Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Hervey Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Hervey Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,613 per month in Brisbane vs $2,478 in Hervey Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,966 per month in Brisbane vs $3,541 in Hervey Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,318 per month in Brisbane vs $4,603 in Hervey Bay, rent included.

Brisbane costs about 5% more than Hervey Bay, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Brisbane and Hervey Bay sit above the global median – Brisbane by 90%, Hervey Bay by 80%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.77 A$24.79

$18.25 A$25.47

-2.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.6 A$115

-0.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.42 A$15.94

$10.77 A$15.03

6.04%

Cappuccino

$4.43 A$6.18

$3.89 A$5.43

13.88%

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

$3.03 A$4.23

$3.08 A$4.30

-1.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 A$3.63

$2.38 A$3.32

9.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.55 A$11.93

$6.18 A$8.62

38.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.43 A$11.77

$8.75 A$12.21

-3.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 A$2.40

$1.78 A$2.48

-3.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 A$3.77

$2.69 A$3.75

0.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 A$3.37

$2.33 A$3.25

3.43%

Eggs

$5.10 A$7.12

$5.12 A$7.14

-0.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.30 A$12.97

$9.09 A$12.68

2.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.11 A$12.71

$9.34 A$13.03

-2.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 A$19.72

$14.04 A$19.59

0.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 A$5.99

$4.18 A$5.84

2.87%

Banana (1kg)

$3.11 A$4.34

$3.02 A$4.21

2.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 A$4.14

$2.93 A$4.10

1.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 A$6.93

$4.92 A$6.86

1.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.88 A$4.01

$2.78 A$3.87

3.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 A$3.40

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.54 A$3.55

$2.42 A$3.38

4.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 A$1.70

$1.21 A$1.69

0.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$39.99 A$55.8

$40.01 A$55.8

-0.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.69 A$17.70

$13.04 A$18.20

-2.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.31 A$7.42

$5.46 A$7.62

-2.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.11 A$7.13

$5.04 A$7.04

1.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 A$0.48

$3.54 A$4.94

-90.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.53 A$30.05

$97.9 A$137

-78.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 A$4.28

$3.16 A$4.42

-2.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 A$2.56

$1.83 A$2.56

0.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.92 A$59.9

$42.38 A$59.1

1.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 A$1.99

$1.43 A$2.00

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

$27.7K A$38.7K

$28.6K A$39.9K

-3.04%

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

$29.1K A$40.7K

$29.0K A$40.4K

0.64%

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

$172 A$240

$173 A$241

-0.20%

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

$27.89 A$38.92

$28.18 A$39.33

-1.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 A$88.8

$62.3 A$86.9

2.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 A$88.7

$61.4 A$85.7

3.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.02 A$29.34

$19.68 A$27.47

6.81%

Cinema Ticket

$16.39 A$22.88

$16.67 A$23.26

-1.68%

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

$2,166 A$3,023

$2,192 A$3,059

-1.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K A$18.2K

$13.0K A$18.1K

0.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 A$119

$64.9 A$90.5

31.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.31 A$61.8

$43.33 A$60.5

2.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 A$162

$63.6 A$88.8

82.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 A$152

$64.9 A$90.6

68.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,995 A$2,784

$1,467 A$2,047

36.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,406 A$1,962

$1,272 A$1,775

10.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,433 A$4,791

$2,261 A$3,156

51.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,404 A$3,355

$1,887 A$2,633

27.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,276 A$11.5K

$6,858 A$9,570

20.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,834 A$8,141

$4,819 A$6,725

21.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,250 A$5,930

$2,829 A$3,948

50.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.85

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

Last update for Brisbane: August 31, 2026

Last update for Hervey Bay: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,995 in Brisbane versus $1,467 in Hervey Bay. 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 50% 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 $83.0 in Brisbane versus $83.0 in Hervey Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $367 vs $367 – 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 Hervey Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brisbane costs about 5% more than Hervey Bay, 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 $3,919 per month in Brisbane and $3,718 in Hervey Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 0% 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 $83.0 in Brisbane and $83.0 in Hervey Bay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,613 in Brisbane and $2,478 in Hervey Bay. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Hervey Bay – 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 Hervey Bay. 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.