🙂A single person spends $2,668 per month in Brisbane vs $2,669 in Bega NSW, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,910 per month in Brisbane vs $3,755 in Bega NSW, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,152 per month in Brisbane vs $4,840 in Bega NSW, rent included.
🙂Brisbane and Bega NSW have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both Brisbane and Bega NSW sit above the global median – Brisbane by 94%, Bega NSW by 94%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.39A$25.64
$17.59A$24.52
4.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5A$111
$87.0A$121
-8.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.70A$16.32
$10.92A$15.23
7.14%
Cappuccino
$4.45A$6.21
$4.18A$5.83
6.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03A$4.23
$2.92A$4.07
3.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62A$3.65
$2.24A$3.13
16.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.77A$12.23
$7.73A$10.78
13.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.60A$11.99
$7.41A$10.33
16.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76A$2.46
$1.70A$2.38
3.53%
White Bread(500g)
$2.82A$3.94
$2.68A$3.74
5.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.39A$3.33
$2.36A$3.29
1.27%
Eggs
$5.15A$7.18
$5.05A$7.04
1.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.25A$12.90
$9.32A$12.99
-0.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.25A$12.90
$9.61A$13.40
-3.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.29A$19.92
$14.91A$20.79
-4.16%
Apples(1kg)
$4.21A$5.87
$3.65A$5.09
15.34%
Banana(1kg)
$3.16A$4.40
$3.11A$4.34
1.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.99A$4.17
$3.45A$4.81
-13.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.85A$6.76
$4.75A$6.62
2.11%
Potato(1kg)
$2.77A$3.87
$2.64A$3.68
4.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.45A$3.41
$2.49A$3.47
-1.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.42A$3.37
$2.45A$3.41
-1.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31A$1.83
$1.64A$2.29
-20.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$40.09A$55.9
$39.73A$55.4
0.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.92A$18.01
$14.62A$20.38
-11.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.44A$7.58
$5.00A$6.97
8.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12A$7.15
$5.52A$7.69
-7.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35A$0.48
$3.05A$4.25
-88.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.40A$29.83
$84.4A$118
-74.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.01A$4.20
$3.50A$4.88
-14.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84A$2.57
$1.62A$2.26
13.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$43.17A$60.2
$40.67A$56.7
6.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44A$2.01
$1.32A$1.84
9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7KA$40.0K
$28.4KA$39.6K
1.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6KA$39.8K
$30.4KA$42.4K
-5.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170A$237
$217A$303
-21.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.80A$38.75
$27.50A$38.33
1.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.0A$87.9
$57.3A$79.9
10.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.6A$88.7
$57.8A$80.5
10.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.88A$30.51
$18.18A$25.34
20.35%
Cinema Ticket
$16.29A$22.72
$15.69A$21.88
3.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,148A$2,995
$2,182A$3,042
-1.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.0KA$18.2K
$20.8KA$29.0K
-37.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.9A$121
$80.0A$112
8.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.20A$61.6
$56.3A$78.5
-21.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113A$158
$113A$157
0.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110A$154
$126A$176
-12.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,054A$2,864
$1,453A$2,026
41.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,455A$2,029
$1,293A$1,803
12.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,464A$4,829
$2,327A$3,244
48.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,425A$3,380
$1,902A$2,651
27.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,514A$11.9K
$6,539A$9,117
30.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,339A$8,838
$5,212A$7,266
21.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brisbane
Bega NSW
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,229A$5,895
-
-
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 Bega NSW: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,054 in Brisbane versus $1,453 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 $80.0 in Brisbane versus $87.0 in Bega NSW. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $371 vs $376 – 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 Bega NSW: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,003 per month in Brisbane and $4,003 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 Brisbane, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Brisbane or in Bega NSW?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Brisbane and $87.0 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 295% less in Brisbane. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Brisbane or in Bega NSW?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,668 in Brisbane and $2,669 in Bega NSW. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Brisbane or Bega NSW more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Brisbane – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Brisbane or Bega NSW?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Brisbane. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bega NSW makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.