Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Blacktown Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Blacktown

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,668 in Brisbane versus $2,685 in Blacktown.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,910 in Brisbane versus $3,890 in Blacktown.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,152 in Brisbane versus $5,094 in Blacktown.

Living in Brisbane costs roughly 1% less than in Blacktown, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brisbane 94% above, Blacktown 95% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.39 A$25.64

$19.63 A$27.37

-6.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.5 A$111

$94.1 A$131

-15.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.70 A$16.32

$10.74 A$14.97

8.94%

Cappuccino

$4.45 A$6.21

$4.07 A$5.67

9.34%

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

$3.03 A$4.23

$3.24 A$4.52

-6.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 A$3.65

$2.73 A$3.80

-4.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.77 A$12.23

$8.65 A$12.07

1.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.60 A$11.99

$9.91 A$13.81

-13.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 A$2.46

$1.67 A$2.33

5.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 A$3.94

$3.46 A$4.82

-18.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 A$3.33

$2.72 A$3.79

-12.13%

Eggs

$5.15 A$7.18

$5.45 A$7.59

-5.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.25 A$12.90

$14.19 A$19.78

-34.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.25 A$12.90

$11.04 A$15.39

-16.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 A$19.92

$16.60 A$23.14

-13.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.21 A$5.87

Banana (1kg)

$3.16 A$4.40

$3.33 A$4.64

-5.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 A$4.17

$3.64 A$5.08

-17.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.85 A$6.76

$5.20 A$7.25

-6.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 A$3.87

$3.16 A$4.40

-12.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 A$3.41

$2.90 A$4.05

-15.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 A$3.37

$2.70 A$3.77

-10.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 A$1.83

$1.51 A$2.10

-13.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$40.09 A$55.9

$46.49 A$64.8

-13.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 A$18.01

$14.75 A$20.57

-12.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.44 A$7.58

$4.80 A$6.69

13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.12 A$7.15

$5.73 A$7.99

-10.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 A$0.48

$3.16 A$4.40

-88.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.40 A$29.83

$87.4 A$122

-75.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 A$4.20

$4.28 A$5.97

-29.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 A$2.57

$1.63 A$2.27

12.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.17 A$60.2

$45.15 A$62.9

-4.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 A$2.01

$1.31 A$1.82

9.92%

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

$28.7K A$40.0K

$28.0K A$39.0K

2.72%

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

$28.6K A$39.8K

$30.6K A$42.7K

-6.73%

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

$170 A$237

$185 A$259

-8.25%

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

$27.80 A$38.75

$27.65 A$38.55

0.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 A$87.9

$58.0 A$80.9

8.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 A$88.7

$57.3 A$79.9

10.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.88 A$30.51

$18.35 A$25.58

19.24%

Cinema Ticket

$16.29 A$22.72

$16.66 A$23.23

-2.22%

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

$2,148 A$2,995

$2,455 A$3,422

-12.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K A$18.2K

$20.7K A$28.9K

-37.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.9 A$121

$80.1 A$112

8.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.20 A$61.6

$58.5 A$81.6

-24.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 A$158

$121 A$168

-6.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 A$154

$138 A$192

-19.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,054 A$2,864

$1,449 A$2,021

41.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,455 A$2,029

$1,276 A$1,779

14.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,464 A$4,829

$2,313 A$3,225

49.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,425 A$3,380

$1,855 A$2,586

30.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,514 A$11.9K

$6,626 A$9,239

28.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,339 A$8,838

$5,249 A$7,319

20.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,229 A$5,895

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.87

5.95

-1.34%

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

Last update for Brisbane: September 7, 2026

Last update for Blacktown: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,054 in Brisbane and $1,449 in Blacktown. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $80.0 in Brisbane vs $94.0 in Blacktown for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $371 vs $422 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 Blacktown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brisbane is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,003 in Brisbane and $4,028 in Blacktown to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,054 in Brisbane versus $1,449 in Blacktown. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Brisbane runs roughly 309% less than in Blacktown. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,148 in Brisbane versus $2,455 in Blacktown. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Brisbane is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Brisbane and Blacktown are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Brisbane gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Blacktown. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.