Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Port Hedland

For one person, living is cheaper in Port Hedland: $2,517 a month against $2,644 in Brisbane, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Brisbane outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Brisbane, Australia
Port Hedland, Australia
Brisbane
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,644
/mo nomad
Port Hedland
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,517
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Brisbane and in Port Hedland

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Brisbane and in Port Hedland actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,644 per month in Brisbane vs $2,517 in Port Hedland, rent included.

  • Brisbane $2,644
  • Port Hedland $2,517

A couple spends around $3,821 per month in Brisbane vs $3,643 in Port Hedland, rent included.

  • Brisbane $3,821
  • Port Hedland $3,643

A family of three spends $4,999 per month in Brisbane vs $4,770 in Port Hedland, rent included.

  • Brisbane $4,999
  • Port Hedland $4,770

Brisbane costs about 5% more than Port Hedland, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Brisbane and Port Hedland sit above the global median – Brisbane by 96%, Port Hedland by 86%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brisbane
Port Hedland
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.81 A$25.50
$17.47 A$25.00
1.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.4 A$122
$84.3 A$121
1.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.28 A$16.14
$10.68 A$15.29
5.62%
Cappuccino
$4.45 A$6.37
$4.05 A$5.79
9.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 A$4.01
$2.93 A$4.20
-4.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 A$3.51
$2.29 A$3.28
6.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.60 A$12.31
$7.83 A$11.21
9.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.36 A$11.97
$7.70 A$11.02
8.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brisbane
Port Hedland
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 A$2.52
$1.58 A$2.26
11.39%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 A$3.67
$2.76 A$3.96
-6.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 A$3.13
$2.23 A$3.19
-2.24%
Eggs
$4.95 A$7.08
$4.84 A$6.92
2.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 A$13.71
$9.06 A$12.97
5.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 A$12.90
$9.27 A$13.27
-2.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.00 A$20.04
$14.47 A$20.71
-3.25%
Apples (1kg)
$4.21 A$6.03
$3.73 A$5.33
12.87%
Banana (1kg)
$3.18 A$4.55
$3.06 A$4.38
3.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 A$4.00
$3.33 A$4.76
-16.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.83 A$6.91
$4.73 A$6.77
2.11%
Potato (1kg)
$2.80 A$4.01
$2.67 A$3.82
4.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 A$3.37
$2.41 A$3.45
-2.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 A$3.38
$2.39 A$3.43
-1.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 A$1.70
$1.59 A$2.28
-25.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$39.08 A$56.0
$42.72 A$61.2
-8.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.84 A$18.37
$14.04 A$20.10
-8.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.27 A$7.55
$4.82 A$6.90
9.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.91 A$7.03
$5.17 A$7.39
-5.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Brisbane
Port Hedland
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 A$0.52
$2.81 A$4.03
-87.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.39 A$30.61
$84.0 A$120
-74.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.61 A$3.73
$3.47 A$4.97
-24.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 A$2.69
$1.60 A$2.29
17.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.67 A$59.6
$40.98 A$58.7
1.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 A$2.11
$1.30 A$1.86
13.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K A$41.5K
$29.9K A$42.8K
-3.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K A$37.1K
$26.6K A$38.0K
-2.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brisbane
Port Hedland
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 A$229
$206 A$294
-22.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.65 A$38.16
$27.81 A$39.82
-4.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.2 A$87.7
$57.3 A$82.0
6.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brisbane
Port Hedland
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.1 A$87.4
$56.4 A$80.7
8.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.66 A$32.43
$17.67 A$25.29
28.24%
Cinema Ticket
$14.15 A$20.25
$14.12 A$20.22
0.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brisbane
Port Hedland
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,982 A$2,837
$2,113 A$3,025
-6.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.8K A$38.4K
$20.7K A$29.7K
29.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brisbane
Port Hedland
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.1 A$122
$75.7 A$108
12.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.37 A$66.4
$54.5 A$78.1
-14.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 A$159
$108 A$155
2.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 A$157
$122 A$175
-10.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brisbane
Port Hedland
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,957 A$2,802
$1,387 A$1,985
41.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,441 A$2,063
$1,210 A$1,733
19.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,481 A$4,983
$2,223 A$3,182
56.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,234 A$3,197
$1,843 A$2,638
21.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,571 A$13.7K
$5,770 A$8,259
65.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,938 A$9,932
$4,965 A$7,108
39.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brisbane
Port Hedland
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,134 A$5,918
$5,106 A$7,309
-19.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.84
5.9
-1.02%

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

Last update for Brisbane: November 3, 2026

Last update for Port Hedland: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Brisbane
$1.4K
Port Hedland
$1.2K 16% $231
Groceries & Markets
Brisbane
$362
Port Hedland
$367 1.4% $4.9
Eating Out
Brisbane
$310
Port Hedland
$296 4.7% $15
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brisbane
$248
Port Hedland
$291 17.4% $43
Clothing & Footwear
Brisbane
$158
Port Hedland
$162 2.4% $3.8
Sport & Entertainment
Brisbane
$89
Port Hedland
$85 5.3% $4.8
Getting Around
Brisbane
$35
Port Hedland
$107 207% $72

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,957 in Brisbane versus $1,387 in Port Hedland. 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 23% higher in Port Hedland, 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 $85 in Brisbane versus $84 in Port Hedland. Groceries tell a different story – $362 in Brisbane vs $367 in Port Hedland – so Brisbane wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Brisbane
🇦🇺 Port Hedland
🕒 Local time
12:48 12:48 PM
10:48 10:48 AM
2 h behind Brisbane
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,287,896
15,298
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.699 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.625 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Brisbane Port Hedland 3,580 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Brisbane
  • Port Hedland

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Port Hedland: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brisbane or Port Hedland?
Brisbane costs about 5% more than Port Hedland, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Brisbane and in Port Hedland?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,965 per month in Brisbane and $3,776 in Port Hedland. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Brisbane or Port Hedland?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Hedland, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,387 there versus $1,957 in Brisbane.
How much does it cost to live in Brisbane compared to Port Hedland?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,644 in Brisbane and $2,517 in Port Hedland. That makes Port Hedland about 5% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Brisbane compared to Port Hedland?
Public transport costs about 75% less in Brisbane. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Brisbane or in Port Hedland?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,644 in Brisbane and $2,517 in Port Hedland. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Brisbane or Port Hedland?
It depends on your priorities. Brisbane has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,517 in Port Hedland to $2,644 in Brisbane. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Brisbane compared to Port Hedland?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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