Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Mackay Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Mackay

🙂 Solo nomad: Brisbane is 5.3% cheaper than Mackay without rent, and 16.2% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Brisbane is 18.7% cheaper than Mackay without rent, and 1.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brisbane
Mackay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.24 A$24.88
$16.34 A$25.03
-0.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.2 A$109
$72.7 A$111
-2.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.6 A$14.7
$11.49 A$17.61
-16.45%
Cappuccino
$3.6 A$5.51
$3.99 A$6.11
-9.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 A$4.2
$3.13 A$4.79
-12.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 A$3.29
$2.53 A$3.87
-15.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.36 A$9.75
$6.33 A$9.69
0.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.97 A$12.2
$6.32 A$9.68
26.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brisbane
Mackay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.6 A$2.45
$1.35 A$2.07
18.52%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 A$3.39
$2.19 A$3.35
1.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.8 A$2.76
$2.55 A$3.91
-29.41%
Eggs
$4.47 A$6.85
$5.05 A$7.74
-11.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.05 A$12.33
$8.74 A$13.39
-7.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 A$12.4
$7.92 A$12.13
2.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.4 A$20.53
$15.19 A$23.26
-11.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 A$4.98
$3.42 A$5.23
-4.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 A$4.21
$2.75 A$4.22
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.66 A$4.07
$2.99 A$4.58
-11.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.23 A$6.48
$4.78 A$7.32
-11.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.41 A$3.69
$1.77 A$2.72
36.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 A$3.46
$1.67 A$2.56
35.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 A$3.44
$1.91 A$2.93
17.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 A$1.89
$2.17 A$3.33
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$32.96 A$50.5
$38.71 A$59.3
-14.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.07 A$20.02
$7.96 A$12.19
64.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.47 A$6.85
$4.82 A$7.38
-7.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 A$6.19
$5.68 A$8.7
-28.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Brisbane
Mackay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 A$0.53
$2.31 A$3.55
-85.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.98 A$41.33
$66.2 A$101
-59.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.23 A$3.41
$5.37 A$8.23
-58.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 A$2.4
$1.9 A$2.91
-17.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.95 A$52
$32.85 A$50.3
3.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 A$1.89
$1.19 A$1.82
3.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K A$43.8K
$37.9K A$58.1K
-24.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K A$34.7K
$28.8K A$44.1K
-21.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brisbane
Mackay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 A$221
$185 A$284
-22.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.53 A$39.11
$26.9 A$41.21
-5.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.9 A$82.6
$74.9 A$115
-27.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brisbane
Mackay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.01 A$75.1
$73.3 A$112
-33.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.02 A$26.07
$19.69 A$30.16
-13.56%
Cinema Ticket
$13.17 A$20.18
$15.37 A$23.54
-14.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brisbane
Mackay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,646 A$2,521
$1,747 A$2,676
-5.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,863 A$13.6K
$12.1K A$18.5K
-26.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brisbane
Mackay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.8 A$111
$67.9 A$104
7.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.21 A$67.7
$46.43 A$71.1
-4.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.5 A$145
$112 A$172
-15.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 A$155
$96.9 A$148
4.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brisbane
Mackay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,588 A$2,433
$918 A$1,407
72.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 A$1,894
$772 A$1,182
60.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,568 A$3,935
$1,682 A$2,577
52.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,885 A$2,888
$1,655 A$2,536
13.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,805 A$13.5K
$3,027 A$4,637
190.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,597 A$10.1K
$1,637 A$2,508
302.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brisbane
Mackay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,896 A$5,968
$5,200 A$7,967
-25.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.24
5.7
9.47%

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

Last update for Brisbane: October 28, 2025

Last update for Mackay: October 29, 2025

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