Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Derby, Australia and Brisbane

For one person, living is cheaper in Derby: $2,353 a month against $2,630 in Brisbane, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Brisbane outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Derby, Australia
Brisbane, Australia
Derby
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,353
/mo nomad
Brisbane
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,630
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Derby and in Brisbane

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Derby and in Brisbane actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,353 per month in Derby vs $2,630 in Brisbane, rent included.

  • Derby $2,353
  • Brisbane $2,630

A couple spends around $3,668 per month in Derby vs $3,801 in Brisbane, rent included.

  • Derby $3,668
  • Brisbane $3,801

A family of three spends $4,983 per month in Derby vs $4,972 in Brisbane, rent included.

  • Derby $4,983
  • Brisbane $4,972

Derby is about 11% cheaper than Brisbane, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Derby and Brisbane sit above the global median – Derby by 73%, Brisbane by 93%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Derby
Brisbane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.57 A$27.83
$17.61 A$25.04
11.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.3 A$118
$80.0 A$114
4.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.06 A$15.72
$11.43 A$16.25
-3.24%
Cappuccino
$4.55 A$6.47
$4.51 A$6.42
0.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 A$4.01
$2.95 A$4.20
-4.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 A$3.56
$2.39 A$3.40
5.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.62 A$9.41
$8.61 A$12.24
-23.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.46 A$12.02
$8.36 A$11.89
1.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Derby
Brisbane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 A$1.89
$1.62 A$2.30
-17.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.90 A$4.12
$2.65 A$3.77
9.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.22 A$3.16
$2.32 A$3.30
-4.31%
Eggs
$4.96 A$7.05
$4.94 A$7.02
0.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.02 A$11.40
$9.08 A$12.91
-11.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 A$14.86
$9.12 A$12.97
14.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.37 A$19.01
$14.34 A$20.39
-6.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.94 A$5.60
$4.14 A$5.89
-4.83%
Banana (1kg)
$3.50 A$4.98
$3.07 A$4.36
14.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.11 A$4.43
$3.05 A$4.33
1.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.32 A$6.14
$4.89 A$6.95
-11.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.59 A$3.69
$2.81 A$4.00
-7.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 A$3.89
$2.48 A$3.52
10.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 A$3.16
$2.41 A$3.42
-7.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 A$2.18
$1.19 A$1.69
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$38.60 A$54.9
$38.54 A$54.8
0.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.18 A$17.31
$12.65 A$17.98
-3.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.95 A$7.04
$5.22 A$7.42
-5.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67 A$6.64
$4.87 A$6.92
-4.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Derby
Brisbane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.66 A$3.78
$0.34 A$0.48
682.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.0 A$102
$20.97 A$29.82
243.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.03 A$5.73
$3.05 A$4.34
32.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 A$2.27
$1.89 A$2.69
-15.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.43 A$51.8
$40.76 A$58.0
-10.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 A$1.94
$1.45 A$2.06
-5.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K A$36.4K
$29.7K A$42.2K
-13.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8K A$41.0K
$25.6K A$36.4K
12.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Derby
Brisbane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 A$262
$158 A$224
16.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.63 A$33.60
$26.05 A$37.05
-9.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.0 A$75.3
$61.1 A$86.9
-13.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Derby
Brisbane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.3 A$91.4
$61.2 A$87.0
5.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.35 A$23.25
$22.36 A$31.79
-26.88%
Cinema Ticket
$14.87 A$21.15
$13.95 A$19.84
6.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Derby
Brisbane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,188 A$3,111
$2,044 A$2,907
7.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K A$30.6K
$12.9K A$18.3K
66.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Derby
Brisbane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 A$121
$82.4 A$117
3.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.33 A$70.2
$43.63 A$62.0
13.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 A$171
$113 A$161
6.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 A$185
$111 A$158
17.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Derby
Brisbane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,410 A$2,005
$1,944 A$2,764
-27.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,054 A$1,498
$1,431 A$2,035
-26.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,991 A$2,831
$3,484 A$4,955
-42.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 A$2,900
$2,240 A$3,186
-8.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,153 A$8,749
$9,322 A$13.3K
-34.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,074 A$7,215
$7,003 A$9,958
-27.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Derby
Brisbane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,144 A$5,893
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
5.81
1.55%

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

Last update for Derby: October 26, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Derby
$1.1K
Brisbane
$1.4K 35.9% $378
Groceries & Markets
Derby
$361
Brisbane
$362 0.1% $0.5
Eating Out
Derby
$316
Brisbane
$310 1.7% $5.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Derby
$261
Brisbane
$245 6% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Derby
$173
Brisbane
$158 9.1% $16
Getting Around
Derby
$95
Brisbane
$35 63.2% $60
Sport & Entertainment
Derby
$94
Brisbane
$89 5.3% $5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,410 in Derby versus $1,944 in Brisbane. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $83 in Derby versus $80 in Brisbane. Groceries tell a different story – $361 in Derby vs $362 in Brisbane – so Derby wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Derby
🇦🇺 Brisbane
🕒 Local time
01:45 1:45 AM
03:45 3:45 AM
2 h ahead of Derby
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,300
2,287,896
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.58 AUD (1 AUD = 0.632 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Derby Brisbane 3,220 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Derby
  • Brisbane

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Derby vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Derby or Brisbane?
Brisbane costs about 12% more than Derby, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. 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 Derby and in Brisbane?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,530 per month in Derby and $3,945 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Derby or Brisbane?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Derby, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,410 there versus $1,944 in Brisbane.
How much does it cost to live in Derby compared to Brisbane?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,353 in Derby and $2,630 in Brisbane. That’s a gap of about 12%.
How do childcare costs compare in Derby and in Brisbane?
Kindergarten costs $2,188 per month in Derby and $2,044 in Brisbane. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Derby or in Brisbane?
$3,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $2,353 in Derby and $2,630 in Brisbane, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Derby or Brisbane?
It depends on your priorities. Brisbane has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,353 in Derby to $2,630 in Brisbane. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Derby 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.

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