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 $642 in Western Sahara, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,217 per month in Australia vs $1,014 in Western Sahara, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,249 per month in Australia vs $1,385 in Western Sahara, rent included.

Australia costs about 240% 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 52% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Australia has a wider regional cost range ($1,584$2,827) than Western Sahara ($642$642), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Australia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.24 A$22.73
$3.75 MAD 34.70
333.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1 A$108
$28.66 MAD 265
168.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.81 A$13.74
$4.51 MAD 41.74
117.52%
Cappuccino
$3.58 A$5.01
$1.67 MAD 15.47
114.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 A$3.60
$0.52 MAD 4.79
394.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 A$3.05
$0.34 MAD 3.15
541.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.63 A$9.28
$3.52 MAD 32.58
88.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12 A$9.97
$4.68 MAD 43.27
52.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 A$2.10
$0.82 MAD 7.63
82.93%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 A$3.54
$0.56 MAD 5.22
351.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 A$2.90
$1.87 MAD 17.32
10.70%
Eggs
$4.29 A$6.01
$1.37 MAD 12.67
213.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.65 A$12.11
$11.60 MAD 107
-25.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 A$11.68
$3.42 MAD 31.61
143.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 A$19.47
$9.11 MAD 84.3
52.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 A$4.61
$1.49 MAD 13.74
121.48%
Banana (1kg)
$2.77 A$3.88
$1.18 MAD 10.95
134.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 A$4.13
$0.72 MAD 6.63
309.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 A$5.87
$0.60 MAD 5.53
598.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.42 A$3.39
$0.44 MAD 4.12
450.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 A$2.94
$0.37 MAD 3.39
467.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 A$3.16
$0.98 MAD 9.02
130.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 A$2.10
$0.57 MAD 5.25
163.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.58 A$44.22
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$14.29 A$20.00
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.59 A$6.42
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82 A$6.75
$3.54 MAD 32.74
36.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.02 A$4.22
$0.56 MAD 5.15
439.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.3 A$138
$11.48 MAD 106
755.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 A$4.88
$0.73 MAD 6.74
376.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 A$2.45
$0.70 MAD 6.47
150.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.97 A$53.2
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 A$1.69
$1.25 MAD 11.52
-3.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K A$40.6K
$40.1K MAD 370.9K
-27.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K A$31.6K
$26.8K MAD 247.5K
-15.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 A$248
$33.35 MAD 308
431.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.85 A$37.59
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4 A$73.4
$22.51 MAD 208
132.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.57 A$66.6
$23.04 MAD 213
106.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.46 A$23.04
$35.33 MAD 327
-53.41%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73 A$19.23
$3.57 MAD 33.03
284.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,593 A$2,231
$290 MAD 2,682
449.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K A$17.8K
$3,486 MAD 32.2K
264.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.0 A$101
$34.85 MAD 322
106.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3 A$71.8
$58.6 MAD 542
-12.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 A$144
$75.0 MAD 693
37.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 A$152
$81.7 MAD 755
32.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Western Sahara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,401 A$1,961
$348 MAD 3,217
302.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,080 A$1,512
$172 MAD 1,595
526.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,340 A$3,276
$687 MAD 6,354
240.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,756 A$2,459
$289 MAD 2,672
508.08%
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
Western Sahara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,000 A$5,600
-
-
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Western Sahara: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,232 in Australia vs $354 in Western Sahara. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,529 in Canberra and $354 in Laayoune.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 248% 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 244% 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 244% 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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