Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Coffs Harbour Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Coffs Harbour

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,668 per month in Brisbane vs $2,577 in Coffs Harbour, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,910 per month in Brisbane vs $3,725 in Coffs Harbour, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,152 per month in Brisbane vs $4,873 in Coffs Harbour, rent included.

Brisbane costs about 4% more than Coffs Harbour, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Brisbane and Coffs Harbour sit above the global median – Brisbane by 94%, Coffs Harbour by 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.39 A$25.64

$14.26 A$19.88

28.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.5 A$111

$106 A$148

-25.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.70 A$16.32

$9.17 A$12.78

27.59%

Cappuccino

$4.45 A$6.21

$3.83 A$5.34

16.19%

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

$3.03 A$4.23

$2.96 A$4.13

2.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 A$3.65

$2.02 A$2.81

29.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.77 A$12.23

$5.53 A$7.71

58.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.60 A$11.99

$5.74 A$8.00

49.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 A$2.46

$1.70 A$2.37

3.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 A$3.94

$2.72 A$3.79

3.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 A$3.33

$2.44 A$3.40

-2.05%

Eggs

$5.15 A$7.18

$3.57 A$4.98

44.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.25 A$12.90

$8.99 A$12.54

2.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.25 A$12.90

$7.44 A$10.37

24.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 A$19.92

$14.33 A$19.98

-0.28%

Apples (1kg)

$4.21 A$5.87

$4.10 A$5.72

2.68%

Banana (1kg)

$3.16 A$4.40

$3.30 A$4.60

-4.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 A$4.17

$3.46 A$4.82

-13.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.85 A$6.76

$4.40 A$6.14

10.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 A$3.87

$1.40 A$1.95

97.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 A$3.41

$2.65 A$3.69

-7.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 A$3.37

$2.61 A$3.64

-7.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 A$1.83

$2.36 A$3.29

-44.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$40.09 A$55.9

$33.54 A$46.76

19.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 A$18.01

$14.94 A$20.83

-13.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.44 A$7.58

$5.89 A$8.21

-7.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.12 A$7.15

$6.83 A$9.52

-25.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 A$0.48

$4.98 A$6.94

-92.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.40 A$29.83

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 A$4.20

$2.20 A$3.06

36.82%

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

$37.29 A$52.0

15.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 A$2.01

$1.31 A$1.83

9.92%

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

$28.7K A$40.0K

$27.6K A$38.4K

4.23%

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

$28.6K A$39.8K

$34.3K A$47.8K

-16.62%

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

$170 A$237

$181 A$253

-6.20%

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

$27.80 A$38.75

$10.62 A$14.81

161.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 A$87.9

$56.3 A$78.4

12.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 A$88.7

$114 A$159

-44.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.88 A$30.51

Cinema Ticket

$16.29 A$22.72

$14.43 A$20.12

12.89%

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

$2,148 A$2,995

$2,236 A$3,117

-3.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K A$18.2K

$12.5K A$17.4K

4.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.9 A$121

$78.0 A$109

11.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.20 A$61.6

$55.2 A$76.9

-19.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 A$158

$107 A$149

6.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 A$154

$128 A$178

-13.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,054 A$2,864

$1,431 A$1,995

43.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,455 A$2,029

$1,305 A$1,819

11.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,464 A$4,829

$2,172 A$3,028

59.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,425 A$3,380

$2,013 A$2,806

20.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,514 A$11.9K

$3,777 A$5,266

125.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,339 A$8,838

$3,624 A$5,053

74.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,229 A$5,895

$3,737 A$5,211

13.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.87

5.73

2.44%

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

Last update for Brisbane: September 7, 2026

Last update for Coffs Harbour: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,054 in Brisbane versus $1,431 in Coffs Harbour. 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 13% higher in Brisbane, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Brisbane versus $106 in Coffs Harbour. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $371 vs $373 – 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 Coffs Harbour: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brisbane costs about 4% more than Coffs Harbour, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,003 per month in Brisbane and $3,865 in Coffs Harbour. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,668 in Brisbane and $2,577 in Coffs Harbour. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,148 per month in Brisbane and $2,236 in Coffs Harbour. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,668 in Brisbane and $2,577 in Coffs Harbour. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Coffs Harbour – 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 Coffs Harbour. 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.