A$251
$33.15 MAD 307
436.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.46 A$37.38
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.1 A$76.4
$22.71 MAD 210
138.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.64 A$65.9
$23.56 MAD 218
97.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.54 A$23.37
$34.52 MAD 319
-52.09%
Cinema Ticket
$13.65 A$19.28
$3.54 MAD 32.70
285.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,575 A$2,225
$284 MAD 2,631
453.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K A$17.9K
$3,410 MAD 31.5K
272.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.5 A$101
$34.12 MAD 316
109.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 A$71.8
$58.1 MAD 538
-12.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 A$142
$75.7 MAD 700
32.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 A$153
$79.8 MAD 739
35.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,384 A$1,955
$349 MAD 3,226
296.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,105 A$1,562
$171 MAD 1,582
546.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,298 A$3,246
$696 MAD 6,443
229.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,728 A$2,441
$289 MAD 2,677
497.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,610 A$10.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,504 A$7,776
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,002 A$5,654
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.35
0
-

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

Last update for Australia: June 7, 2026

Last update for Western Sahara: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,232 in Australia vs $347 in Western Sahara. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,568 in Canberra and $347 in Laayoune.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 255% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 166% more in Australia.

Public transport is 509% more expensive 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 Western Sahara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Western Sahara?
Western Sahara is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 254% 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 Western Sahara, contributing to the overall 254% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $800 a realistic budget in Australia or Western Sahara?
$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Western Sahara, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or Western Sahara?
Western Sahara 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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