Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Albany Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Albany

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,343 in Brisbane versus $2,227 in Albany.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,321 in Brisbane versus $3,231 in Albany.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,298 in Brisbane versus $4,235 in Albany.

Living in Brisbane is roughly 5% more expensive than Albany, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brisbane 75% above, Albany 66% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.40 A$22.97

$14.58 A$20.41

12.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.7 A$98.9

$78.8 A$110

-10.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 A$13.60

$7.64 A$10.70

27.23%

Cappuccino

$3.62 A$5.07

$3.97 A$5.56

-8.82%

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

$2.80 A$3.92

$2.32 A$3.25

20.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 A$3.00

$1.67 A$2.34

28.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.40 A$8.96

$7.40 A$10.35

-13.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 A$11.00

$7.18 A$10.05

9.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 A$2.24

$1.50 A$2.10

6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.31 A$3.24

$2.35 A$3.29

-1.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 A$2.65

$1.95 A$2.73

-3.08%

Eggs

$4.31 A$6.04

$4.23 A$5.92

1.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 A$11.16

$8.40 A$11.76

-5.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.42 A$11.79

$8.33 A$11.66

1.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.35 A$18.68

$13.71 A$19.19

-2.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 A$4.74

$3.20 A$4.48

5.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.85 A$3.99

$2.84 A$3.98

0.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 A$3.83

$2.88 A$4.03

-4.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 A$5.95

$4.03 A$5.64

5.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 A$3.55

$2.40 A$3.36

5.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 A$3.20

$2.10 A$2.93

8.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 A$3.03

$2.15 A$3.02

0.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 A$1.83

$1.59 A$2.22

-18.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.47 A$45.45

$30.75 A$43.05

5.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.10 A$19.74

$15.33 A$21.47

-8.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.69 A$6.57

$4.51 A$6.32

3.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.27 A$5.97

$5.42 A$7.59

-21.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 A$0.48

$2.66 A$3.72

-87.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.10 A$37.94

$64.5 A$90.3

-57.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 A$3.24

$3.65 A$5.12

-36.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 A$2.14

$1.59 A$2.23

-3.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.98 A$47.58

$33.16 A$46.42

2.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 A$1.65

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

$28.5K A$39.9K

$28.5K A$40.0K

-0.08%

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

$22.6K A$31.6K

$22.8K A$31.9K

-0.81%

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

$147 A$206

$187 A$261

-21.33%

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

$25.95 A$36.32

$27.91 A$39.07

-7.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.2 A$75.9

$35.61 A$49.86

52.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.57 A$68.0

$48.61 A$68.1

-0.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.34 A$24.28

$15.91 A$22.28

8.99%

Cinema Ticket

$12.89 A$18.04

$13.04 A$18.26

-1.15%

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

$1,597 A$2,235

$1,624 A$2,274

-1.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,723 A$12.2K

$12.1K A$16.9K

-27.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.9 A$101

$68.6 A$96.0

4.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.20 A$60.5

$49.85 A$69.8

-13.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 A$128

$97.8 A$137

-6.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 A$143

$109 A$152

-6.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,585 A$2,219

$1,249 A$1,749

26.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 A$1,764

$1,083 A$1,517

16.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,658 A$3,722

$2,039 A$2,855

30.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,894 A$2,652

$1,694 A$2,372

11.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,202 A$11.5K

$6,206 A$8,689

32.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,384 A$7,538

$4,982 A$6,975

8.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,267 A$5,974

$2,753 A$3,855

54.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

6.34

-1.58%

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

Last update for Brisbane: April 27, 2026

Last update for Albany: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,585 in Brisbane and $1,249 in Albany. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brisbane pays 55% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $71.0 in Brisbane vs $79.0 in Albany for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $339 per month, with Brisbane cheaper across the board.

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

Brisbane vs Albany: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Albany wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Brisbane. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Albany the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Brisbane pays 55% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,585 in Brisbane versus $1,249 in Albany. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,343 per month in Brisbane versus $2,227 in Albany – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Albany runs roughly 138% less than in Brisbane. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,227 in Albany versus $2,343 in Brisbane, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Albany but tight or insufficient in Brisbane. The gap between the two cities makes Albany the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Brisbane and Albany are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Albany gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Brisbane. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.