Cost of Living Comparison Between Coffs Harbour and Sydney Cost of Living Comparison Between Coffs Harbour and Sydney

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,526 in Coffs Harbour versus $3,292 in Sydney.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,638 in Coffs Harbour versus $4,899 in Sydney.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,750 in Coffs Harbour versus $6,505 in Sydney.

Living in Coffs Harbour costs roughly 23% less than in Sydney, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Coffs Harbour 85% above, Sydney 141% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.46 A$20.40

$17.90 A$25.24

-19.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$106 A$150

$93.0 A$131

14.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.54 A$13.45

$12.06 A$17.01

-20.90%

Cappuccino

$3.80 A$5.35

$3.96 A$5.58

-4.04%

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

$2.77 A$3.91

$2.89 A$4.07

-4.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 A$2.68

$2.26 A$3.19

-15.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.30 A$7.47

$7.88 A$11.12

-32.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 A$8.11

$7.25 A$10.22

-20.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 A$2.34

$1.81 A$2.56

-8.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.81 A$3.96

$2.75 A$3.89

2.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 A$3.47

$2.42 A$3.41

1.65%

Eggs

$3.39 A$4.79

$5.82 A$8.20

-41.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.96 A$12.64

$12.53 A$17.67

-28.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.01 A$9.89

$9.88 A$13.93

-29.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.54 A$20.51

$16.55 A$23.34

-12.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.00 A$5.64

$3.64 A$5.13

9.89%

Banana (1kg)

$3.11 A$4.39

$3.14 A$4.42

-0.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.59 A$5.06

$3.42 A$4.82

4.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.28 A$6.03

$4.72 A$6.66

-9.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 A$2.04

$3.30 A$4.66

-56.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 A$3.48

$2.49 A$3.52

-0.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 A$3.61

$2.38 A$3.35

7.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 A$3.46

$1.25 A$1.76

96.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$33.00 A$46.54

$46.38 A$65.4

-28.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.83 A$20.92

$14.50 A$20.44

2.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.80 A$8.18

$4.28 A$6.04

35.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 A$9.81

$4.02 A$5.67

73.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.94 A$6.97

$3.34 A$4.71

47.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$158 A$223

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 A$3.06

$3.47 A$4.90

-37.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 A$2.25

$1.67 A$2.36

-4.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$37.41 A$52.8

$40.99 A$57.8

-8.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 A$1.77

$1.44 A$2.03

-13.19%

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

$27.2K A$38.4K

$30.5K A$43.0K

-10.72%

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

$34.3K A$48.4K

$30.4K A$42.9K

12.81%

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

$179 A$252

$229 A$323

-21.93%

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

$10.55 A$14.88

$27.42 A$38.67

-61.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.4 A$76.7

$57.0 A$80.4

-4.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 A$154

$80.3 A$113

36.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.63 A$34.74

Cinema Ticket

$14.29 A$20.16

$17.92 A$25.28

-20.26%

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

$2,181 A$3,076

$2,317 A$3,267

-5.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K A$17.4K

$29.1K A$41.0K

-57.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.2 A$109

$80.5 A$113

-4.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.5 A$78.2

$75.2 A$106

-26.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 A$148

$111 A$156

-5.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 A$174

$134 A$190

-8.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,421 A$2,003

$2,591 A$3,654

-45.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 A$1,825

$1,897 A$2,675

-31.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,156 A$3,041

$5,109 A$7,205

-57.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,053 A$2,895

$3,134 A$4,420

-34.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,718 A$5,243

$13.7K A$19.3K

-72.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,682 A$5,192

$8,458 A$11.9K

-56.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,686 A$5,198

$4,204 A$5,928

-12.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.73

5.87

-2.39%

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

Last update for Coffs Harbour: September 15, 2026

Last update for Sydney: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,421 in Coffs Harbour and $2,591 in Sydney. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sydney pays 14% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $106 in Coffs Harbour vs $93.0 in Sydney. Groceries flip the comparison at $370 vs $387, with Coffs Harbour cheaper for home cooking.

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

Coffs Harbour vs Sydney: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Coffs Harbour is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 14% lower in Sydney. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,421 in Coffs Harbour versus $2,591 in Sydney. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Sydney. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,526 per month in Coffs Harbour versus $3,292 in Sydney – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,526 in Coffs Harbour versus $3,292 in Sydney, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Coffs Harbour but tight or insufficient in Sydney. The gap between the two cities makes Coffs Harbour the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Coffs Harbour and Sydney are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Coffs Harbour gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Sydney. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.