Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Bardwell Park, NSW Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Bardwell Park, NSW

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,668 in Brisbane versus $2,629 in Bardwell Park, NSW.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,910 in Brisbane versus $3,754 in Bardwell Park, NSW.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,152 in Brisbane versus $4,878 in Bardwell Park, NSW.

Living in Brisbane is roughly 2% more expensive than in Bardwell Park, NSW, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brisbane 94% above, Bardwell Park, NSW 91% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brisbane
Bardwell Park, NSW
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39 A$25.64
$17.62 A$24.57
4.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5 A$111
$84.4 A$118
-5.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.70 A$16.32
$10.55 A$14.71
10.90%
Cappuccino
$4.45 A$6.21
$4.09 A$5.71
8.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 A$4.23
$3.01 A$4.20
0.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 A$3.65
$2.24 A$3.13
16.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.77 A$12.23
$8.06 A$11.23
8.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.60 A$11.99
$7.71 A$10.75
11.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brisbane
Bardwell Park, NSW
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 A$2.46
$1.65 A$2.31
6.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.82 A$3.94
$2.74 A$3.82
2.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.39 A$3.33
$2.35 A$3.27
1.70%
Eggs
$5.15 A$7.18
$5.15 A$7.18
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.25 A$12.90
$9.63 A$13.43
-3.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.25 A$12.90
$9.38 A$13.07
-1.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.29 A$19.92
$14.86 A$20.72
-3.84%
Apples (1kg)
$4.21 A$5.87
$3.60 A$5.01
16.94%
Banana (1kg)
$3.16 A$4.40
$3.12 A$4.34
1.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 A$4.17
$3.28 A$4.58
-8.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.85 A$6.76
$4.72 A$6.59
2.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 A$3.87
$2.74 A$3.82
1.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.45 A$3.41
$2.51 A$3.50
-2.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.42 A$3.37
$2.42 A$3.38
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 A$1.83
$1.69 A$2.36
-22.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$40.09 A$55.9
$40.01 A$55.8
0.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.92 A$18.01
$14.14 A$19.71
-8.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.44 A$7.58
$5.21 A$7.26
4.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12 A$7.15
$5.40 A$7.53
-5.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Brisbane
Bardwell Park, NSW
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 A$0.48
$3.20 A$4.46
-89.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.40 A$29.83
$87.4 A$122
-75.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 A$4.20
$3.49 A$4.87
-13.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 A$2.57
$1.62 A$2.26
13.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.17 A$60.2
$41.66 A$58.1
3.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 A$2.01
$1.25 A$1.74
15.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K A$40.0K
$27.8K A$38.7K
3.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K A$39.8K
$31.4K A$43.8K
-9.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brisbane
Bardwell Park, NSW
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 A$237
$214 A$298
-20.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.80 A$38.75
$28.24 A$39.37
-1.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.0 A$87.9
$58.4 A$81.5
7.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brisbane
Bardwell Park, NSW
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.6 A$88.7
$58.0 A$80.8
9.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.88 A$30.51
$18.29 A$25.50
19.63%
Cinema Ticket
$16.29 A$22.72
$16.02 A$22.34
1.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brisbane
Bardwell Park, NSW
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,148 A$2,995
$2,214 A$3,087
-2.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.0K A$18.2K
$21.0K A$29.3K
-37.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brisbane
Bardwell Park, NSW
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.9 A$121
$78.2 A$109
11.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.20 A$61.6
$55.4 A$77.3
-20.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 A$158
$116 A$161
-2.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 A$154
$127 A$177
-13.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brisbane
Bardwell Park, NSW
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,054 A$2,864
$1,437 A$2,003
42.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,455 A$2,029
$1,272 A$1,774
14.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,464 A$4,829
$2,284 A$3,185
51.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,425 A$3,380
$1,906 A$2,658
27.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,514 A$11.9K
$6,712 A$9,358
26.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,339 A$8,838
$5,197 A$7,245
21.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brisbane
Bardwell Park, NSW
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,229 A$5,895
$5,645 A$7,870
-25.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.87
5.85
0.34%

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

Last update for Brisbane: September 7, 2026

Last update for Bardwell Park, NSW: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,054 in Brisbane and $1,437 in Bardwell Park, NSW. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bardwell Park, NSW pays 33% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $80.0 in Brisbane vs $84.0 in Bardwell Park, NSW for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $371 vs $376 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 Bardwell Park, NSW: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brisbane or Bardwell Park, NSW?
Bardwell Park, NSW wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Brisbane. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bardwell Park, NSW the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Brisbane or in Bardwell Park, NSW?
On paper, salaries run 33% lower in Bardwell Park, NSW. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Brisbane compared to Bardwell Park, NSW?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,054 in Brisbane versus $1,437 in Bardwell Park, NSW. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Brisbane or in Bardwell Park, NSW?
Shoppers in Brisbane pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Brisbane and in Bardwell Park, NSW?
Dining out is cheaper in Bardwell Park, NSW – a meal for two runs $84.0 versus $80.0 in Brisbane. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Brisbane or in Bardwell Park, NSW?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Bardwell Park, NSW is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Brisbane or Bardwell Park, NSW?
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.
How safe is Brisbane compared to Bardwell Park, NSW?
Safety-wise, Brisbane and Bardwell Park, NSW are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bardwell Park, NSW gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Brisbane. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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