Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Kalgoorlie Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Kalgoorlie

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,285 per month in Brisbane vs $1,771 in Kalgoorlie, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,328 per month in Brisbane vs $3,022 in Kalgoorlie, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,372 per month in Brisbane vs $4,273 in Kalgoorlie, rent included.

Brisbane costs about 29% more than Kalgoorlie, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Brisbane and Kalgoorlie sit above the global median – Brisbane by 71%, Kalgoorlie by 32%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brisbane
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.97 A$22.38
$16.24 A$22.76
-1.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.8 A$99.2
$79.5 A$111
-10.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 A$13.31
$9.97 A$13.97
-4.71%
Cappuccino
$3.65 A$5.11
$4.29 A$6.00
-14.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 A$3.74
$3.65 A$5.12
-26.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 A$2.98
$3.16 A$4.43
-32.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.32 A$8.85
$5.97 A$8.37
5.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.02 A$11.24
$6.88 A$9.64
16.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brisbane
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 A$2.15
$1.48 A$2.08
4.05%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 A$3.20
$3.26 A$4.57
-30.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 A$2.61
$2.01 A$2.82
-7.46%
Eggs
$4.48 A$6.28
$3.82 A$5.35
17.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.24 A$11.54
$8.55 A$11.99
-3.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 A$11.34
$8.27 A$11.59
-2.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.33 A$18.67
$13.77 A$19.30
-3.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.38 A$4.74
$3.17 A$4.44
6.62%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 A$3.83
$2.80 A$3.92
-2.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 A$3.80
$3.02 A$4.23
-10.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.29 A$6.02
$4.09 A$5.73
4.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.52 A$3.54
$2.47 A$3.46
2.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 A$3.22
$2.18 A$3.06
5.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 A$3.00
$1.98 A$2.77
8.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 A$1.73
$1.57 A$2.21
-21.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$32.55 A$45.61
$30.69 A$43.00
6.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.85 A$18.00
$14.20 A$19.89
-9.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.66 A$6.54
$4.65 A$6.51
0.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.18 A$5.86
$5.42 A$7.59
-22.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Brisbane
Kalgoorlie
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 A$0.44
$2.65 A$3.71
-88.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.52 A$38.56
$65.2 A$91.4
-57.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 A$3.21
$3.67 A$5.14
-37.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 A$2.21
$1.56 A$2.19
1.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.11 A$47.80
$33.05 A$46.32
3.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 A$1.74
$1.22 A$1.72
1.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K A$40.7K
$28.9K A$40.6K
0.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K A$31.6K
$22.9K A$32.1K
-1.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brisbane
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 A$205
$292 A$409
-49.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.26 A$35.40
$51.7 A$72.5
-51.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.5 A$73.6
$65.1 A$91.2
-19.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brisbane
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 A$69.6
$35.47 A$49.70
39.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 A$24.17
$16.02 A$22.45
7.68%
Cinema Ticket
$13.23 A$18.53
$16.43 A$23.02
-19.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brisbane
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,591 A$2,230
$1,603 A$2,246
-0.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,689 A$12.2K
$12.1K A$16.9K
-28.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brisbane
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3 A$98.5
$67.2 A$94.2
4.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.49 A$62.3
$50.9 A$71.3
-12.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.4 A$128
$99.2 A$139
-7.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 A$140
$106 A$148
-5.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brisbane
Kalgoorlie
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,616 A$2,265
$1,240 A$1,738
30.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,241 A$1,739
$461 A$645
169.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,670 A$3,741
$1,591 A$2,229
67.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,939 A$2,716
$1,458 A$2,044
32.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,525 A$11.9K
$6,477 A$9,076
31.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,824 A$8,161
$4,539 A$6,360
28.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brisbane
Kalgoorlie
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,294 A$6,017
$6,206 A$8,696
-30.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.24
6.34
-1.58%

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

Last update for Brisbane: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kalgoorlie: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,616 in Brisbane versus $1,240 in Kalgoorlie. 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 45% higher in Kalgoorlie, 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 $80.0 in Kalgoorlie. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $345 – 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 Kalgoorlie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brisbane or Kalgoorlie?
Brisbane costs about 29% more than Kalgoorlie, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 vs Kalgoorlie?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,427 per month in Brisbane and $2,656 in Kalgoorlie. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Brisbane or Kalgoorlie?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalgoorlie, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Brisbane or Kalgoorlie?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Brisbane – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Brisbane vs Kalgoorlie?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Brisbane and $80.0 in Kalgoorlie. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Brisbane or Kalgoorlie?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kalgoorlie, where all-in costs run around $1,771, than in Brisbane at $2,285. In Kalgoorlie it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brisbane it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Kalgoorlie – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Brisbane compared to Kalgoorlie?
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.
Should I move to Brisbane or Kalgoorlie?
If budget matters most, go with Kalgoorlie. 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.

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