Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Orange, NSW Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Orange, NSW

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,343 per month in Brisbane vs $1,775 in Orange, NSW, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,321 per month in Brisbane vs $2,695 in Orange, NSW, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,298 per month in Brisbane vs $3,615 in Orange, NSW, rent included.

Brisbane costs about 32% more than Orange, NSW, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Brisbane and Orange, NSW sit above the global median – Brisbane by 75%, Orange, NSW by 33%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.40 A$22.97

$9.55 A$13.36

71.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.7 A$98.9

$70.3 A$98.4

0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 A$13.60

$9.73 A$13.62

-0.10%

Cappuccino

$3.62 A$5.07

$3.35 A$4.69

8.06%

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

$2.80 A$3.92

$2.67 A$3.74

4.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 A$3.00

$2.25 A$3.15

-4.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.40 A$8.96

$6.36 A$8.90

0.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 A$11.00

$7.00 A$9.80

12.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 A$2.24

$1.43 A$2.00

11.89%

White Bread (500g)

$2.31 A$3.24

$2.57 A$3.60

-10.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 A$2.65

$1.86 A$2.61

1.61%

Eggs

$4.31 A$6.04

$3.59 A$5.03

20.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 A$11.16

$7.65 A$10.70

4.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.42 A$11.79

$8.30 A$11.61

1.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.35 A$18.68

$12.95 A$18.13

3.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 A$4.74

$3.13 A$4.38

8.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.85 A$3.99

$2.55 A$3.57

11.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 A$3.83

$2.96 A$4.14

-7.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 A$5.95

$3.62 A$5.06

17.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 A$3.55

$1.60 A$2.23

58.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 A$3.20

$2.19 A$3.07

4.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 A$3.03

$1.91 A$2.67

13.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 A$1.83

$1.28 A$1.79

1.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.47 A$45.45

$31.19 A$43.67

4.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.10 A$19.74

$11.70 A$16.38

20.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.69 A$6.57

$2.61 A$3.66

79.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.27 A$5.97

$5.31 A$7.44

-19.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 A$0.48

$2.40 A$3.36

-85.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.10 A$37.94

$64.3 A$90.1

-57.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 A$3.24

$2.28 A$3.19

1.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 A$2.14

$1.82 A$2.55

-15.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.98 A$47.58

$41.43 A$58.0

-17.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 A$1.65

$1.13 A$1.59

4.42%

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

$28.5K A$39.9K

$27.4K A$38.3K

4.21%

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

$22.6K A$31.6K

$22.7K A$31.8K

-0.76%

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

$147 A$206

$151 A$211

-2.49%

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

$25.95 A$36.32

$16.47 A$23.06

57.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.2 A$75.9

$51.7 A$72.3

4.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.57 A$68.0

$49.30 A$69.0

-1.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.34 A$24.28

$12.86 A$18.00

34.84%

Cinema Ticket

$12.89 A$18.04

$13.19 A$18.47

-2.27%

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

$1,597 A$2,235

$1,760 A$2,464

-9.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,723 A$12.2K

$13.2K A$18.4K

-33.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.9 A$101

$51.0 A$71.4

40.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.20 A$60.5

$55.4 A$77.6

-22.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 A$128

$96.7 A$135

-5.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 A$143

$116 A$162

-12.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,585 A$2,219

$851 A$1,191

86.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 A$1,764

$739 A$1,034

70.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,658 A$3,722

$1,534 A$2,148

73.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,894 A$2,652

$1,301 A$1,821

45.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,202 A$11.5K

$5,580 A$7,812

46.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,384 A$7,538

$4,324 A$6,054

24.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,267 A$5,974

$4,850 A$6,790

-12.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

6.29

-0.79%

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

Last update for Brisbane: April 27, 2026

Last update for Orange, NSW: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,585 in Brisbane versus $851 in Orange, NSW. 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 14% higher in Orange, NSW, 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 $71.0 in Brisbane versus $70.0 in Orange, NSW. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $333 vs $305 – making Orange, NSW the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Orange, NSW: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brisbane costs about 32% more than Orange, NSW, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,515 per month in Brisbane and $2,662 in Orange, NSW. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 9% more in Brisbane, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Brisbane and $70.0 in Orange, NSW. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Orange, NSW, where all-in costs run around $1,775, than in Brisbane at $2,343. In Orange, NSW it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brisbane it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Orange, NSW – 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 Orange, NSW. 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.