Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Newcastle Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Newcastle

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,285 per month in Brisbane vs $2,281 in Newcastle, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,328 per month in Brisbane vs $3,366 in Newcastle, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,372 per month in Brisbane vs $4,452 in Newcastle, rent included.

Brisbane and Newcastle have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Brisbane and Newcastle sit above the global median – Brisbane by 71%, Newcastle by 70%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.97 A$22.38

$17.88 A$25.05

-10.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.8 A$99.2

$92.9 A$130

-23.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.50 A$13.31

$8.28 A$11.60

14.73%

Cappuccino

$3.65 A$5.11

$3.44 A$4.81

6.10%

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

$2.67 A$3.74

$2.94 A$4.12

-9.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 A$2.98

$2.09 A$2.93

1.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.32 A$8.85

$6.53 A$9.15

-3.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 A$11.24

$6.43 A$9.01

24.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 A$2.15

$1.34 A$1.88

14.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 A$3.20

$2.34 A$3.28

-2.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 A$2.61

$2.20 A$3.09

-15.45%

Eggs

$4.48 A$6.28

$3.88 A$5.44

15.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 A$11.54

$8.90 A$12.48

-7.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 A$11.34

$7.90 A$11.07

2.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 A$18.67

$14.19 A$19.89

-6.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 A$4.74

$3.17 A$4.44

6.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.73 A$3.83

$2.62 A$3.67

4.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 A$3.80

$2.70 A$3.78

0.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 A$6.02

$3.64 A$5.10

17.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 A$3.54

$2.70 A$3.78

-6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 A$3.22

$2.11 A$2.96

9.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 A$3.00

$2.16 A$3.02

-0.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 A$1.73

$1.03 A$1.44

20.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.55 A$45.61

$28.72 A$40.24

13.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 A$18.00

$10.91 A$15.29

17.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.66 A$6.54

$4.10 A$5.74

13.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.18 A$5.86

$3.19 A$4.47

31.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 A$0.44

$2.53 A$3.54

-87.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.52 A$38.56

$143 A$201

-80.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 A$3.21

$2.23 A$3.13

2.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 A$2.21

$1.44 A$2.01

9.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.11 A$47.80

$37.21 A$52.1

-8.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 A$1.74

$1.11 A$1.56

11.71%

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

$29.1K A$40.7K

$28.4K A$39.8K

2.21%

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

$22.6K A$31.6K

$21.9K A$30.7K

3.15%

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

$146 A$205

$190 A$266

-22.86%

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

$25.26 A$35.40

$29.46 A$41.27

-14.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 A$73.6

$56.5 A$79.2

-7.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.65 A$69.6

$43.40 A$60.8

14.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 A$24.17

$17.13 A$24.01

0.70%

Cinema Ticket

$13.23 A$18.53

$12.55 A$17.59

5.42%

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

$1,591 A$2,230

$908 A$1,272

75.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,689 A$12.2K

$12.1K A$17.0K

-28.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 A$98.5

$76.3 A$107

-7.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.49 A$62.3

$45.15 A$63.3

-1.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 A$128

$90.0 A$126

1.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 A$140

$109 A$152

-7.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,616 A$2,265

$1,431 A$2,005

12.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,241 A$1,739

$1,078 A$1,510

15.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,670 A$3,741

$2,372 A$3,324

12.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,939 A$2,716

$1,636 A$2,293

18.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,525 A$11.9K

$13.8K A$19.4K

-38.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,824 A$8,161

$6,055 A$8,485

-3.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,294 A$6,017

$3,187 A$4,466

34.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

6.75

-7.56%

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

Last update for Brisbane: June 1, 2026

Last update for Newcastle: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,616 in Brisbane versus $1,431 in Newcastle. 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 35% higher in Brisbane. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Brisbane versus $93.0 in Newcastle. Groceries tell a different story – $327 in Brisbane vs $313 in Newcastle – so Newcastle wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Newcastle: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,427 per month in Brisbane and $3,422 in Newcastle. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 5% more in Brisbane, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $1,591 per month in Brisbane and $908 in Newcastle. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Newcastle, where all-in costs run around $2,281, than in Brisbane at $2,285. In Newcastle it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brisbane it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Newcastle – 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 Newcastle. 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.