Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Darwin Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Darwin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,285 per month in Brisbane vs $2,614 in Darwin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,328 per month in Brisbane vs $3,838 in Darwin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,372 per month in Brisbane vs $5,061 in Darwin, rent included.

Brisbane is about 13% cheaper than Darwin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Brisbane and Darwin sit above the global median – Brisbane by 71%, Darwin by 95%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.97 A$22.26

$17.98 A$25.06

-11.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.8 A$98.7

$81.3 A$113

-12.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.50 A$13.24

$12.54 A$17.48

-24.24%

Cappuccino

$3.65 A$5.08

$3.48 A$4.84

4.89%

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

$2.67 A$3.72

$2.66 A$3.70

0.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 A$2.97

$3.10 A$4.32

-31.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.32 A$8.80

$6.45 A$8.99

-2.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 A$11.18

$7.87 A$10.96

1.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 A$2.14

$1.19 A$1.66

29.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 A$3.18

$2.70 A$3.77

-15.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 A$2.60

$2.14 A$2.98

-13.08%

Eggs

$4.48 A$6.25

$4.09 A$5.71

9.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 A$11.48

$9.82 A$13.69

-16.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 A$11.28

$8.27 A$11.53

-2.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 A$18.57

$8.57 A$11.95

55.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 A$4.71

$3.58 A$4.99

-5.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.73 A$3.81

$2.92 A$4.07

-6.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 A$3.78

$3.57 A$4.98

-24.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 A$5.98

$4.51 A$6.28

-4.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 A$3.52

$3.07 A$4.28

-17.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 A$3.21

$2.26 A$3.15

1.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 A$2.98

$2.16 A$3.01

-0.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 A$1.72

$2.46 A$3.43

-49.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.55 A$45.36

$25.12 A$35.01

29.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 A$17.90

$12.03 A$16.76

6.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.66 A$6.50

$9.35 A$13.03

-50.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.18 A$5.83

$7.25 A$10.11

-42.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 A$0.44

$2.23 A$3.11

-86.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.52 A$38.35

$45.83 A$63.9

-39.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 A$3.20

$3.47 A$4.83

-34.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 A$2.20

$1.19 A$1.66

32.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.11 A$47.54

$45.63 A$63.6

-25.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 A$1.73

$1.15 A$1.60

7.83%

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

$29.1K A$40.5K

$29.2K A$40.7K

-0.44%

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

$22.6K A$31.5K

$32.5K A$45.3K

-30.54%

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

$146 A$204

$235 A$327

-37.74%

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

$25.26 A$35.20

$35.29 A$49.18

-28.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 A$73.2

$60.0 A$83.5

-12.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.65 A$69.2

$74.5 A$104

-33.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 A$24.04

$15.92 A$22.18

8.35%

Cinema Ticket

$13.23 A$18.43

$15.54 A$21.66

-14.86%

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

$1,591 A$2,218

$1,544 A$2,152

3.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,689 A$12.1K

$7,895 A$11.0K

10.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 A$97.9

$78.7 A$110

-10.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.49 A$62.0

$45.72 A$63.7

-2.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 A$127

$101 A$140

-9.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 A$139

$130 A$181

-22.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,616 A$2,252

$1,606 A$2,238

0.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,241 A$1,729

$1,318 A$1,836

-5.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,670 A$3,720

$2,784 A$3,880

-4.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,939 A$2,701

$2,232 A$3,111

-13.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,525 A$11.9K

$3,918 A$5,459

117.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,824 A$8,116

$3,577 A$4,985

62.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,294 A$5,984

$4,263 A$5,941

0.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

6.4

-2.50%

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

Last update for Brisbane: June 1, 2026

Last update for Darwin: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,616 in Brisbane versus $1,606 in Darwin. 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 1% higher in Brisbane, 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 $81.0 in Darwin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $370 – 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 Darwin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Darwin costs about 14% more than Brisbane, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,427 per month in Brisbane and $3,922 in Darwin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Darwin, 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 $81.0 in Darwin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,285 in Brisbane and $2,614 in Darwin. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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.

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 Brisbane. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Darwin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.