Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Northam Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Northam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,668 per month in Brisbane vs $2,673 in Northam, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,910 per month in Brisbane vs $3,763 in Northam, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,152 per month in Brisbane vs $4,853 in Northam, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.39 A$25.46

$21.47 A$29.72

-14.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.5 A$110

$87.5 A$121

-9.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.70 A$16.20

$10.62 A$14.70

10.17%

Cappuccino

$4.45 A$6.16

$4.61 A$6.38

-3.47%

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

$3.03 A$4.20

$2.97 A$4.11

2.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 A$3.62

$2.33 A$3.23

12.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.77 A$12.14

$8.59 A$11.89

2.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.60 A$11.91

$8.72 A$12.07

-1.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 A$2.44

$1.75 A$2.42

0.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 A$3.91

$2.64 A$3.66

6.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 A$3.31

$2.04 A$2.83

17.16%

Eggs

$5.15 A$7.13

$4.79 A$6.63

7.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.25 A$12.81

$6.33 A$8.76

46.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.25 A$12.81

$9.62 A$13.32

-3.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 A$19.78

$14.21 A$19.68

0.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.21 A$5.83

$2.92 A$4.05

44.18%

Banana (1kg)

$3.16 A$4.37

$3.28 A$4.55

-3.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 A$4.14

$3.49 A$4.83

-14.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.85 A$6.71

$5.44 A$7.52

-10.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 A$3.84

$2.97 A$4.11

-6.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 A$3.39

$2.02 A$2.80

21.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 A$3.34

$2.41 A$3.33

0.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 A$1.82

$0.75 A$1.03

74.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$40.09 A$55.5

$43.33 A$60.0

-7.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 A$17.88

$3.50 A$4.85

269.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.44 A$7.53

$4.52 A$6.25

20.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.12 A$7.10

$3.49 A$4.83

46.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 A$0.48

$3.16 A$4.38

-88.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.40 A$29.62

$84.6 A$117

-74.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 A$4.17

$3.81 A$5.27

-21.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 A$2.55

$1.44 A$1.99

27.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.17 A$59.8

$41.01 A$56.8

5.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 A$2.00

$1.35 A$1.87

6.67%

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

$28.7K A$39.8K

$28.6K A$39.6K

0.36%

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

$28.6K A$39.6K

$30.8K A$42.6K

-7.25%

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

$170 A$236

$207 A$287

-17.83%

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

$27.80 A$38.48

$25.47 A$35.26

9.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 A$87.3

$63.5 A$87.9

-0.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 A$88.0

$58.2 A$80.6

9.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.88 A$30.29

$18.38 A$25.45

19.04%

Cinema Ticket

$16.29 A$22.56

$16.97 A$23.49

-4.01%

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

$2,148 A$2,974

$2,367 A$3,277

-9.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K A$18.1K

$23.8K A$33.0K

-45.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.9 A$120

$76.8 A$106

13.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.20 A$61.2

$70.0 A$96.9

-36.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 A$157

$121 A$168

-6.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 A$153

$159 A$220

-30.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,054 A$2,844

$1,469 A$2,034

39.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,455 A$2,015

$1,279 A$1,770

13.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,464 A$4,796

$2,284 A$3,162

51.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,425 A$3,357

$1,861 A$2,576

30.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,514 A$11.8K

$6,713 A$9,295

26.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,339 A$8,777

$5,276 A$7,305

20.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,229 A$5,854

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.87

5.92

-0.84%

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

Last update for Brisbane: September 7, 2026

Last update for Northam: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,054 in Brisbane versus $1,469 in Northam. 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 $80.0 in Brisbane versus $87.0 in Northam. Groceries tell a different story – $371 in Brisbane vs $325 in Northam – so Northam 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 Northam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,003 per month in Brisbane and $4,010 in Northam. 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 14% cheaper in Northam – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $2,148 per month in Brisbane and $2,367 in Northam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,668 in Brisbane and $2,673 in Northam. 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, Northam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.