Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalgoorlie and Brisbane

For one person, living is cheaper in Kalgoorlie: $1,944 a month against $2,630 in Brisbane, rent and utilities included – about $8,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Brisbane outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Kalgoorlie, Australia
Brisbane, Australia
Kalgoorlie
🇦🇺 Australia
$1,944
/mo nomad
Brisbane
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,630
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,944 per month in Kalgoorlie vs $2,630 in Brisbane, rent included.

  • Kalgoorlie $1,944
  • Brisbane $2,630

A couple spends around $3,314 per month in Kalgoorlie vs $3,801 in Brisbane, rent included.

  • Kalgoorlie $3,314
  • Brisbane $3,801

A family of three spends $4,684 per month in Kalgoorlie vs $4,972 in Brisbane, rent included.

  • Kalgoorlie $4,684
  • Brisbane $4,972

Kalgoorlie is about 26% cheaper than Brisbane, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Kalgoorlie and Brisbane sit above the global median – Kalgoorlie by 43%, Brisbane by 93%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalgoorlie
Brisbane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.45 A$24.72
$17.61 A$24.94
-0.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.3 A$121
$80.0 A$113
6.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.53 A$14.92
$11.43 A$16.19
-7.87%
Cappuccino
$4.68 A$6.62
$4.51 A$6.39
3.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 A$5.33
$2.95 A$4.18
27.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 A$4.92
$2.39 A$3.39
45.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 A$8.69
$8.61 A$12.20
-28.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.33 A$10.39
$8.36 A$11.84
-12.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalgoorlie
Brisbane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 A$2.23
$1.62 A$2.29
-3.09%
White Bread (500g)
$3.46 A$4.90
$2.65 A$3.76
30.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 A$3.19
$2.32 A$3.29
-3.02%
Eggs
$4.64 A$6.57
$4.94 A$7.00
-6.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.60 A$13.59
$9.08 A$12.86
5.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.45 A$13.39
$9.12 A$12.92
3.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.98 A$21.22
$14.34 A$20.31
4.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.83 A$5.42
$4.14 A$5.86
-7.49%
Banana (1kg)
$3.12 A$4.42
$3.07 A$4.35
1.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.27 A$4.63
$3.05 A$4.32
7.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.52 A$6.41
$4.89 A$6.92
-7.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 A$3.93
$2.81 A$3.98
-1.07%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 A$3.49
$2.48 A$3.51
-0.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.13 A$3.01
$2.41 A$3.41
-11.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 A$2.25
$1.19 A$1.69
33.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$41.62 A$59.0
$38.54 A$54.6
7.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.03 A$19.88
$12.65 A$17.92
10.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.85 A$6.88
$5.22 A$7.39
-7.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22 A$7.40
$4.87 A$6.90
7.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalgoorlie
Brisbane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.81 A$3.99
$0.34 A$0.48
726.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.1 A$118
$20.97 A$29.71
296.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.53 A$5.00
$3.05 A$4.32
15.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 A$2.39
$1.89 A$2.68
-10.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.29 A$61.3
$40.76 A$57.7
6.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 A$1.92
$1.45 A$2.05
-6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K A$37.5K
$29.7K A$42.1K
-10.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K A$40.2K
$25.6K A$36.3K
10.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalgoorlie
Brisbane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$312 A$441
$158 A$223
97.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.5 A$80.1
$26.05 A$36.91
116.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.1 A$97.8
$61.1 A$86.6
12.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalgoorlie
Brisbane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.33 A$54.3
$61.2 A$86.6
-37.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.58 A$26.32
$22.36 A$31.67
-16.91%
Cinema Ticket
$17.77 A$25.18
$13.95 A$19.76
27.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalgoorlie
Brisbane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,057 A$2,914
$2,044 A$2,896
0.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K A$25.0K
$12.9K A$18.3K
37.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalgoorlie
Brisbane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.9 A$109
$82.4 A$117
-6.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 A$78.4
$43.63 A$61.8
26.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 A$153
$113 A$161
-4.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 A$150
$111 A$157
-4.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalgoorlie
Brisbane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,383 A$1,959
$1,944 A$2,754
-28.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$493 A$699
$1,431 A$2,028
-65.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,661 A$2,353
$3,484 A$4,936
-52.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,579 A$2,237
$2,240 A$3,174
-29.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,521 A$9,238
$9,322 A$13.2K
-30.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,802 A$6,803
$7,003 A$9,921
-31.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalgoorlie
Brisbane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,189 A$8,767
$4,144 A$5,871
49.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.25
5.81
7.57%

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

Last update for Kalgoorlie: October 26, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kalgoorlie
$493
Brisbane
$1.4K 190% $938
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalgoorlie
$437
Brisbane
$245 44% $192
Groceries & Markets
Kalgoorlie
$376
Brisbane
$362 3.8% $14
Eating Out
Kalgoorlie
$302
Brisbane
$310 2.9% $8.9
Clothing & Footwear
Kalgoorlie
$156
Brisbane
$158 1.2% $1.8
Getting Around
Kalgoorlie
$106
Brisbane
$35 67.2% $71
Sport & Entertainment
Kalgoorlie
$74
Brisbane
$89 20.5% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,383 in Kalgoorlie versus $1,944 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 49% higher in Kalgoorlie, 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 $85 in Kalgoorlie versus $80 in Brisbane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $376 vs $362 – making Brisbane the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Kalgoorlie
🇦🇺 Brisbane
🕒 Local time
14:28 2:28 PM
16:28 4:28 PM
2 h ahead of Kalgoorlie
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
29,068
2,287,896
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.706 USD). 1 EUR = 1.58 AUD (1 AUD = 0.634 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kalgoorlie Brisbane 3,080 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Kalgoorlie
  • 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
Kalgoorlie vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalgoorlie or Brisbane?
Brisbane costs about 35% more than Kalgoorlie, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from leisure. 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 Kalgoorlie and in Brisbane?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,916 per month in Kalgoorlie and $3,945 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kalgoorlie or Brisbane?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalgoorlie, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,383 there versus $1,944 in Brisbane.
Are groceries more expensive in Kalgoorlie or in Brisbane?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Brisbane – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
How do dining costs compare in Kalgoorlie and in Brisbane?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $85 in Kalgoorlie and $80 in Brisbane. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kalgoorlie or Brisbane?
It depends on your priorities. Brisbane has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,944 in Kalgoorlie to $2,630 in Brisbane. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Kalgoorlie 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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