Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gladstone and Brisbane

For one person, living is cheaper in Gladstone: $2,550 a month against $2,644 in Brisbane, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Brisbane outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Gladstone, Australia
Brisbane, Australia
Gladstone
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,550
/mo nomad
Brisbane
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,644
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gladstone 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 Gladstone and in Brisbane actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,550 per month in Gladstone vs $2,644 in Brisbane, rent included.

  • Gladstone $2,550
  • Brisbane $2,644

A couple spends around $3,473 per month in Gladstone vs $3,821 in Brisbane, rent included.

  • Gladstone $3,473
  • Brisbane $3,821

A family of three spends $4,397 per month in Gladstone vs $4,999 in Brisbane, rent included.

  • Gladstone $4,397
  • Brisbane $4,999

Gladstone is about 4% cheaper than Brisbane, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Gladstone and Brisbane sit above the global median – Gladstone by 89%, Brisbane by 96%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gladstone
Brisbane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.47 A$24.94
$17.81 A$25.44
-1.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.3 A$113
$85.4 A$122
-7.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.82 A$16.88
$11.28 A$16.10
4.79%
Cappuccino
$4.15 A$5.93
$4.45 A$6.35
-6.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 A$4.45
$2.80 A$4.00
11.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 A$3.91
$2.45 A$3.50
11.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.28 A$10.40
$8.60 A$12.28
-15.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.59 A$13.70
$8.36 A$11.95
14.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gladstone
Brisbane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 A$2.25
$1.76 A$2.51
-10.80%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 A$3.77
$2.57 A$3.66
2.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.21 A$3.16
$2.18 A$3.12
1.38%
Eggs
$5.05 A$7.21
$4.95 A$7.06
2.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.08 A$12.97
$9.58 A$13.68
-5.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.45 A$13.50
$9.01 A$12.87
4.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.52 A$20.74
$14.00 A$19.99
3.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 A$5.39
$4.21 A$6.01
-10.21%
Banana (1kg)
$3.00 A$4.28
$3.18 A$4.54
-5.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.21 A$4.58
$2.79 A$3.99
15.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.64 A$6.62
$4.83 A$6.89
-3.93%
Potato (1kg)
$2.65 A$3.79
$2.80 A$4.00
-5.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.41 A$3.44
$2.36 A$3.36
2.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 A$3.47
$2.36 A$3.37
2.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 A$2.27
$1.19 A$1.70
33.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$42.88 A$61.2
$39.08 A$55.8
9.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.76 A$19.66
$12.84 A$18.33
7.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.73 A$6.76
$5.27 A$7.53
-10.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.18 A$7.40
$4.91 A$7.01
5.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Gladstone
Brisbane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.73 A$3.90
$0.36 A$0.52
658.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.5 A$122
$21.39 A$30.54
299.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.44 A$4.92
$2.61 A$3.72
31.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 A$2.25
$1.88 A$2.68
-16.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.43 A$57.7
$41.67 A$59.5
-2.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 A$1.74
$1.48 A$2.11
-17.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K A$42.1K
$29.0K A$41.4K
1.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K A$37.3K
$25.9K A$37.0K
0.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gladstone
Brisbane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$208 A$297
$160 A$228
30.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.71 A$39.58
$26.65 A$38.07
3.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.4 A$76.2
$61.2 A$87.5
-12.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gladstone
Brisbane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 A$79.9
$61.1 A$87.2
-8.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.82 A$25.45
$22.66 A$32.36
-21.36%
Cinema Ticket
$13.72 A$19.60
$14.15 A$20.20
-3.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gladstone
Brisbane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,117 A$3,023
$1,982 A$2,830
6.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.1K A$28.7K
$26.8K A$38.3K
-25.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gladstone
Brisbane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.7 A$110
$85.1 A$122
-9.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 A$78.8
$46.37 A$66.2
18.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 A$153
$111 A$159
-3.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 A$176
$110 A$156
12.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gladstone
Brisbane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,380 A$1,971
$1,957 A$2,795
-29.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,238 A$1,767
$1,441 A$2,058
-14.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,361 A$1,944
$3,481 A$4,971
-60.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,482 A$2,116
$2,234 A$3,190
-33.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,811 A$8,298
$9,571 A$13.7K
-39.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,964 A$7,090
$6,938 A$9,908
-28.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gladstone
Brisbane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,617 A$8,022
$4,134 A$5,904
35.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.25
5.84
-10.10%

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

Last update for Gladstone: November 2, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gladstone
$1.2K
Brisbane
$1.4K 16.5% $204
Groceries & Markets
Gladstone
$365
Brisbane
$362 1% $3.6
Eating Out
Gladstone
$304
Brisbane
$310 2.1% $6.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gladstone
$289
Brisbane
$248 14.3% $41
Clothing & Footwear
Gladstone
$163
Brisbane
$158 2.8% $4.6
Getting Around
Gladstone
$108
Brisbane
$35 67.7% $73
Sport & Entertainment
Gladstone
$83
Brisbane
$89 7.2% $6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,380 in Gladstone versus $1,957 in Brisbane. 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 36% higher in Gladstone, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Gladstone versus $85 in Brisbane. Groceries tell a different story – $365 in Gladstone vs $362 in Brisbane – so Brisbane wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Gladstone
🇦🇺 Brisbane
🕒 Local time
02:08 2:08 AM
02:08 2:08 AM
Same time as Gladstone
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
34,703
2,287,896
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.7 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.625 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gladstone Brisbane 440 km
From you
  • Gladstone
  • 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
Gladstone vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gladstone or Brisbane?
Brisbane costs about 4% more than Gladstone, 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 Gladstone and in Brisbane?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,825 per month in Gladstone and $3,965 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gladstone or Brisbane?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gladstone, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,380 there versus $1,957 in Brisbane.
How much does it cost to live in Gladstone compared to Brisbane?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,550 in Gladstone and $2,644 in Brisbane. That makes Gladstone about 4% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Gladstone and in Brisbane?
Kindergarten costs $2,117 per month in Gladstone and $1,982 in Brisbane. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Gladstone or in Brisbane?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,550 in Gladstone and $2,644 in Brisbane. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Gladstone or Brisbane?
It depends on your priorities. Brisbane has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,550 in Gladstone to $2,644 in Brisbane. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Gladstone compared to Brisbane?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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