Cost of Living Comparison Between Brandon, MB and Wollongong Cost of Living Comparison Between Brandon, MB and Wollongong

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,728 per month in Brandon, MB vs $1,929 in Wollongong, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,732 per month in Brandon, MB vs $2,776 in Wollongong, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,735 per month in Brandon, MB vs $3,623 in Wollongong, rent included.

Brandon, MB is about 10% cheaper than Wollongong, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Brandon, MB and Wollongong sit above the global median – Brandon, MB by 29%, Wollongong by 44%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.08 CA$22.55

$14.81 A$21.22

8.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.8 CA$92.3

$86.2 A$123

-23.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.94 CA$11.13

$9.97 A$14.28

-20.36%

Cappuccino

$3.60 CA$5.05

$3.31 A$4.74

8.76%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 CA$2.21

$2.56 A$3.67

-38.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.31

$2.25 A$3.22

-26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.30 CA$7.43

$5.87 A$8.41

-9.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.44

$7.53 A$10.78

-10.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 CA$2.24

$1.13 A$1.62

41.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 CA$3.09

$2.19 A$3.13

0.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 CA$4.72

$1.61 A$2.31

109.32%

Eggs

$3.14 CA$4.40

$3.51 A$5.03

-10.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 CA$15.37

$10.09 A$14.46

8.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.75 CA$13.67

$8.45 A$12.10

15.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.65 CA$20.55

$14.50 A$20.77

1.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 CA$5.33

$2.84 A$4.07

33.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 CA$1.93

$2.54 A$3.64

-45.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.25

$2.29 A$3.29

32.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.44 CA$4.83

$4.08 A$5.85

-15.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 CA$3.86

$2.07 A$2.97

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 CA$3.42

$1.79 A$2.56

36.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 CA$3.38

$2.49 A$3.57

-3.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CA$2.19

$1.02 A$1.46

52.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.03 CA$21.07

$31.03 A$44.46

-51.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.06 CA$16.91

$13.56 A$19.43

-11.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 CA$4.04

$2.87 A$4.12

0.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 CA$4.79

$3.52 A$5.04

-2.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 CA$1.85

$2.50 A$3.59

-47.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.1 CA$101

$47.67 A$68.3

51.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 CA$4.54

$4.03 A$5.77

-19.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 CA$1.77

$1.78 A$2.55

-29.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.31 CA$36.89

$40.78 A$58.4

-35.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 CA$1.45

$1.17 A$1.67

-11.97%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.1K CA$32.4K

$28.4K A$40.7K

-18.56%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.4K CA$30.0K

$22.6K A$32.3K

-5.16%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$158 CA$222

$184 A$264

-14.24%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$42.44 CA$59.5

$28.49 A$40.81

48.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.7 CA$85.2

$48.46 A$69.4

25.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.92 CA$57.4

$75.4 A$108

-45.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.60 CA$23.27

$15.42 A$22.09

7.65%

Cinema Ticket

$12.24 CA$17.17

$11.81 A$16.92

3.64%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$975 CA$1,367

$1,557 A$2,231

-37.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K CA$17.3K

$13.5K A$19.3K

-8.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.33 CA$67.8

$59.3 A$84.9

-18.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.33 CA$59.4

$55.8 A$79.9

-24.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 CA$112

$96.6 A$138

-17.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.0 CA$123

$112 A$160

-21.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$794 CA$1,114

$965 A$1,382

-17.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 CA$839

$802 A$1,149

-25.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 CA$1,776

$1,962 A$2,812

-35.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,241 CA$1,739

$1,046 A$1,499

18.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,266 CA$3,177

$4,562 A$6,537

-50.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,235 CA$3,133

$3,605 A$5,165

-38.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,410 CA$3,379

$4,286 A$6,141

-43.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.02

6.29

-4.29%

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

Last update for Brandon, MB: July 13, 2026

Last update for Wollongong: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $794 in Brandon, MB versus $965 in Wollongong. 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 78% higher in Wollongong, 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 Brandon, MB versus $86.0 in Wollongong. Groceries tell a different story – $333 in Brandon, MB vs $309 in Wollongong – so Wollongong 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

Brandon, MB vs Wollongong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Wollongong is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,592 per month in Brandon, MB and $2,893 in Wollongong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Brandon, MB, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Wollongong – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Brandon, MB and $86.0 in Wollongong. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Brandon, MB, where all-in costs run around $1,728, than in Wollongong at $1,929. In Brandon, MB it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wollongong it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Brandon, MB – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Brandon, MB. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Wollongong makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.