Cost of Living Comparison Between Forbes and Sydney Cost of Living Comparison Between Forbes and Sydney

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,608 in Forbes versus $3,352 in Sydney.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,730 in Forbes versus $4,870 in Sydney.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,852 in Forbes versus $6,389 in Sydney.

Living in Forbes costs roughly 22% less than in Sydney, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Forbes 89% above, Sydney 143% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.66 A$24.62

$18.19 A$25.36

-2.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.7 A$121

$95.0 A$132

-8.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.74 A$14.98

$12.37 A$17.24

-13.18%

Cappuccino

$4.14 A$5.77

$4.07 A$5.67

1.72%

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

$3.03 A$4.23

$2.82 A$3.93

7.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 A$3.19

$2.21 A$3.08

3.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.82 A$10.91

$8.13 A$11.33

-3.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.50 A$10.45

$7.38 A$10.29

1.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 A$2.32

$1.85 A$2.58

-10.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 A$3.94

$2.85 A$3.97

-1.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.36 A$3.28

$2.45 A$3.42

-3.67%

Eggs

$5.16 A$7.20

$5.67 A$7.90

-8.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.70 A$13.53

$12.92 A$18.01

-24.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.34 A$13.02

$9.63 A$13.42

-3.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.37 A$21.44

$17.07 A$23.80

-9.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 A$5.21

$3.80 A$5.29

-1.84%

Banana (1kg)

$3.08 A$4.30

$3.23 A$4.50

-4.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.35 A$4.67

$3.37 A$4.70

-0.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.90 A$6.83

$4.72 A$6.58

3.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 A$3.64

$3.25 A$4.54

-19.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 A$3.44

$2.56 A$3.57

-3.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 A$3.53

$2.48 A$3.46

2.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 A$2.30

$1.32 A$1.84

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$39.79 A$55.5

$46.98 A$65.5

-15.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.53 A$20.26

$14.62 A$20.38

-0.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.21 A$7.26

$4.20 A$5.86

24.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 A$7.72

$4.05 A$5.65

36.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.15 A$4.39

$3.21 A$4.48

-1.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.1 A$120

$157 A$219

-45.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 A$4.93

$3.69 A$5.15

-4.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 A$2.23

$1.61 A$2.24

-0.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.87 A$58.4

$40.67 A$56.7

2.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 A$1.81

$1.46 A$2.03

-10.96%

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

$27.9K A$38.8K

$30.6K A$42.7K

-9.03%

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

$31.2K A$43.5K

$30.4K A$42.5K

2.52%

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

$210 A$293

$224 A$313

-6.25%

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

$27.37 A$38.16

$27.89 A$38.88

-1.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.7 A$80.4

$59.4 A$82.9

-2.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.4 A$78.6

$79.3 A$111

-28.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.63 A$25.97

$24.63 A$34.34

-24.36%

Cinema Ticket

$16.06 A$22.39

$18.37 A$25.62

-12.57%

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

$2,166 A$3,020

$2,288 A$3,191

-5.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.1K A$29.4K

$29.5K A$41.2K

-28.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.7 A$111

$83.3 A$116

-4.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.7 A$76.3

$76.1 A$106

-28.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 A$161

$112 A$156

3.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 A$180

$136 A$190

-5.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,449 A$2,020

$2,637 A$3,676

-45.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 A$1,828

$1,808 A$2,521

-27.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,339 A$3,261

$5,114 A$7,129

-54.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,869 A$2,606

$3,057 A$4,262

-38.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,620 A$9,230

$13.6K A$18.9K

-51.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,241 A$7,306

$8,504 A$11.9K

-38.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,239 A$5,911

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.85

5.84

0.17%

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

Last update for Forbes: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sydney: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,449 in Forbes and $2,637 in Sydney. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $87.0 in Forbes vs $95.0 in Sydney for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $381 vs $392 per month, with Forbes 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

Forbes vs Sydney: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Forbes and Sydney differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($2,608 vs $3,352 including rent). Forbes is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,912 in Forbes and $5,027 in Sydney to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,449 in Forbes versus $2,637 in Sydney. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,608 per month in Forbes versus $3,352 in Sydney – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Forbes runs roughly 82% less than in Sydney. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Forbes is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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, Forbes 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 Forbes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Sydney. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.