Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Carlton Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Carlton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,295 per month in Brisbane vs $2,117 in Carlton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,344 per month in Brisbane vs $3,018 in Carlton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,393 per month in Brisbane vs $3,918 in Carlton, rent included.

Brisbane costs about 8% more than Carlton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Brisbane and Carlton sit above the global median – Brisbane by 72%, Carlton by 59%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.08 A$22.75

$19.30 A$27.30

-16.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.8 A$100

$65.6 A$92.7

8.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.47 A$13.39

$9.60 A$13.58

-1.35%

Cappuccino

$3.58 A$5.07

$2.77 A$3.92

29.24%

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

$2.68 A$3.79

$2.39 A$3.38

12.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 A$3.01

$2.00 A$2.83

6.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.35 A$8.98

$6.00 A$8.48

5.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.57 A$10.71

$6.26 A$8.86

20.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 A$2.26

$1.07 A$1.51

49.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 A$3.26

$1.77 A$2.51

29.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 A$2.55

$1.64 A$2.32

9.76%

Eggs

$4.47 A$6.32

$3.15 A$4.46

41.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 A$11.77

$9.03 A$12.78

-7.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.44 A$11.94

$9.43 A$13.34

-10.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.74 A$19.44

$14.39 A$20.36

-4.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 A$4.72

$3.15 A$4.46

6.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.85 A$4.03

$2.58 A$3.65

10.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 A$3.72

$2.98 A$4.22

-11.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.32 A$6.12

$4.07 A$5.76

6.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 A$3.56

$2.29 A$3.24

9.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 A$3.25

$2.04 A$2.89

12.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 A$3.15

$2.19 A$3.10

1.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 A$1.85

$1.34 A$1.89

-2.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$33.06 A$46.78

$28.83 A$40.78

14.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.52 A$17.71

$10.41 A$14.73

20.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.68 A$6.63

$4.48 A$6.34

4.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.27 A$6.04

$5.18 A$7.33

-17.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 A$0.48

$2.99 A$4.23

-88.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.88 A$38.02

$52.1 A$73.7

-48.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 A$3.14

$3.50 A$4.95

-36.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 A$2.24

$1.33 A$1.88

18.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.10 A$48.25

$24.78 A$35.06

37.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 A$1.74

$1.15 A$1.62

6.96%

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

$28.9K A$40.9K

$22.8K A$32.3K

26.68%

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

$22.7K A$32.1K

$13.0K A$18.4K

74.32%

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

$145 A$205

$76.3 A$108

90.03%

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

$25.43 A$35.98

$21.30 A$30.13

19.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 A$76.0

$43.81 A$62.0

22.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.67 A$68.9

$45.57 A$64.5

6.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.49 A$24.75

$17.71 A$25.06

-1.24%

Cinema Ticket

$13.07 A$18.49

$11.69 A$16.54

11.80%

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

$1,621 A$2,293

$1,164 A$1,647

39.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,867 A$12.5K

$11.6K A$16.5K

-23.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.0 A$103

$67.0 A$94.8

8.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.12 A$61.0

$53.1 A$75.2

-18.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.3 A$132

$77.2 A$109

20.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 A$144

$102 A$145

-0.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,583 A$2,239

$1,319 A$1,866

20.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,250 A$1,768

$1,136 A$1,607

10.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,596 A$3,672

$1,957 A$2,769

32.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 A$2,699

$1,610 A$2,278

18.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,215 A$11.6K

$5,300 A$7,499

54.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,958 A$8,429

$5,253 A$7,431

13.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,307 A$6,094

$5,852 A$8,279

-26.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

6.19

0.81%

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

Last update for Brisbane: June 14, 2026

Last update for Carlton: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,583 in Brisbane versus $1,319 in Carlton. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 36% higher in Carlton, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Brisbane versus $66.0 in Carlton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $332 vs $318 – making Carlton 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 Carlton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brisbane costs about 8% more than Carlton, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,442 per month in Brisbane and $3,176 in Carlton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 4% more in Brisbane, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Brisbane and $66.0 in Carlton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Carlton, where all-in costs run around $2,117, than in Brisbane at $2,295. In Carlton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brisbane it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Carlton – 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 Carlton. 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.