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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,092 per month in Hervey Bay vs $2,827 in Sydney, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,079 per month in Hervey Bay vs $4,192 in Sydney, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,067 per month in Hervey Bay vs $5,557 in Sydney, rent included.

Hervey Bay is about 26% cheaper than Sydney, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Hervey Bay and Sydney sit above the global median – Hervey Bay by 56%, Sydney by 111%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 A$22.97

$16.13 A$22.42

2.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.7 A$99.6

$78.8 A$109

-8.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 A$13.74

$9.90 A$13.76

-0.20%

Cappuccino

$3.67 A$5.10

$3.26 A$4.53

12.58%

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

$2.67 A$3.71

$2.55 A$3.55

4.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 A$2.88

$1.96 A$2.73

5.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.39 A$7.49

$6.32 A$8.78

-14.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.97 A$11.08

$7.28 A$10.11

9.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 A$2.15

$1.62 A$2.26

-4.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 A$1.51

$2.68 A$3.73

-59.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 A$2.54

$2.32 A$3.23

-21.12%

Eggs

$3.05 A$4.24

$4.97 A$6.91

-38.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 A$11.10

$8.71 A$12.11

-8.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.94 A$8.26

$8.34 A$11.59

-28.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.74 A$19.11

$14.14 A$19.66

-2.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 A$4.48

$3.30 A$4.59

-2.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.30 A$3.20

$2.65 A$3.68

-13.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 A$3.80

$3.17 A$4.41

-13.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 A$6.05

$4.29 A$5.96

1.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 A$2.69

$2.55 A$3.55

-23.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 A$2.64

$2.30 A$3.20

-17.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 A$2.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 A$1.72

$1.24 A$1.73

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$33.00 A$45.87

$32.15 A$44.68

2.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.51 A$16.00

$14.16 A$19.68

-18.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.47 A$6.21

$4.70 A$6.54

-4.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 A$5.92

$5.29 A$7.36

-19.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.67 A$3.71

$3.29 A$4.57

-18.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.4 A$91.0

$142 A$198

-53.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 A$3.20

$3.92 A$5.44

-41.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 A$2.12

$2.87 A$3.99

-47.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.41 A$46.45

$52.9 A$73.5

-36.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 A$1.70

$1.24 A$1.72

-1.61%

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

$29.3K A$40.7K

$28.5K A$39.6K

2.90%

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

$22.6K A$31.4K

$22.2K A$30.8K

1.88%

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

$148 A$206

$200 A$278

-26.05%

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

$25.30 A$35.17

$23.54 A$32.71

7.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.8 A$74.8

$52.3 A$72.7

2.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.38 A$68.6

$60.6 A$84.2

-18.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.54 A$21.60

$20.94 A$29.10

-25.79%

Cinema Ticket

$12.81 A$17.80

$15.77 A$21.92

-18.77%

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

$1,601 A$2,225

$2,111 A$2,934

-24.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,631 A$12.0K

$18.5K A$25.8K

-53.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 A$82.9

$74.8 A$104

-20.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.10 A$61.3

$57.4 A$79.8

-23.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.8 A$81.8

$105 A$147

-44.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.7 A$81.7

$130 A$181

-54.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,240 A$1,724

$2,181 A$3,032

-43.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,053 A$1,464

$1,480 A$2,057

-28.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,054 A$2,855

$4,395 A$6,110

-53.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,664 A$2,313

$2,682 A$3,728

-37.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.7K A$17.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,993 A$11.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,848 A$5,349

$4,239 A$5,892

-9.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

6.34

-1.58%

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

Last update for Hervey Bay: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sydney: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,240 in Hervey Bay versus $2,181 in Sydney. 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 10% higher in Sydney, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $72.0 in Hervey Bay versus $79.0 in Sydney. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $347 – making Hervey 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

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

Yes – Sydney is pricier by about 35%, 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 $3,138 per month in Hervey Bay and $4,240 in Sydney. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,601 per month in Hervey Bay and $2,111 in Sydney. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Sydney, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Hervey Bay, where all-in costs run around $2,092, than in Sydney at $2,827. In Hervey Bay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hervey 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 Hervey 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.