Cost of Living Comparison Between Burnie and Brisbane Cost of Living Comparison Between Burnie and Brisbane

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,655 per month in Burnie vs $2,285 in Brisbane, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,492 per month in Burnie vs $3,328 in Brisbane, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,328 per month in Burnie vs $4,372 in Brisbane, rent included.

Burnie is about 28% cheaper than Brisbane, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Burnie and Brisbane sit above the global median – Burnie by 24%, Brisbane by 71%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Burnie
Brisbane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.98 A$22.27
$15.97 A$22.26
0.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.5 A$118
$70.8 A$98.7
19.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.18 A$7.22
$9.50 A$13.24
-45.47%
Cappuccino
$3.55 A$4.95
$3.65 A$5.08
-2.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 A$3.78
$2.67 A$3.72
1.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 A$2.31
$2.13 A$2.97
-22.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.85 A$5.36
$6.32 A$8.80
-39.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.52 A$7.69
$8.02 A$11.18
-31.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Burnie
Brisbane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 A$2.56
$1.54 A$2.14
19.48%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 A$3.52
$2.28 A$3.18
10.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 A$2.38
$1.86 A$2.60
-8.06%
Eggs
$4.73 A$6.59
$4.48 A$6.25
5.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.26 A$12.90
$8.24 A$11.48
12.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.72 A$7.97
$8.09 A$11.28
-29.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.48 A$22.96
$13.33 A$18.57
23.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.56 A$3.56
$3.38 A$4.71
-24.26%
Banana (1kg)
$2.63 A$3.67
$2.73 A$3.81
-3.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 A$2.79
$2.71 A$3.78
-26.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.63 A$3.66
$4.29 A$5.98
-38.69%
Potato (1kg)
$2.65 A$3.70
$2.52 A$3.52
5.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.91 A$2.66
$2.30 A$3.21
-16.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.89 A$2.64
$2.14 A$2.98
-11.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 A$2.80
$1.24 A$1.72
62.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.53 A$35.57
$32.55 A$45.36
-21.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.80 A$20.62
$12.85 A$17.90
15.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.24 A$4.51
$4.66 A$6.50
-30.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.24 A$7.30
$4.18 A$5.83
25.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Burnie
Brisbane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.82 A$2.54
$0.31 A$0.44
487.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.9 A$91.8
$27.52 A$38.35
139.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.40 A$3.35
$2.29 A$3.20
4.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 A$2.52
$1.58 A$2.20
14.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.55 A$41.18
$34.11 A$47.54
-13.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 A$1.68
$1.24 A$1.73
-2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K A$39.5K
$29.1K A$40.5K
-2.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K A$37.8K
$22.6K A$31.5K
20.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Burnie
Brisbane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 A$276
$146 A$204
35.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.26 A$26.85
$25.26 A$35.20
-23.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.93 A$62.6
$52.5 A$73.2
-14.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Burnie
Brisbane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.17 A$68.5
$49.65 A$69.2
-0.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.56 A$21.68
$17.25 A$24.04
-9.80%
Cinema Ticket
$12.94 A$18.04
$13.23 A$18.43
-2.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Burnie
Brisbane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,702 A$2,372
$1,591 A$2,218
6.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K A$16.9K
$8,689 A$12.1K
39.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Burnie
Brisbane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7 A$88.8
$70.3 A$97.9
-9.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.79 A$31.75
$44.49 A$62.0
-48.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 A$146
$91.4 A$127
14.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.2 A$121
$100 A$139
-12.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Burnie
Brisbane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$758 A$1,056
$1,616 A$2,252
-53.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$533 A$743
$1,241 A$1,729
-57.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,049 A$1,462
$2,670 A$3,720
-60.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$789 A$1,099
$1,939 A$2,701
-59.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,321 A$8,808
$8,525 A$11.9K
-25.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,809 A$8,095
$5,824 A$8,116
-0.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Burnie
Brisbane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,273 A$7,348
$4,294 A$5,984
22.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.6
6.24
-10.26%

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

Last update for Burnie: June 1, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $758 in Burnie versus $1,616 in Brisbane. 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 Burnie, 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 $85.0 in Burnie versus $71.0 in Brisbane. Groceries tell a different story – $325 in Burnie vs $327 in Brisbane – so Burnie 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
Burnie vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Burnie or Brisbane?
Brisbane costs about 38% more than Burnie, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Burnie vs Brisbane?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,483 per month in Burnie and $3,427 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Burnie or Brisbane?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Burnie, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Burnie or Brisbane?
Groceries cost about 1% more in Brisbane, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Burnie vs Brisbane?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Burnie and $71.0 in Brisbane. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Burnie or Brisbane?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Burnie, where all-in costs run around $1,655, than in Brisbane at $2,285. In Burnie it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brisbane it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Burnie – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Burnie compared to Brisbane?
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.
Should I move to Burnie or Brisbane?
If budget matters most, go with Burnie. 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.

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