Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Magadan

For one person, living is cheaper in Magadan: $1,005 a month against $2,560 in Brisbane, rent and utilities included – about $18,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Brisbane
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,560
/mo nomad
Magadan
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,005
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Brisbane and in Magadan

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 Magadan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,560 per month in Brisbane vs $1,005 in Magadan, rent included.

  • Brisbane $2,560
  • Magadan $1,005

A couple spends around $3,774 per month in Brisbane vs $1,585 in Magadan, rent included.

  • Brisbane $3,774
  • Magadan $1,585

A family of three spends $4,987 per month in Brisbane vs $2,164 in Magadan, rent included.

  • Brisbane $4,987
  • Magadan $2,164

Brisbane costs about 155% more than Magadan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Brisbane sits 91% above the global median, while Magadan is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brisbane
Magadan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.72 A$25.36
$11.46 ₽975
54.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5 A$107
$36.52 ₽3,107
103.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.94 A$15.66
$6.39 ₽544
71.21%
Cappuccino
$4.24 A$6.07
$2.77 ₽236
53.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 A$4.06
$1.11 ₽94.3
155.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 A$3.54
$0.57 ₽48.15
335.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.59 A$12.29
$1.68 ₽143
411.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.25 A$11.80
$3.02 ₽257
173.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brisbane
Magadan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 A$2.34
$1.10 ₽93.3
48.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.62 A$3.75
$0.72 ₽61.2
263.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 A$3.22
$1.16 ₽98.5
93.97%
Eggs
$4.91 A$7.02
$1.51 ₽128
225.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.46 A$13.54
$10.97 ₽933
-13.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.00 A$12.89
$5.26 ₽447
71.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.94 A$19.95
$12.84 ₽1,092
8.57%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 A$5.98
$1.68 ₽143
148.81%
Banana (1kg)
$3.02 A$4.33
$1.80 ₽153
67.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 A$4.24
$1.69 ₽144
75.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.78 A$6.84
$2.36 ₽201
102.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.75 A$3.93
$0.79 ₽67.4
248.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 A$3.40
$0.59 ₽50.3
301.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 A$3.37
$1.47 ₽125
60.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 A$1.79
$0.66 ₽56.1
89.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$38.83 A$55.6
$2.66 ₽226
1359.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.35 A$17.68
$6.64 ₽565
85.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.23 A$7.48
$1.03 ₽87.8
407.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.96 A$7.10
$2.00 ₽170
148.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Brisbane
Magadan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 A$0.49
$0.52 ₽44.54
-34.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.27 A$30.44
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 A$4.20
$2.31 ₽197
27.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 A$2.56
$0.36 ₽30.42
397.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.65 A$59.6
$5.02 ₽427
729.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 A$2.07
$0.86 ₽73.4
68.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K A$38.6K
$34.8K ₽3.0M
-22.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K A$40.1K
$32.1K ₽2.7M
-12.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brisbane
Magadan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 A$223
$108 ₽9,180
44.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.94 A$37.12
$5.71 ₽486
354.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.7 A$85.4
$7.40 ₽630
706.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brisbane
Magadan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.8 A$87.0
$34.01 ₽2,894
78.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.05 A$32.99
$22.93 ₽1,951
0.52%
Cinema Ticket
$17.49 A$25.03
$6.18 ₽526
183.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brisbane
Magadan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,943 A$2,780
$389 ₽33.1K
399.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K A$18.3K
$7,208 ₽613.3K
77.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brisbane
Magadan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.9 A$117
$70.7 ₽6,014
15.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.63 A$63.9
$49.87 ₽4,243
-10.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 A$158
$130 ₽11.1K
-14.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 A$161
$114 ₽9,684
-1.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brisbane
Magadan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,974 A$2,825
$433 ₽36.9K
355.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,359 A$1,945
$299 ₽25.5K
353.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,333 A$4,770
$840 ₽71.5K
296.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,293 A$3,281
$573 ₽48.7K
300.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,100 A$11.6K
$1,927 ₽164.0K
320.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,066 A$8,682
$1,333 ₽113.5K
354.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brisbane
Magadan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,133 A$5,915
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.81
21.33
-72.76%

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

Last update for Brisbane: October 4, 2026

Last update for Magadan: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Brisbane
$1.4K
Magadan
$299 78% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Brisbane
$359
Magadan
$204 43.2% $155
Eating Out
Brisbane
$306
Magadan
$165 46.1% $141
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brisbane
$242
Magadan
$121 49.9% $121
Clothing & Footwear
Brisbane
$157
Magadan
$164 4.2% $6.7
Sport & Entertainment
Brisbane
$96
Magadan
$46 51.6% $49
Getting Around
Brisbane
$35
Magadan
$6.2 * 82% $28

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,974 in Brisbane versus $433 in Magadan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Brisbane versus $37.00 in Magadan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $204 – making Magadan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Brisbane
🇷🇺 Magadan
🕒 Local time
17:17 5:17 PM
18:17 6:17 PM
1 h ahead of Brisbane
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,287,896
89,193
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RUB, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.699 USD). 1 EUR = 1.61 AUD (1 AUD = 0.623 EUR).

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 85.09 RUB (100 RUB = 1.18 USD). 1 EUR = 95.44 RUB (100 RUB = 1.05 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Brisbane Magadan 9,680 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Brisbane
  • Magadan

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 Magadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brisbane or Magadan?
Brisbane costs about 155% more than Magadan, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Magadan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,841 per month in Brisbane and $1,507 in Magadan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Brisbane or Magadan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Magadan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Brisbane compared to Magadan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,560 in Brisbane and $1,005 in Magadan. That's a gap of about 155%.
How do childcare costs compare in Brisbane and in Magadan?
Kindergarten costs $1,943 per month in Brisbane and $389 in Magadan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Brisbane or in Magadan?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Magadan, where all-in costs run around $1,005, than in Brisbane at $2,560. In Magadan 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 Magadan – 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 Magadan?
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 to Magadan?
If budget matters most, go with Magadan. 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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