Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Bega NSW

For one person, living is cheaper in Bega NSW: $2,563 a month against $2,630 in Brisbane, rent and utilities included – about $800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Brisbane outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Brisbane, Australia
Bega NSW, Australia
Brisbane
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,630
/mo nomad
Bega NSW
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,563
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Brisbane and in Bega NSW

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Brisbane and in Bega NSW actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,630 per month in Brisbane vs $2,563 in Bega NSW, rent included.

  • Brisbane $2,630
  • Bega NSW $2,563

A couple spends around $3,801 per month in Brisbane vs $3,832 in Bega NSW, rent included.

  • Brisbane $3,801
  • Bega NSW $3,832

A family of three spends $4,972 per month in Brisbane vs $5,101 in Bega NSW, rent included.

  • Brisbane $4,972
  • Bega NSW $5,101

Brisbane costs about 3% more than Bega NSW, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Brisbane and Bega NSW sit above the global median – Brisbane by 93%, Bega NSW by 88%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61 A$25.15
$19.71 A$28.14
-10.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.0 A$114
$88.2 A$126
-9.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.43 A$16.32
$10.87 A$15.52
5.15%
Cappuccino
$4.51 A$6.45
$4.42 A$6.32
2.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 A$4.22
$2.96 A$4.22
-0.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 A$3.42
$1.98 A$2.82
20.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.61 A$12.30
$8.51 A$12.15
1.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.36 A$11.94
$6.95 A$9.93
20.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 A$2.31
$1.40 A$1.99
15.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 A$3.79
$3.07 A$4.38
-13.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.32 A$3.32
$2.38 A$3.40
-2.52%
Eggs
$4.94 A$7.05
$5.38 A$7.68
-8.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.08 A$12.97
$8.40 A$12.00
8.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.12 A$13.03
$8.01 A$11.44
13.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.34 A$20.47
$16.92 A$24.17
-15.25%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 A$5.91
$3.51 A$5.01
17.95%
Banana (1kg)
$3.07 A$4.38
$3.19 A$4.56
-3.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.05 A$4.35
$3.18 A$4.54
-4.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.89 A$6.98
$4.92 A$7.03
-0.61%
Potato (1kg)
$2.81 A$4.01
$2.87 A$4.10
-2.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 A$3.54
$2.12 A$3.03
16.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.41 A$3.44
$2.33 A$3.33
3.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 A$1.70
$1.49 A$2.13
-20.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$38.54 A$55.0
$47.68 A$68.1
-19.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.65 A$18.06
$12.07 A$17.24
4.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.22 A$7.45
$4.35 A$6.21
20.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.87 A$6.95
$5.68 A$8.11
-14.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 A$0.48
$3.02 A$4.32
-88.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.97 A$29.95
$83.9 A$120
-75.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 A$4.35
$3.58 A$5.11
-14.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.89 A$2.70
$1.51 A$2.16
25.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.76 A$58.2
$42.04 A$60.0
-3.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 A$2.07
$1.34 A$1.92
8.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K A$42.4K
$26.4K A$37.8K
12.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K A$36.6K
$25.8K A$36.9K
-0.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 A$225
$217 A$309
-27.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.05 A$37.21
$24.85 A$35.49
4.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.1 A$87.3
$54.7 A$78.1
11.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 A$87.3
$53.0 A$75.7
15.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.36 A$31.93
$15.80 A$22.56
41.52%
Cinema Ticket
$13.95 A$19.93
$16.11 A$23.01
-13.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,044 A$2,919
$2,121 A$3,029
-3.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K A$18.4K
$20.0K A$28.6K
-35.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.4 A$118
$87.7 A$125
-6.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.63 A$62.3
$54.9 A$78.4
-20.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 A$162
$116 A$165
-1.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 A$158
$118 A$169
-6.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,944 A$2,776
$1,255 A$1,792
54.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 A$2,044
$1,222 A$1,746
17.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,484 A$4,976
$2,541 A$3,629
37.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,240 A$3,200
$2,084 A$2,977
7.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,322 A$13.3K
$6,268 A$8,951
48.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,003 A$10.0K
$4,704 A$6,718
48.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,144 A$5,918
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.81
5.9
-1.53%

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

Last update for Brisbane: October 24, 2026

Last update for Bega NSW: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Brisbane
$1.4K
Bega NSW
$1.2K 14.6% $209
Groceries & Markets
Brisbane
$362
Bega NSW
$363 0.3% $1.2
Eating Out
Brisbane
$310
Bega NSW
$320 2.9% $9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brisbane
$245
Bega NSW
$296 20.9% $51
Clothing & Footwear
Brisbane
$158
Bega NSW
$169 7.5% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Brisbane
$89
Bega NSW
$85 4.3% $3.8
Getting Around
Brisbane
$35
Bega NSW
$107 208% $72

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,944 in Brisbane versus $1,255 in Bega NSW. 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 $80 in Brisbane versus $88 in Bega NSW. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $362 vs $363 – making Brisbane the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Brisbane
🇦🇺 Bega NSW
🕒 Local time
12:17 12:17 PM
13:17 1:17 PM
1 h ahead of Brisbane
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,287,896
4,683
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.7 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.625 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Brisbane Bega NSW 1,070 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Brisbane
  • Bega NSW

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bega NSW: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bega NSW cheaper than Brisbane?
Yes – Brisbane is pricier by about 3%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,945 per month in Brisbane and $3,844 in Bega NSW. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bega NSW, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,255 there versus $1,944 in Brisbane.
Is eating out cheaper in Brisbane or in Bega NSW?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $80 in Brisbane and $88 in Bega NSW. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 75% less in Brisbane. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Brisbane or in Bega NSW?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,630 in Brisbane and $2,563 in Bega NSW. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Brisbane or in Bega NSW?
It depends on your priorities. Brisbane has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,563 in Bega NSW to $2,630 in Brisbane. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Brisbane or Bega NSW?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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