Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Parramatta Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Parramatta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,285 per month in Brisbane vs $2,284 in Parramatta, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,328 per month in Brisbane vs $3,357 in Parramatta, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,372 per month in Brisbane vs $4,431 in Parramatta, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.97 A$22.26

$16.58 A$23.10

-3.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.8 A$98.7

$79.5 A$111

-10.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.50 A$13.24

$9.59 A$13.37

-0.94%

Cappuccino

$3.65 A$5.08

$3.35 A$4.67

8.96%

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

$2.67 A$3.72

$2.64 A$3.69

1.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 A$2.97

$2.24 A$3.13

-4.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.32 A$8.80

$6.56 A$9.15

-3.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 A$11.18

$7.20 A$10.03

11.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 A$2.14

$1.50 A$2.10

2.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 A$3.18

$2.65 A$3.70

-13.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 A$2.60

$1.77 A$2.46

5.08%

Eggs

$4.48 A$6.25

$4.06 A$5.66

10.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 A$11.48

$9.01 A$12.55

-8.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 A$11.28

$8.17 A$11.38

-0.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 A$18.57

$14.33 A$19.97

-6.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 A$4.71

$3.32 A$4.63

1.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.73 A$3.81

$2.68 A$3.73

1.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 A$3.78

$3.10 A$4.32

-12.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 A$5.98

$4.62 A$6.43

-7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 A$3.52

$2.31 A$3.22

9.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 A$3.21

$2.10 A$2.93

9.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 A$2.98

$2.35 A$3.28

-8.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 A$1.72

$1.27 A$1.78

-2.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.55 A$45.36

$30.30 A$42.22

7.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 A$17.90

$14.09 A$19.63

-8.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.66 A$6.50

$4.86 A$6.77

-4.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.18 A$5.83

$5.28 A$7.35

-20.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 A$0.44

$2.64 A$3.68

-88.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.52 A$38.35

$64.7 A$90.2

-57.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 A$3.20

$4.00 A$5.58

-42.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 A$2.20

$1.59 A$2.22

-0.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.11 A$47.54

$40.50 A$56.4

-15.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 A$1.73

$1.19 A$1.66

4.20%

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

$29.1K A$40.5K

$28.3K A$39.5K

2.62%

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

$22.6K A$31.5K

$22.7K A$31.6K

-0.61%

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

$146 A$204

$223 A$310

-34.35%

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

$25.26 A$35.20

$29.12 A$40.57

-13.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 A$73.2

$52.1 A$72.6

0.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.65 A$69.2

$49.35 A$68.8

0.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 A$24.04

$16.01 A$22.30

7.75%

Cinema Ticket

$13.23 A$18.43

$14.08 A$19.62

-6.04%

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

$1,591 A$2,218

$1,747 A$2,434

-8.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,689 A$12.1K

$13.5K A$18.8K

-35.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 A$97.9

$73.0 A$102

-3.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.49 A$62.0

$57.3 A$79.9

-22.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 A$127

$97.9 A$136

-6.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 A$139

$117 A$163

-14.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,616 A$2,252

$1,284 A$1,790

25.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,241 A$1,729

$1,080 A$1,506

14.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,670 A$3,720

$1,998 A$2,784

33.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,939 A$2,701

$1,706 A$2,377

13.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,525 A$11.9K

$6,189 A$8,625

37.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,824 A$8,116

$5,227 A$7,284

11.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,294 A$5,984

$4,210 A$5,866

2.01%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Parramatta: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,616 in Brisbane versus $1,284 in Parramatta. 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 2% 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 $79.0 in Parramatta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $343 – making Brisbane 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 Parramatta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,427 per month in Brisbane and $3,426 in Parramatta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Brisbane – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $1,591 per month in Brisbane and $1,747 in Parramatta. 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 Parramatta, where all-in costs run around $2,284, than in Brisbane at $2,285. In Parramatta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brisbane it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Parramatta – 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 Parramatta. 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.