Cost of Living Comparison Between Blacksburg, VA and Mandurah Cost of Living Comparison Between Blacksburg, VA and Mandurah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,134 per month in Blacksburg, VA vs $2,433 in Mandurah, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,197 per month in Blacksburg, VA vs $3,519 in Mandurah, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,259 per month in Blacksburg, VA vs $4,606 in Mandurah, rent included.

Blacksburg, VA is about 12% cheaper than Mandurah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Blacksburg, VA and Mandurah sit above the global median – Blacksburg, VA by 55%, Mandurah by 77%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Blacksburg, VA
Mandurah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.28 $17.28
$21.08 A$29.25
-18.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.0 $66.0
$85.2 A$118
-22.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.34 $8.34
$10.75 A$14.92
-22.42%
Cappuccino
$5.09 $5.09
$4.70 A$6.52
8.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.98 A$4.13
-5.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.23 A$3.10
-12.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$6.46 A$8.97
-9.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03 $7.03
$8.77 A$12.16
-19.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Blacksburg, VA
Mandurah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.72 A$2.38
-48.26%
White Bread (500g)
$3.49 $3.49
$2.63 A$3.65
32.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.08 A$2.88
47.12%
Eggs
$4.60 $4.60
$5.04 A$6.99
-8.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.60 $15.60
$9.05 A$12.56
72.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.25 $10.25
$9.64 A$13.37
6.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.01 $7.01
$14.24 A$19.76
-50.77%
Apples (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$3.58 A$4.97
51.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$3.17 A$4.40
-59.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$3.42 A$4.75
26.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.09 $5.09
$5.24 A$7.27
-2.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.72 A$2.39
58.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 $2.25
$0.83 A$1.15
171.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.05 A$2.84
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.32 A$1.84
54.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.07 $9.07
$42.76 A$59.3
-78.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.30 $15.30
$13.07 A$18.13
17.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$4.39 A$6.09
-49.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.55 A$4.92
-24.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Blacksburg, VA
Mandurah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$3.84 A$5.32
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$91.5 A$127
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 $3.09
$3.63 A$5.04
-14.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.47 A$2.04
24.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.94 $11.94
$42.19 A$58.5
-71.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.28 A$1.78
-29.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$28.5K A$39.5K
-13.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$31.3K A$43.4K
-22.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Blacksburg, VA
Mandurah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 $150
$204 A$283
-26.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.28 $32.28
$21.71 A$30.11
48.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.2 $67.2
$62.6 A$86.8
7.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Blacksburg, VA
Mandurah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.96 $39.96
$34.66 A$48.09
15.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.02 $10.02
$10.68 A$14.82
-6.18%
Cinema Ticket
$14.92 $14.92
$8.85 A$12.28
68.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Blacksburg, VA
Mandurah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$868 $868
$404 A$561
114.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.6K $24.6K
$24.0K A$33.3K
2.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Blacksburg, VA
Mandurah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.40 $31.40
$78.5 A$109
-59.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.43 $30.43
$46.39 A$64.4
-34.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.1 $62.1
$121 A$168
-48.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.5 $76.5
$80.1 A$111
-4.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Blacksburg, VA
Mandurah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,348 $1,348
$1,423 A$1,974
-5.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,074 $1,074
$1,157 A$1,606
-7.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,239 $2,239
$2,511 A$3,484
-10.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,943 $1,943
$1,797 A$2,493
8.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,099 $2,099
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,068 $2,068
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Blacksburg, VA
Mandurah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,166 $4,166
$4,317 A$5,989
-3.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.2
5.7
8.77%

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

Last update for Blacksburg, VA: August 29, 2026

Last update for Mandurah: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,348 in Blacksburg, VA versus $1,423 in Mandurah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 4% higher in Mandurah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Blacksburg, VA versus $85.0 in Mandurah. Groceries tell a different story – $364 in Blacksburg, VA vs $353 in Mandurah – so Mandurah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Blacksburg, VA vs Mandurah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Blacksburg, VA and in Mandurah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,134 in Blacksburg, VA, $2,433 in Mandurah – roughly 14% apart. Mandurah costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Blacksburg, VA compared to Mandurah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,202 per month in Blacksburg, VA and $3,649 in Mandurah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Blacksburg, VA and Mandurah?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Blacksburg, VA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Blacksburg, VA or Mandurah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,134 in Blacksburg, VA and $2,433 in Mandurah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Blacksburg, VA and Mandurah?
Kindergarten costs $868 per month in Blacksburg, VA and $404 in Mandurah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Blacksburg, VA, where all-in costs run around $2,134, than in Mandurah at $2,433. In Blacksburg, VA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mandurah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Blacksburg, VA or Mandurah?
Families tend to lean toward Blacksburg, VA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Blacksburg, VA or Mandurah safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Blacksburg, VA and Mandurah?
If budget matters most, go with Blacksburg, VA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mandurah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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