🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,993 in Kalgoorlie versus $3,292 in Sydney.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,337 in Kalgoorlie versus $4,899 in Sydney.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,681 in Kalgoorlie versus $6,505 in Sydney.
🌍Living in Kalgoorlie costs roughly 39% less than in Sydney, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kalgoorlie46% above, Sydney141% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalgoorlie
Sydney
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.65A$24.89
$17.90A$25.24
-1.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.6A$122
$93.0A$131
-6.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.74A$15.15
$12.06A$17.01
-10.95%
Cappuccino
$4.57A$6.45
$3.96A$5.58
15.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98A$5.62
$2.89A$4.07
37.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63A$5.12
$2.26A$3.19
60.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.46A$9.10
$7.88A$11.12
-18.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.55A$10.65
$7.25A$10.22
4.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalgoorlie
Sydney
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71A$2.41
$1.81A$2.56
-5.52%
White Bread(500g)
$3.47A$4.90
$2.75A$3.89
26.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.28A$3.22
$2.42A$3.41
-5.79%
Eggs
$4.64A$6.55
$5.82A$8.20
-20.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.00A$14.10
$12.53A$17.67
-20.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.21A$12.98
$9.88A$13.93
-6.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.24A$21.50
$16.55A$23.34
-7.92%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69A$5.20
$3.64A$5.13
1.37%
Banana(1kg)
$3.08A$4.34
$3.14A$4.42
-1.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.49A$4.92
$3.42A$4.82
2.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.64A$6.55
$4.72A$6.66
-1.69%
Potato(1kg)
$2.70A$3.81
$3.30A$4.66
-18.18%
Onion(1kg)
$2.53A$3.57
$2.49A$3.52
1.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.08A$2.94
$2.38A$3.35
-12.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59A$2.25
$1.25A$1.76
27.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$40.94A$57.7
$46.38A$65.4
-11.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.16A$19.97
$14.50A$20.44
-2.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.87A$6.86
$4.28A$6.04
13.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54A$7.81
$4.02A$5.67
37.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalgoorlie
Sydney
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.19A$4.49
$3.34A$4.71
-4.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$86.1A$121
$158A$223
-45.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.55A$5.01
$3.47A$4.90
2.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.81A$2.56
$1.67A$2.36
8.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$36.33A$51.2
$40.99A$57.8
-11.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35A$1.91
$1.44A$2.03
-6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9KA$36.5K
$30.5KA$43.0K
-15.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9KA$37.9K
$30.4KA$42.9K
-11.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalgoorlie
Sydney
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$321A$453
$229A$323
40.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.5A$81.1
$27.42A$38.67
109.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.4A$102
$57.0A$80.4
26.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalgoorlie
Sydney
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.52A$55.7
$80.3A$113
-50.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.99A$28.19
$24.63A$34.74
-18.84%
Cinema Ticket
$17.67A$24.91
$17.92A$25.28
-1.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalgoorlie
Sydney
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,067A$2,916
$2,317A$3,267
-10.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.0KA$28.2K
$29.1KA$41.0K
-31.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalgoorlie
Sydney
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.0A$110
$80.5A$113
-3.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.0A$77.6
$75.2A$106
-26.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112A$157
$111A$156
0.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134A$189
$134A$190
-0.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalgoorlie
Sydney
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,442A$2,034
$2,591A$3,654
-44.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$496A$699
$1,897A$2,675
-73.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,745A$2,461
$5,109A$7,205
-65.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,552A$2,189
$3,134A$4,420
-50.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,489A$7,741
$13.7KA$19.3K
-59.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,285A$7,454
$8,458A$11.9K
-37.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalgoorlie
Sydney
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,166A$8,697
$4,204A$5,928
46.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.25
5.87
6.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kalgoorlie: September 14, 2026
Last update for Sydney: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,442 in Kalgoorlie and $2,591 in Sydney. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kalgoorlie pays 47% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $87.0 in Kalgoorlie vs $93.0 in Sydney for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $380 vs $387 per month, with Kalgoorlie 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
Kalgoorlie vs Sydney: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalgoorlie or Sydney?
Kalgoorlie wins on cost – living expenses run 65% lower than in Sydney. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kalgoorlie the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kalgoorlie or in Sydney?
Average pay runs 47% higher in Kalgoorlie, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kalgoorlie compared to Sydney?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,442 in Kalgoorlie versus $2,591 in Sydney. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Kalgoorlie compared to Sydney?
A monthly transit pass in Kalgoorlie runs roughly 84% less than in Sydney. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Kalgoorlie and in Sydney?
Childcare runs $2,067 in Kalgoorlie versus $2,317 in Sydney. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Kalgoorlie or in Sydney?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Kalgoorlie is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kalgoorlie or Sydney?
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.
How safe is Kalgoorlie compared to Sydney?
Safety-wise, Kalgoorlie 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kalgoorlie gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Sydney. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kalgoorlie vs other spots: cost of living compared