Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Dubbo

For one person, living is cheaper in Dubbo: $2,561 a month against $2,644 in Brisbane, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Brisbane outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Brisbane, Australia
Dubbo, Australia
Brisbane
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,644
/mo nomad
Dubbo
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,561
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Brisbane and in Dubbo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Brisbane and in Dubbo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,644 per month in Brisbane vs $2,561 in Dubbo, rent included.

  • Brisbane $2,644
  • Dubbo $2,561

A couple spends around $3,821 per month in Brisbane vs $3,660 in Dubbo, rent included.

  • Brisbane $3,821
  • Dubbo $3,660

A family of three spends $4,999 per month in Brisbane vs $4,760 in Dubbo, rent included.

  • Brisbane $4,999
  • Dubbo $4,760

Brisbane costs about 3% more than Dubbo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Brisbane and Dubbo sit above the global median – Brisbane by 96%, Dubbo by 89%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brisbane
Dubbo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.81 A$25.50
$17.55 A$25.12
1.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.4 A$122
$85.3 A$122
0.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.28 A$16.14
$10.43 A$14.93
8.15%
Cappuccino
$4.45 A$6.37
$4.06 A$5.81
9.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 A$4.01
$2.87 A$4.11
-2.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 A$3.51
$2.21 A$3.16
10.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.60 A$12.31
$7.65 A$10.96
12.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.36 A$11.97
$7.71 A$11.03
8.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brisbane
Dubbo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 A$2.52
$1.56 A$2.23
12.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 A$3.67
$2.77 A$3.96
-7.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 A$3.13
$2.20 A$3.15
-0.91%
Eggs
$4.95 A$7.08
$4.82 A$6.91
2.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 A$13.71
$9.22 A$13.19
3.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 A$12.90
$9.11 A$13.04
-1.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.00 A$20.04
$14.65 A$20.97
-4.44%
Apples (1kg)
$4.21 A$6.03
$3.43 A$4.90
22.74%
Banana (1kg)
$3.18 A$4.55
$3.77 A$5.40
-15.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 A$4.00
$2.88 A$4.12
-3.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.83 A$6.91
$5.86 A$8.39
-17.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.80 A$4.01
$2.50 A$3.58
12.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 A$3.37
$2.43 A$3.47
-2.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 A$3.38
$2.33 A$3.33
1.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 A$1.70
$1.70 A$2.43
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$39.08 A$56.0
$32.07 A$45.91
21.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.84 A$18.37
$13.80 A$19.75
-6.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.27 A$7.55
$4.68 A$6.70
12.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.91 A$7.03
$4.86 A$6.96
1.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Brisbane
Dubbo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 A$0.52
$2.79 A$4.00
-87.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.39 A$30.61
$85.0 A$122
-74.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.61 A$3.73
$3.60 A$5.16
-27.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 A$2.69
$1.62 A$2.32
16.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.67 A$59.6
$40.33 A$57.7
3.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 A$2.11
$1.22 A$1.75
21.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K A$41.5K
$29.1K A$41.7K
-0.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K A$37.1K
$26.1K A$37.3K
-0.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brisbane
Dubbo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 A$229
$206 A$295
-22.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65 A$38.16
$27.38 A$39.19
-2.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.2 A$87.7
$82.7 A$118
-25.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brisbane
Dubbo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.1 A$87.4
$57.2 A$81.9
6.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.66 A$32.43
$18.09 A$25.90
25.26%
Cinema Ticket
$14.15 A$20.25
$14.07 A$20.14
0.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brisbane
Dubbo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,982 A$2,837
$2,166 A$3,101
-8.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.8K A$38.4K
$20.2K A$28.9K
32.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brisbane
Dubbo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.1 A$122
$78.4 A$112
8.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.37 A$66.4
$54.3 A$77.7
-14.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 A$159
$107 A$154
3.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 A$157
$122 A$175
-10.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brisbane
Dubbo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,957 A$2,802
$963 A$1,379
103.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,441 A$2,063
$1,222 A$1,749
17.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,481 A$4,983
$1,588 A$2,274
119.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,234 A$3,197
$1,784 A$2,553
25.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,571 A$13.7K
$1,718 A$2,459
457.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,938 A$9,932
$4,949 A$7,085
40.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brisbane
Dubbo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,134 A$5,918
$2,176 A$3,115
90.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.84
5.9
-1.02%

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

Last update for Brisbane: November 3, 2026

Last update for Dubbo: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Brisbane
$1.4K
Dubbo
$1.2K 15.2% $220
Groceries & Markets
Brisbane
$362
Dubbo
$372 2.8% $10
Eating Out
Brisbane
$310
Dubbo
$294 5.2% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brisbane
$248
Dubbo
$316 27.7% $69
Clothing & Footwear
Brisbane
$158
Dubbo
$163 3% $4.8
Sport & Entertainment
Brisbane
$89
Dubbo
$85 4.5% $4
Getting Around
Brisbane
$35
Dubbo
$108 210% $73

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,957 in Brisbane versus $963 in Dubbo. 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 90% higher in Brisbane. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85 in Brisbane versus $85 in Dubbo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $362 vs $372 – making Brisbane the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Brisbane
🇦🇺 Dubbo
🕒 Local time
09:35 9:35 AM
10:35 10:35 AM
1 h ahead of Brisbane
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,287,896
38,808
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.699 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.625 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Brisbane Dubbo 680 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Brisbane
  • Dubbo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Dubbo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brisbane or Dubbo?
Brisbane costs about 3% more than Dubbo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Brisbane and in Dubbo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,965 per month in Brisbane and $3,841 in Dubbo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Brisbane or Dubbo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dubbo, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $963 there versus $1,957 in Brisbane.
How much does it cost to live in Brisbane compared to Dubbo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,644 in Brisbane and $2,561 in Dubbo. That makes Dubbo about 3% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Brisbane and in Dubbo?
Kindergarten costs $1,982 per month in Brisbane and $2,166 in Dubbo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Brisbane or in Dubbo?
$3,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $2,644 in Brisbane and $2,561 in Dubbo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Brisbane or Dubbo?
It depends on your priorities. Brisbane has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,561 in Dubbo to $2,644 in Brisbane. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Brisbane compared to Dubbo?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Brisbane or to Dubbo?
If budget matters most, go with Dubbo. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brisbane makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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