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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,668 per month in Brisbane vs $2,693 in Newcastle, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,910 per month in Brisbane vs $3,947 in Newcastle, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,152 per month in Brisbane vs $5,200 in Newcastle, rent included.

Brisbane is about 1% cheaper than Newcastle, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Brisbane and Newcastle sit above the global median – Brisbane by 94%, Newcastle by 95%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.39 A$25.46

$21.81 A$30.19

-15.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.5 A$110

$107 A$148

-25.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.70 A$16.20

$10.86 A$15.04

7.73%

Cappuccino

$4.45 A$6.16

$3.88 A$5.38

14.69%

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

$3.03 A$4.20

$3.23 A$4.47

-6.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 A$3.62

$1.88 A$2.60

39.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.77 A$12.14

$9.65 A$13.35

-9.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.60 A$11.91

$7.13 A$9.88

20.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 A$2.44

$1.54 A$2.14

14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 A$3.91

$2.66 A$3.68

6.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 A$3.31

$2.08 A$2.88

14.90%

Eggs

$5.15 A$7.13

$4.77 A$6.60

7.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.25 A$12.81

$10.85 A$15.02

-14.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.25 A$12.81

$9.04 A$12.52

2.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 A$19.78

$16.42 A$22.74

-12.97%

Apples (1kg)

$4.21 A$5.83

$3.71 A$5.13

13.48%

Banana (1kg)

$3.16 A$4.37

$3.10 A$4.29

1.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 A$4.14

$3.08 A$4.27

-2.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.85 A$6.71

$4.68 A$6.48

3.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 A$3.84

$2.97 A$4.11

-6.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 A$3.39

$2.42 A$3.35

1.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 A$3.34

$2.50 A$3.46

-3.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 A$1.82

$1.48 A$2.05

-11.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$40.09 A$55.5

$32.07 A$44.40

25.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 A$17.88

$10.85 A$15.02

19.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.44 A$7.53

$4.60 A$6.37

18.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.12 A$7.09

$3.43 A$4.75

49.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 A$0.48

$2.95 A$4.09

-88.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.40 A$29.62

$156 A$216

-86.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 A$4.17

$2.47 A$3.43

21.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 A$2.55

$1.63 A$2.26

12.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.17 A$59.8

$41.86 A$58.0

3.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 A$2.00

$1.20 A$1.66

20.00%

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

$28.7K A$39.8K

$32.1K A$44.4K

-10.46%

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

$28.6K A$39.5K

$31.6K A$43.8K

-9.67%

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

$170 A$236

$226 A$312

-24.57%

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

$27.80 A$38.48

$27.53 A$38.11

0.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 A$87.3

$59.9 A$82.9

5.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 A$88.0

$45.67 A$63.2

39.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.88 A$30.29

$18.43 A$25.52

18.72%

Cinema Ticket

$16.29 A$22.56

$14.17 A$19.61

14.96%

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

$2,148 A$2,974

$2,263 A$3,132

-5.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K A$18.1K

$13.9K A$19.3K

-6.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.9 A$120

$83.3 A$115

4.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.20 A$61.2

$48.60 A$67.3

-9.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 A$157

$123 A$170

-7.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 A$153

$122 A$168

-9.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,054 A$2,844

$1,588 A$2,199

29.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,455 A$2,015

$1,222 A$1,691

19.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,464 A$4,795

$2,603 A$3,603

33.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,425 A$3,357

$1,938 A$2,683

25.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,514 A$11.8K

$13.6K A$18.9K

-37.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,339 A$8,776

$6,022 A$8,337

5.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,229 A$5,854

$3,214 A$4,450

31.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.87

6.55

-10.38%

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

Last update for Brisbane: September 7, 2026

Last update for Newcastle: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,054 in Brisbane versus $1,588 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 32% higher in Brisbane, 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 $80.0 in Brisbane versus $107 in Newcastle. Groceries tell a different story – $371 in Brisbane vs $362 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

Newcastle costs about 1% more than Brisbane, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,003 per month in Brisbane and $4,040 in Newcastle. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Newcastle – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Brisbane and $107 in Newcastle. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,668 in Brisbane and $2,693 in Newcastle. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Brisbane – 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 Brisbane. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Newcastle makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.