Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Bathurst Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Bathurst

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,635 per month in Brisbane vs $2,624 in Bathurst, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,941 per month in Brisbane vs $3,739 in Bathurst, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,247 per month in Brisbane vs $4,854 in Bathurst, rent included.

Brisbane and Bathurst have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Brisbane and Bathurst sit above the global median – Brisbane by 93%, Bathurst by 92%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.92 A$25.17

$16.04 A$22.52

11.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 A$103

$85.5 A$120

-13.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.32 A$15.89

$10.96 A$15.39

3.28%

Cappuccino

$4.39 A$6.17

$3.71 A$5.21

18.33%

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

$2.91 A$4.08

$2.98 A$4.19

-2.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 A$3.54

$2.37 A$3.33

6.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.73 A$12.25

$4.92 A$6.91

77.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.49 A$11.92

$7.76 A$10.90

9.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 A$2.45

$1.98 A$2.77

-12.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 A$3.76

$2.86 A$4.01

-6.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 A$3.32

$2.30 A$3.23

3.04%

Eggs

$5.02 A$7.05

$4.97 A$6.98

1.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.40 A$13.19

$9.76 A$13.71

-3.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.29 A$13.05

$9.48 A$13.32

-2.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.19 A$19.92

$14.97 A$21.03

-5.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.21 A$5.91

$3.89 A$5.46

8.23%

Banana (1kg)

$3.12 A$4.39

$3.17 A$4.44

-1.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 A$4.16

$3.33 A$4.67

-11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.03 A$7.06

$4.68 A$6.57

7.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.83 A$3.97

$2.77 A$3.89

2.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 A$3.49

$2.42 A$3.40

2.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 A$3.37

$2.56 A$3.60

-6.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 A$1.74

$1.63 A$2.29

-23.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$38.66 A$54.3

$39.85 A$56.0

-2.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.07 A$18.36

$14.30 A$20.07

-8.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.35 A$7.51

$5.11 A$7.17

4.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 A$7.11

$5.49 A$7.71

-7.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 A$0.48

$3.21 A$4.51

-89.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.08 A$29.60

$87.7 A$123

-75.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 A$4.33

$3.69 A$5.18

-16.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 A$2.58

$1.63 A$2.29

12.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.32 A$58.0

$41.47 A$58.2

-0.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 A$1.91

$1.27 A$1.79

7.09%

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

$28.4K A$39.9K

$28.1K A$39.5K

1.20%

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

$29.3K A$41.1K

$30.7K A$43.1K

-4.60%

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

$161 A$226

$214 A$301

-24.79%

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

$26.36 A$37.02

$42.39 A$59.5

-37.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.9 A$85.5

$63.7 A$89.5

-4.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.9 A$89.7

$57.9 A$81.4

10.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.59 A$30.32

$18.36 A$25.78

17.59%

Cinema Ticket

$17.98 A$25.25

$16.15 A$22.67

11.33%

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

$2,104 A$2,954

$2,260 A$3,174

-6.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K A$18.2K

$20.6K A$29.0K

-37.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.5 A$119

$80.4 A$113

5.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.77 A$60.1

$57.0 A$80.1

-25.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 A$161

$113 A$158

2.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 A$158

$130 A$183

-13.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,002 A$2,812

$1,481 A$2,080

35.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,405 A$1,973

$1,315 A$1,847

6.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,457 A$4,855

$2,294 A$3,221

50.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,469 A$3,467

$1,881 A$2,641

31.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,337 A$11.7K

$6,766 A$9,501

23.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,333 A$8,892

$5,334 A$7,490

18.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,216 A$5,920

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.81

5.84

-0.51%

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

Last update for Brisbane: September 15, 2026

Last update for Bathurst: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,002 in Brisbane versus $1,481 in Bathurst. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Brisbane versus $86.0 in Bathurst. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $382 – making Brisbane the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bathurst: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,952 per month in Brisbane and $3,936 in Bathurst. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Brisbane – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $2,104 per month in Brisbane and $2,260 in Bathurst. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,635 in Brisbane and $2,624 in Bathurst. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Bathurst – 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 Bathurst. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brisbane makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.