Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Kilkenny Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Kilkenny

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,343 per month in Brisbane vs $2,313 in Kilkenny, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,321 per month in Brisbane vs $3,242 in Kilkenny, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,298 per month in Brisbane vs $4,170 in Kilkenny, rent included.

Brisbane costs about 1% more than Kilkenny, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Brisbane and Kilkenny sit above the global median – Brisbane by 75%, Kilkenny by 73%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brisbane
Kilkenny
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.40 A$22.97
$16.14 €13.81
1.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.7 A$98.9
$69.6 €59.6
1.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 A$13.60
$10.61 €9.09
-8.39%
Cappuccino
$3.62 A$5.07
$4.19 €3.59
-13.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 A$3.92
$2.37 €2.03
18.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 A$3.00
$1.71 €1.47
25.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.40 A$8.96
$5.98 €5.12
7.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.85 A$11.00
$6.90 €5.91
13.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brisbane
Kilkenny
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 A$2.24
$1.16 €1.00
37.93%
White Bread (500g)
$2.31 A$3.24
$2.04 €1.75
13.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 A$2.65
$1.68 €1.43
12.50%
Eggs
$4.31 A$6.04
$3.22 €2.76
33.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.97 A$11.16
$9.45 €8.09
-15.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.42 A$11.79
$9.39 €8.04
-10.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.35 A$18.68
$8.59 €7.35
55.41%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 A$4.74
$2.29 €1.96
48.03%
Banana (1kg)
$2.85 A$3.99
$1.73 €1.48
64.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 A$3.83
$3.57 €3.06
-23.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.25 A$5.95
$2.01 €1.72
111.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 A$3.55
$1.18 €1.01
114.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 A$3.20
$1.13 €0.96
101.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 A$3.03
$1.02 €0.87
111.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 A$1.83
$1.02 €0.88
27.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$32.47 A$45.45
$19.08 €16.33
70.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.10 A$19.74
$14.02 €12.00
0.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.69 A$6.57
$2.90 €2.49
61.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 A$5.97
$2.96 €2.54
44.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Brisbane
Kilkenny
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 A$0.48
$2.26 €1.94
-84.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.10 A$37.94
$99.8 €85.4
-72.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.32 A$3.24
$5.24 €4.48
-55.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 A$2.14
$1.19 €1.02
28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.98 A$47.58
$35.96 €30.78
-5.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 A$1.65
$2.07 €1.78
-43.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K A$39.9K
$37.6K €32.2K
-24.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K A$31.6K
$22.0K €18.8K
2.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brisbane
Kilkenny
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$147 A$206
$160 €137
-8.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.95 A$36.32
$21.79 €18.65
19.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.2 A$75.9
$49.91 €42.72
8.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brisbane
Kilkenny
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.57 A$68.0
$54.6 €46.75
-11.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.34 A$24.28
$11.76 €10.06
47.45%
Cinema Ticket
$12.89 A$18.04
$13.68 €11.71
-5.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brisbane
Kilkenny
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,597 A$2,235
$1,012 €866
57.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,723 A$12.2K
$7,370 €6,309
18.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brisbane
Kilkenny
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9 A$101
$75.4 €64.6
-4.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.20 A$60.5
$23.59 €20.19
83.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.8 A$128
$83.4 €71.4
10.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 A$143
$81.9 €70.1
24.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brisbane
Kilkenny
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,585 A$2,219
$1,464 €1,253
8.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 A$1,764
$1,219 €1,044
3.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,658 A$3,722
$2,476 €2,119
7.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,894 A$2,652
$1,677 €1,435
12.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,202 A$11.5K
$8,474 €7,253
-3.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,384 A$7,538
$2,310 €1,977
133.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brisbane
Kilkenny
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,267 A$5,974
$2,859 €2,447
49.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.24
4.27
46.14%

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

Last update for Brisbane: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kilkenny: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,585 in Brisbane versus $1,464 in Kilkenny. 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 49% 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 $71.0 in Brisbane versus $70.0 in Kilkenny. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $333 vs $269 – making Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brisbane or Kilkenny?
Brisbane costs about 1% more than Kilkenny, 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 Kilkenny?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,515 per month in Brisbane and $3,470 in Kilkenny. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Brisbane or Kilkenny?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kilkenny, 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 Kilkenny?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Brisbane, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Brisbane vs Kilkenny?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Brisbane and $70.0 in Kilkenny. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Brisbane or Kilkenny?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Kilkenny, where all-in costs run around $2,313, than in Brisbane at $2,343. In Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny – 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 Kilkenny?
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 Kilkenny?
If budget matters most, go with Kilkenny. 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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