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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,285 per month in Brisbane vs $2,232 in Bathurst, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,328 per month in Brisbane vs $3,274 in Bathurst, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,372 per month in Brisbane vs $4,317 in Bathurst, rent included.

Brisbane costs about 2% more than Bathurst, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Brisbane and Bathurst sit above the global median – Brisbane by 71%, Bathurst by 67%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.97 A$22.26

$16.00 A$22.29

-0.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.8 A$98.7

$76.6 A$107

-7.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.50 A$13.24

$9.56 A$13.33

-0.63%

Cappuccino

$3.65 A$5.08

$3.49 A$4.86

4.58%

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

$2.67 A$3.72

$2.60 A$3.62

2.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 A$2.97

$2.21 A$3.08

-3.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.32 A$8.80

$6.66 A$9.28

-5.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 A$11.18

$7.28 A$10.14

10.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 A$2.14

$1.60 A$2.23

-3.75%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 A$3.18

$2.33 A$3.25

-2.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 A$2.60

$1.97 A$2.75

-5.58%

Eggs

$4.48 A$6.25

$4.28 A$5.96

4.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 A$11.48

$8.60 A$11.99

-4.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 A$11.28

$8.34 A$11.63

-3.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 A$18.57

$13.74 A$19.15

-2.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 A$4.71

$3.19 A$4.45

5.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.73 A$3.81

$2.85 A$3.97

-4.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 A$3.78

$2.87 A$4.00

-5.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 A$5.98

$4.06 A$5.66

5.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 A$3.52

$2.41 A$3.36

4.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 A$3.21

$2.09 A$2.91

10.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 A$2.98

$2.11 A$2.95

1.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 A$1.72

$1.52 A$2.12

-18.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.55 A$45.36

$31.37 A$43.72

3.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 A$17.90

$14.28 A$19.90

-10.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.66 A$6.50

$4.60 A$6.41

1.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.18 A$5.83

$5.40 A$7.52

-22.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 A$0.44

$2.56 A$3.56

-87.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.52 A$38.35

$65.9 A$91.8

-58.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 A$3.20

$3.60 A$5.02

-36.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 A$2.20

$1.60 A$2.23

-1.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.11 A$47.54

$34.16 A$47.61

-0.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 A$1.73

$1.19 A$1.65

4.20%

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

$29.1K A$40.5K

-0.10%

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

$22.6K A$31.5K

$22.3K A$31.1K

1.00%

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

$146 A$204

$184 A$256

-20.45%

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

$25.26 A$35.20

$27.62 A$38.49

-8.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 A$73.2

$56.9 A$79.2

-7.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.65 A$69.2

$48.98 A$68.3

1.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 A$24.04

$15.70 A$21.87

9.87%

Cinema Ticket

$13.23 A$18.43

$13.13 A$18.30

0.76%

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

$1,591 A$2,218

$1,606 A$2,238

-0.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,689 A$12.1K

$11.9K A$16.5K

-26.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 A$97.9

$68.2 A$95.1

2.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.49 A$62.0

$51.6 A$71.8

-13.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 A$127

$99.9 A$139

-8.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 A$139

$106 A$147

-5.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,616 A$2,252

$1,279 A$1,782

26.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,241 A$1,729

$1,069 A$1,490

16.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,670 A$3,720

$2,001 A$2,789

33.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,939 A$2,701

$1,657 A$2,309

16.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,525 A$11.9K

$6,976 A$9,722

22.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,824 A$8,116

$4,704 A$6,555

23.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,294 A$5,984

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bathurst: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,616 in Brisbane versus $1,279 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 $71.0 in Brisbane versus $77.0 in Bathurst. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $338 – 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

Yes – Brisbane is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,427 per month in Brisbane and $3,347 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.

Public transport costs about 139% less in Bathurst. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,591 per month in Brisbane and $1,606 in Bathurst. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bathurst, where all-in costs run around $2,232, than in Brisbane at $2,285. In Bathurst it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brisbane it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.