Cost of Living Comparison Between Dandenong and Sydney Cost of Living Comparison Between Dandenong and Sydney

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,118 per month in Dandenong vs $2,842 in Sydney, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,010 per month in Dandenong vs $4,242 in Sydney, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,903 per month in Dandenong vs $5,641 in Sydney, rent included.

Dandenong is about 25% cheaper than Sydney, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Dandenong and Sydney sit above the global median – Dandenong by 58%, Sydney by 111%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.20 A$27.13

$16.37 A$23.13

17.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.99 A$46.61

$79.2 A$112

-58.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 A$13.94

$9.73 A$13.75

1.34%

Cappuccino

$3.67 A$5.18

$3.41 A$4.82

7.62%

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

$2.31 A$3.27

$2.50 A$3.54

-7.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 A$3.14

$2.00 A$2.82

11.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.06 A$7.15

$6.68 A$9.44

-24.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 A$4.69

$7.35 A$10.38

-54.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 A$1.78

$1.62 A$2.29

-22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 A$1.88

$2.67 A$3.77

-50.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 A$3.19

$2.31 A$3.27

-2.16%

Eggs

$4.47 A$6.31

$4.99 A$7.06

-10.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.90 A$11.17

$8.89 A$12.57

-11.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 A$10.24

$8.29 A$11.71

-12.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.15 A$15.75

$14.34 A$20.26

-22.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 A$4.54

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 A$3.58

$2.75 A$3.88

-8.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 A$2.80

$3.19 A$4.50

-37.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 A$2.81

$4.52 A$6.38

-55.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 A$2.72

$2.45 A$3.46

-21.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 A$3.15

$2.34 A$3.30

-4.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 A$0.95

$2.19 A$3.10

-69.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 A$2.24

$1.29 A$1.82

23.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.91 A$46.50

$33.14 A$46.82

-0.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.36 A$14.64

$13.88 A$19.61

-25.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.52 A$6.39

$4.69 A$6.62

-3.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 A$4.56

$5.32 A$7.52

-39.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.65 A$3.74

$3.29 A$4.64

-19.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.6 A$92.7

$139 A$196

-52.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 A$4.96

$3.84 A$5.42

-8.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 A$1.99

$2.88 A$4.07

-51.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.55 A$37.51

$51.8 A$73.2

-48.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 A$1.61

$1.23 A$1.74

-7.32%

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

$29.2K A$41.2K

$29.1K A$41.1K

0.30%

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

$22.4K A$31.7K

$22.9K A$32.4K

-2.24%

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

$151 A$213

$205 A$290

-26.45%

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

$16.00 A$22.60

$23.85 A$33.69

-32.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.79 A$56.2

$52.7 A$74.4

-24.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.33 A$69.7

$61.0 A$86.2

-19.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.81 A$22.33

$20.66 A$29.19

-23.48%

Cinema Ticket

$16.55 A$23.39

$15.43 A$21.80

7.26%

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

$1,731 A$2,445

$2,054 A$2,902

-15.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K A$27.9K

$18.4K A$26.0K

7.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 A$96.2

$73.1 A$103

-6.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 A$74.0

$58.8 A$83.0

-10.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 A$147

$107 A$151

-2.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 A$149

$131 A$185

-19.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,250 A$1,767

$2,151 A$3,039

-41.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 A$1,498

$1,484 A$2,097

-28.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,022 A$2,857

$4,496 A$6,352

-55.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,666 A$2,355

$2,691 A$3,803

-38.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,580 A$7,884

$13.0K A$18.3K

-56.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,972 A$7,024

$7,544 A$10.7K

-34.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,206 A$5,943

$4,223 A$5,967

-0.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.19

6.34

-2.37%

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

Last update for Dandenong: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sydney: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,250 in Dandenong versus $2,151 in Sydney. 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 0% higher in Sydney, 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 $33.00 in Dandenong versus $79.0 in Sydney. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $349 – making Dandenong 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

Dandenong vs Sydney: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sydney is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,176 per month in Dandenong and $4,263 in Sydney. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dandenong, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Sydney, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Dandenong and $79.0 in Sydney. 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 Dandenong, where all-in costs run around $2,118, than in Sydney at $2,842. In Dandenong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dandenong – 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 Dandenong. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sydney makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.