Cost of Living Comparison Between Double Bay and Sydney Cost of Living Comparison Between Double Bay and Sydney

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,613 per month in Double Bay vs $3,352 in Sydney, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,780 per month in Double Bay vs $4,870 in Sydney, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,946 per month in Double Bay vs $6,389 in Sydney, rent included.

Double Bay is about 22% cheaper than Sydney, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Double Bay and Sydney sit above the global median – Double Bay by 89%, Sydney by 143%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.88 A$24.99

$18.19 A$25.42

-1.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$93.4 A$131

$95.0 A$133

-1.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 A$15.03

$12.37 A$17.29

-13.10%

Cappuccino

$4.08 A$5.70

$4.07 A$5.68

0.25%

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

$2.90 A$4.05

$2.82 A$3.94

2.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 A$3.06

$2.21 A$3.08

-0.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.68 A$10.73

$8.13 A$11.36

-5.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.27 A$10.16

$7.38 A$10.32

-1.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 A$2.32

$1.85 A$2.59

-10.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.84 A$3.96

$2.85 A$3.99

-0.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 A$3.26

$2.45 A$3.42

-4.90%

Eggs

$5.38 A$7.52

$5.67 A$7.92

-5.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.72 A$17.79

$12.92 A$18.05

-1.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.42 A$13.16

$9.63 A$13.46

-2.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.99 A$22.35

$17.07 A$23.86

-6.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.76 A$5.26

$3.80 A$5.31

-1.05%

Banana (1kg)

$3.18 A$4.44

$3.23 A$4.51

-1.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 A$4.73

$3.37 A$4.71

0.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.62 A$6.45

$4.72 A$6.59

-2.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.12 A$4.37

$3.25 A$4.55

-4.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 A$3.61

$2.56 A$3.58

1.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 A$3.37

$2.48 A$3.47

-2.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 A$1.84

$1.32 A$1.85

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.24 A$64.6

$46.98 A$65.7

-1.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 A$20.18

$14.62 A$20.43

-1.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.29 A$5.99

$4.20 A$5.87

2.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 A$5.76

$4.05 A$5.67

1.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.14 A$4.40

$3.21 A$4.49

-2.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.8 A$121

$157 A$219

-44.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 A$4.91

$3.69 A$5.16

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 A$2.27

$1.61 A$2.25

0.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.43 A$57.9

$40.67 A$56.8

1.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 A$1.88

$1.46 A$2.04

-7.53%

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

$28.0K A$39.1K

$30.6K A$42.8K

-8.70%

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

$30.5K A$42.7K

$30.4K A$42.6K

0.28%

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

$184 A$257

$224 A$314

-18.10%

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

$28.08 A$39.26

$27.89 A$38.98

0.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 A$79.7

$59.4 A$83.1

-4.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 A$80.2

$79.3 A$111

-27.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.30 A$25.58

$24.63 A$34.42

-25.70%

Cinema Ticket

$16.82 A$23.51

$18.37 A$25.68

-8.44%

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

$2,230 A$3,117

$2,288 A$3,199

-2.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.1K A$29.5K

$29.5K A$41.3K

-28.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 A$108

$83.3 A$116

-7.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.7 A$80.6

$76.1 A$106

-24.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 A$156

0.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 A$183

$136 A$190

-4.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,481 A$2,070

$2,637 A$3,686

-43.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,302 A$1,820

$1,808 A$2,528

-28.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,269 A$3,172

$5,114 A$7,148

-55.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,880 A$2,628

$3,057 A$4,273

-38.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,597 A$9,221

$13.6K A$19.0K

-51.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,257 A$7,348

$8,504 A$11.9K

-38.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,239 A$5,926

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.84

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

Last update for Double Bay: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sydney: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,481 in Double Bay versus $2,637 in Sydney. 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 $93.0 in Double Bay versus $95.0 in Sydney. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $382 vs $392 – making Double Bay 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

Double Bay vs Sydney: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sydney is pricier by about 28%, 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 $3,919 per month in Double Bay and $5,027 in Sydney. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $93.0 in Double Bay and $95.0 in Sydney. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,613 in Double Bay and $3,352 in Sydney. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,613 in Double Bay and $3,352 in Sydney. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Double Bay – 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 Double Bay. 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.