Cost of Living Comparison Between Hawkesbury City and Brisbane Cost of Living Comparison Between Hawkesbury City and Brisbane

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,681 per month in Hawkesbury City vs $2,668 in Brisbane, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,860 per month in Hawkesbury City vs $3,910 in Brisbane, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,038 per month in Hawkesbury City vs $5,152 in Brisbane, rent included.

Hawkesbury City and Brisbane have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Hawkesbury City and Brisbane sit above the global median – Hawkesbury City by 94%, Brisbane by 94%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 A$27.92

$18.39 A$25.64

8.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$92.7 A$129

$79.5 A$111

16.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.82 A$15.09

$11.70 A$16.32

-7.52%

Cappuccino

$4.05 A$5.64

$4.45 A$6.21

-8.99%

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

$3.13 A$4.36

$3.03 A$4.23

3.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 A$3.93

$2.62 A$3.65

7.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.70 A$12.13

$8.77 A$12.23

-0.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.18 A$14.19

$8.60 A$11.99

18.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 A$2.31

$1.76 A$2.46

-5.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.40 A$4.74

$2.82 A$3.94

20.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 A$3.67

$2.39 A$3.33

10.04%

Eggs

$5.54 A$7.72

$5.15 A$7.18

7.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.19 A$19.79

$9.25 A$12.90

53.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.11 A$15.48

$9.25 A$12.90

20.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.23 A$22.62

$14.29 A$19.92

13.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 A$5.56

$4.21 A$5.87

-5.46%

Banana (1kg)

$3.30 A$4.60

$3.16 A$4.40

4.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.71 A$5.17

$2.99 A$4.17

24.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.23 A$7.29

$4.85 A$6.76

7.84%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 A$4.59

$2.77 A$3.87

18.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 A$4.01

$2.45 A$3.41

17.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.81 A$3.91

$2.42 A$3.37

16.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 A$2.03

$1.31 A$1.83

10.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.74 A$65.2

$40.09 A$55.9

16.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.66 A$20.44

$12.92 A$18.01

13.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.87 A$6.79

$5.44 A$7.58

-10.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 A$8.09

$5.12 A$7.15

13.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.18 A$4.44

$0.35 A$0.48

808.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.5 A$119

$21.40 A$29.83

299.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.24 A$5.91

$3.01 A$4.20

40.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 A$2.31

$1.84 A$2.57

-9.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.03 A$62.8

$43.17 A$60.2

4.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 A$1.82

$1.44 A$2.01

-9.03%

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

$27.9K A$38.9K

$28.7K A$40.0K

-2.86%

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

$30.9K A$43.1K

$28.6K A$39.8K

8.17%

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

$189 A$264

$170 A$237

11.24%

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

$27.56 A$38.42

$27.80 A$38.75

-0.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.2 A$79.8

$63.0 A$87.9

-9.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 A$79.8

$63.6 A$88.7

-9.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.17 A$25.34

$21.88 A$30.51

-16.96%

Cinema Ticket

$16.56 A$23.09

$16.29 A$22.72

1.66%

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

$2,461 A$3,431

$2,148 A$2,995

14.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K A$29.1K

$13.0K A$18.2K

59.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.2 A$110

$86.9 A$121

-8.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.6 A$81.6

$44.20 A$61.6

32.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 A$171

$113 A$158

7.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 A$189

$110 A$154

22.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 A$2,006

$2,054 A$2,864

-29.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,308 A$1,824

$1,455 A$2,029

-10.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,269 A$3,163

$3,464 A$4,829

-34.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 A$2,598

$2,425 A$3,380

-23.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,673 A$9,303

$8,514 A$11.9K

-21.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,147 A$7,176

$6,339 A$8,838

-18.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,570 A$6,372

$4,229 A$5,895

8.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.95

5.87

1.36%

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

Last update for Hawkesbury City: September 5, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,439 in Hawkesbury City versus $2,054 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 8% higher in Hawkesbury City. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $93.0 in Hawkesbury City versus $80.0 in Brisbane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $420 vs $371 – making Brisbane 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

Hawkesbury City vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,022 per month in Hawkesbury City and $4,003 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 13% more in Hawkesbury City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $2,461 per month in Hawkesbury City and $2,148 in Brisbane. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,681 in Hawkesbury City and $2,668 in Brisbane. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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