Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Rockhampton Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Rockhampton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,285 per month in Brisbane vs $1,826 in Rockhampton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,328 per month in Brisbane vs $2,827 in Rockhampton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,372 per month in Brisbane vs $3,827 in Rockhampton, rent included.

Brisbane costs about 25% more than Rockhampton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Brisbane and Rockhampton sit above the global median – Brisbane by 71%, Rockhampton by 36%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.97 A$22.26

$18.45 A$25.71

-13.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.8 A$98.7

$79.0 A$110

-10.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.50 A$13.24

$9.16 A$12.77

3.71%

Cappuccino

$3.65 A$5.08

$3.83 A$5.34

-4.70%

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

$2.67 A$3.72

$2.79 A$3.89

-4.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 A$2.97

$2.40 A$3.34

-11.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.32 A$8.80

$7.20 A$10.03

-12.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 A$11.18

$5.82 A$8.10

37.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 A$2.14

$1.74 A$2.43

-11.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 A$3.18

$1.83 A$2.55

24.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 A$2.60

$2.29 A$3.19

-18.78%

Eggs

$4.48 A$6.25

$3.16 A$4.41

41.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 A$11.48

$6.32 A$8.81

30.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 A$11.28

$9.59 A$13.37

-15.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 A$18.57

$14.60 A$20.34

-8.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 A$4.71

$2.60 A$3.62

30.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.73 A$3.81

$4.28 A$5.96

-36.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 A$3.78

$2.48 A$3.45

9.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 A$5.98

$5.25 A$7.31

-18.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 A$3.52

$2.02 A$2.82

24.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 A$3.21

$2.03 A$2.83

13.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 A$2.98

$2.62 A$3.65

-18.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 A$1.72

$1.30 A$1.82

-4.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.55 A$45.36

$32.95 A$45.92

-1.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 A$17.90

$13.45 A$18.74

-4.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.66 A$6.50

$3.25 A$4.52

43.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.18 A$5.83

$5.79 A$8.06

-27.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 A$0.44

$1.61 A$2.24

-80.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.52 A$38.35

$58.8 A$81.9

-53.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 A$3.20

$3.30 A$4.60

-30.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 A$2.20

$1.62 A$2.26

-2.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.11 A$47.54

$36.78 A$51.3

-7.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 A$1.73

$1.26 A$1.76

-1.59%

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

$29.1K A$40.5K

$27.5K A$38.3K

5.78%

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

$22.6K A$31.5K

$19.8K A$27.6K

14.07%

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

$146 A$204

$196 A$273

-25.34%

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

$25.26 A$35.20

$21.79 A$30.36

15.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 A$73.2

$63.9 A$89.0

-17.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.65 A$69.2

$47.69 A$66.5

4.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 A$24.04

$12.87 A$17.94

34.03%

Cinema Ticket

$13.23 A$18.43

$12.89 A$17.97

2.64%

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

$1,591 A$2,218

$1,611 A$2,245

-1.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,689 A$12.1K

$6,124 A$8,534

41.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 A$97.9

$68.5 A$95.4

2.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.49 A$62.0

$55.5 A$77.3

-19.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 A$127

$132 A$184

-30.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 A$139

$58.1 A$80.9

72.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,616 A$2,252

$772 A$1,076

109.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,241 A$1,729

$636 A$886

95.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,670 A$3,720

$1,516 A$2,113

76.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,939 A$2,701

$1,144 A$1,594

69.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,525 A$11.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,824 A$8,116

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,294 A$5,984

$3,783 A$5,272

13.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

6.65

-6.17%

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

Last update for Brisbane: June 1, 2026

Last update for Rockhampton: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,616 in Brisbane versus $772 in Rockhampton. 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 Brisbane, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. 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 Rockhampton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $334 – 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 Rockhampton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brisbane costs about 25% more than Rockhampton, 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 $3,427 per month in Brisbane and $2,739 in Rockhampton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rockhampton, 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 Brisbane – 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 $71.0 in Brisbane and $79.0 in Rockhampton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Rockhampton, where all-in costs run around $1,826, than in Brisbane at $2,285. In Rockhampton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brisbane it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rockhampton – 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 Rockhampton. 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.