Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Derby Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Derby

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,635 per month in Brisbane vs $2,632 in Derby, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,941 per month in Brisbane vs $3,747 in Derby, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,247 per month in Brisbane vs $4,863 in Derby, rent included.

Brisbane and Derby have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Brisbane and Derby sit above the global median – Brisbane by 93%, Derby by 92%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.92 A$25.17

$18.45 A$25.91

-2.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 A$103

$85.0 A$119

-13.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.32 A$15.89

$10.32 A$14.49

9.69%

Cappuccino

$4.39 A$6.17

$3.66 A$5.14

19.95%

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

$2.91 A$4.08

$2.71 A$3.81

7.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 A$3.54

$2.10 A$2.95

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.73 A$12.25

$6.80 A$9.54

28.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.49 A$11.92

$7.70 A$10.81

10.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 A$2.45

$1.87 A$2.63

-6.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 A$3.76

$2.67 A$3.74

0.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 A$3.32

$2.63 A$3.69

-9.89%

Eggs

$5.02 A$7.05

$4.89 A$6.87

2.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.40 A$13.19

$8.32 A$11.68

12.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.29 A$13.05

$8.41 A$11.80

10.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.19 A$19.92

$15.20 A$21.34

-6.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.21 A$5.91

$4.17 A$5.86

0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$3.12 A$4.39

$2.80 A$3.93

11.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 A$4.16

$3.82 A$5.37

-22.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.03 A$7.06

$4.66 A$6.54

7.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.83 A$3.97

$3.02 A$4.23

-6.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 A$3.49

$2.47 A$3.47

0.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 A$3.37

$2.15 A$3.01

11.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 A$1.74

$1.46 A$2.05

-15.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$38.66 A$54.3

$40.21 A$56.5

-3.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.07 A$18.36

$15.64 A$21.97

-16.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.35 A$7.51

$4.79 A$6.72

11.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 A$7.11

$6.27 A$8.80

-19.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 A$0.48

$3.38 A$4.74

-89.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.08 A$29.60

$96.6 A$136

-78.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 A$4.33

$3.57 A$5.01

-13.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 A$2.58

$1.50 A$2.10

22.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.32 A$58.0

$38.06 A$53.4

8.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 A$1.91

$1.14 A$1.61

19.30%

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

$28.4K A$39.9K

$31.1K A$43.7K

-8.59%

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

$29.3K A$41.1K

$33.2K A$46.6K

-11.86%

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

$161 A$226

$236 A$331

-31.55%

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

$26.36 A$37.02

$25.30 A$35.52

4.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.9 A$85.5

$53.7 A$75.4

13.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.9 A$89.7

$56.3 A$79.0

13.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.59 A$30.32

$18.21 A$25.56

18.56%

Cinema Ticket

$17.98 A$25.25

$15.74 A$22.10

14.23%

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

$2,104 A$2,954

$2,380 A$3,343

-11.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K A$18.2K

$20.9K A$29.4K

-38.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.5 A$119

$77.1 A$108

9.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.77 A$60.1

$49.51 A$69.5

-13.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 A$161

$125 A$175

-8.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 A$158

$120 A$169

-6.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,002 A$2,812

$1,595 A$2,240

25.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,405 A$1,973

$1,435 A$2,015

-2.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,457 A$4,855

$2,245 A$3,152

54.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,469 A$3,467

$1,637 A$2,299

50.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,337 A$11.7K

$5,455 A$7,660

52.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,333 A$8,892

$5,833 A$8,190

8.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,216 A$5,920

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.81

5.87

-1.02%

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

Last update for Brisbane: September 15, 2026

Last update for Derby: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,002 in Brisbane versus $1,595 in Derby. 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 $74.0 in Brisbane versus $85.0 in Derby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $372 – 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 Derby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,952 per month in Brisbane and $3,948 in Derby. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Brisbane – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $2,104 per month in Brisbane and $2,380 in Derby. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,635 in Brisbane and $2,632 in Derby. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Derby – 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 Derby. 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.