🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,155 in Cranbourne versus $2,824 in Sydney.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,194 in Cranbourne versus $4,241 in Sydney.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,233 in Cranbourne versus $5,658 in Sydney.
🌍Living in Cranbourne costs roughly 24% less than in Sydney, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cranbourne61% above, Sydney111% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cranbourne
Sydney
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.03A$12.93
$16.22A$23.22
-44.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.0A$112
$79.3A$114
-1.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.40A$16.31
$9.59A$13.74
18.87%
Cappuccino
$1.92A$2.75
$3.29A$4.71
-41.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17A$4.54
$2.46A$3.52
28.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60A$2.29
$1.97A$2.82
-18.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.34A$11.94
$6.63A$9.50
25.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07A$10.13
$7.12A$10.20
-0.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cranbourne
Sydney
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18A$1.69
$1.65A$2.36
-28.48%
White Bread(500g)
$2.37A$3.39
$2.67A$3.82
-11.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.01A$2.88
$2.34A$3.35
-14.10%
Eggs
$4.29A$6.14
$5.03A$7.20
-14.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.70A$12.46
$8.59A$12.30
1.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47A$12.13
$8.37A$11.98
1.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.50A$19.33
$14.03A$20.09
-3.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24A$4.64
$3.23A$4.62
0.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.82A$4.04
$2.75A$3.93
2.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.85A$4.08
$3.18A$4.55
-10.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.00A$5.73
$4.36A$6.25
-8.26%
Potato(1kg)
$2.41A$3.45
$2.45A$3.50
-1.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17A$3.11
$2.36A$3.38
-8.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.18A$3.13
$2.16A$3.09
0.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57A$0.82
$1.29A$1.84
-55.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$30.41A$43.54
$32.49A$46.52
-6.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.17A$31.74
$13.96A$19.98
58.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.55A$6.52
$4.62A$6.62
-1.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34A$7.64
$5.30A$7.59
0.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Cranbourne
Sydney
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.64A$3.79
$3.18A$4.56
-16.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.6A$93.9
$143A$204
-54.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49A$4.99
$3.82A$5.47
-8.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56A$2.23
$3.03A$4.34
-48.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.49A$47.95
$52.3A$74.9
-35.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33A$1.90
$1.20A$1.71
10.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6KA$40.9K
$28.4KA$40.6K
0.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5KA$32.3K
$22.4KA$32.0K
0.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cranbourne
Sydney
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$180A$258
$198A$284
-9.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.36A$39.17
$24.17A$34.60
13.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.0A$74.5
$51.8A$74.2
0.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cranbourne
Sydney
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.63A$56.7
$60.4A$86.4
-34.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.86A$22.70
$21.22A$30.38
-25.26%
Cinema Ticket
$13.04A$18.67
$15.72A$22.51
-17.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cranbourne
Sydney
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,635A$2,340
$2,085A$2,986
-21.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.3KA$17.6K
$18.8KA$26.9K
-34.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cranbourne
Sydney
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.0A$98.7
$75.1A$108
-8.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5A$72.3
$59.3A$84.9
-14.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.2A$142
$106A$152
-6.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109A$156
$131A$188
-17.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cranbourne
Sydney
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,262A$1,806
$2,182A$3,123
-42.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,073A$1,536
$1,506A$2,156
-28.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012A$2,881
$4,461A$6,387
-54.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,649A$2,360
$2,698A$3,862
-38.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,317A$9,044
$12.8KA$18.3K
-50.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,659A$6,671
$7,341A$10.5K
-36.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cranbourne
Sydney
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,738A$2,489
$4,217A$6,038
-58.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
6.34
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cranbourne: July 12, 2026
Last update for Sydney: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,262 in Cranbourne and $2,182 in Sydney. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sydney pays 143% 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: $78.0 in Cranbourne vs $79.0 in Sydney for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $339 vs $347 per month, with Cranbourne cheaper across the board.
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
Cranbourne vs Sydney: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cranbourne and in Sydney?
Cranbourne and Sydney differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($2,155 vs $2,824 including rent). Cranbourne is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 143% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Cranbourne and in Sydney?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,262 in Cranbourne versus $2,182 in Sydney. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Cranbourne and Sydney?
Childcare runs $1,635 in Cranbourne versus $2,085 in Sydney. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Sydney. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,155 in Cranbourne versus $2,824 in Sydney, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Cranbourne but tight or insufficient in Sydney. The gap between the two cities makes Cranbourne the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cranbourne and Sydney?
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.
Is Cranbourne or Sydney safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Cranbourne 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.
Where should expats move: Cranbourne or Sydney?
Expats usually find Cranbourne gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Sydney. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Cranbourne vs other spots: cost of living compared