🙂A single person spends $2,166 per month in Carlton vs $2,343 in Brisbane, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,100 per month in Carlton vs $3,321 in Brisbane, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,034 per month in Carlton vs $4,298 in Brisbane, rent included.
🙂Carlton is about 8% cheaper than Brisbane, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Carlton and Brisbane sit above the global median – Carlton by 62%, Brisbane by 75%.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Carlton
Brisbane
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.76A$27.67
$16.40A$22.97
20.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.7A$92.0
$70.7A$98.9
-7.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.48A$13.28
$9.72A$13.60
-2.47%
Cappuccino
$2.75A$3.84
$3.62A$5.07
-24.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46A$3.44
$2.80A$3.92
-12.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89A$2.65
$2.14A$3.00
-11.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.11A$8.55
$6.40A$8.96
-4.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.25A$8.74
$7.85A$11.00
-20.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Carlton
Brisbane
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06A$1.49
$1.60A$2.24
-33.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76A$2.47
$2.31A$3.24
-23.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59A$2.22
$1.89A$2.65
-15.87%
Eggs
$2.98A$4.17
$4.31A$6.04
-30.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.01A$12.62
$7.97A$11.16
13.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53A$13.34
$8.42A$11.79
13.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.61A$20.46
$13.35A$18.68
9.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.32A$4.65
$3.39A$4.74
-2.06%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57A$3.59
$2.85A$3.99
-9.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.99A$4.19
$2.74A$3.83
9.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.94A$5.52
$4.25A$5.95
-7.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.29A$3.21
$2.53A$3.55
-9.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12A$2.96
$2.28A$3.20
-7.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.16A$3.02
$2.16A$3.03
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33A$1.87
$1.30A$1.83
2.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$28.38A$39.74
$32.47A$45.45
-12.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.72A$15.01
$14.10A$19.74
-23.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.50A$6.30
$4.69A$6.57
-4.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.08A$7.11
$4.27A$5.97
18.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Carlton
Brisbane
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.86A$4.01
$0.34A$0.48
741.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.7A$72.4
$27.10A$37.94
90.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.66A$5.12
$2.32A$3.24
57.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.33A$1.86
$1.53A$2.14
-13.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.30A$34.02
$33.98A$47.58
-28.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18A$1.65
$1.18A$1.65
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4KA$32.8K
$28.5KA$39.9K
-17.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.0KA$18.2K
$22.6KA$31.6K
-42.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Carlton
Brisbane
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.5A$104
$147A$206
-49.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.74A$29.04
$25.95A$36.32
-20.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.22A$60.5
$54.2A$75.9
-20.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Carlton
Brisbane
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.79A$64.1
$48.57A$68.0
-5.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.87A$25.02
$17.34A$24.28
3.06%
Cinema Ticket
$11.51A$16.11
$12.89A$18.04
-10.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Carlton
Brisbane
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,209A$1,693
$1,597A$2,235
-24.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6KA$16.2K
$8,723A$12.2K
32.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Carlton
Brisbane
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2A$95.5
$71.9A$101
-5.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.3A$74.6
$43.20A$60.5
23.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.1A$105
$91.8A$128
-18.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104A$146
$102A$143
2.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Carlton
Brisbane
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303A$1,824
$1,585A$2,219
-17.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,119A$1,566
$1,260A$1,764
-11.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,970A$2,758
$2,658A$3,722
-25.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,619A$2,267
$1,894A$2,652
-14.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,695A$9,373
$8,202A$11.5K
-18.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849A$6,789
$5,384A$7,538
-9.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Carlton
Brisbane
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,923A$8,292
$4,267A$5,974
38.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.19
6.24
-0.80%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Carlton: April 28, 2026
Última actualización para Brisbane: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,303 in Carlton versus $1,585 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 39% higher in Carlton, 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 $66.0 in Carlton versus $71.0 in Brisbane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $319 vs $333 – making Carlton the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Carlton vs Brisbane: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Carlton or Brisbane?
Brisbane costs about 8% more than Carlton, 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 Carlton vs Brisbane?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,249 per month in Carlton and $3,515 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Carlton or Brisbane?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Carlton, 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 Carlton or Brisbane?
Groceries cost about 4% 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 Carlton vs Brisbane?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Carlton 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 $3,000/month in Carlton or Brisbane?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Carlton, where all-in costs run around $2,166, than in Brisbane at $2,343. In Carlton 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 Carlton – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Carlton 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 Carlton or Brisbane?
If budget matters most, go with Carlton. 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.
Carlton vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado