Cost of Living Comparison Between Mackay and Brisbane Cost of Living Comparison Between Mackay and Brisbane

😐 Solo nomad: Mackay is 5.6% more expensive than Brisbane without rent, and 14% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Mackay is 23% more expensive than Brisbane without rent, and 1.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mackay
Brisbane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.34 A$25.03
$16.24 A$24.88
0.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.7 A$111
$71.2 A$109
2.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.49 A$17.61
$9.6 A$14.7
19.69%
Cappuccino
$3.99 A$6.11
$3.6 A$5.51
10.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 A$4.79
$2.74 A$4.2
14.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 A$3.87
$2.15 A$3.29
17.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.33 A$9.69
$6.36 A$9.75
-0.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.32 A$9.68
$7.97 A$12.2
-20.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mackay
Brisbane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 A$2.07
$1.6 A$2.45
-15.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 A$3.35
$2.22 A$3.39
-1.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.55 A$3.91
$1.8 A$2.76
41.67%
Eggs
$5.05 A$7.74
$4.47 A$6.85
12.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.74 A$13.39
$8.05 A$12.33
8.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.92 A$12.13
$8.09 A$12.4
-2.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.19 A$23.26
$13.4 A$20.53
13.36%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 A$5.23
$3.25 A$4.98
5.23%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 A$4.22
$2.75 A$4.21
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 A$4.58
$2.66 A$4.07
12.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.78 A$7.32
$4.23 A$6.48
13.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 A$2.72
$2.41 A$3.69
-26.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 A$2.56
$2.26 A$3.46
-26.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.91 A$2.93
$2.24 A$3.44
-14.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 A$3.33
$1.24 A$1.89
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$38.71 A$59.3
$32.96 A$50.5
17.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.96 A$12.19
$13.07 A$20.02
-39.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.82 A$7.38
$4.47 A$6.85
7.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.68 A$8.7
$4.04 A$6.19
40.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Mackay
Brisbane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.31 A$3.55
$0.34 A$0.53
579.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.2 A$101
$26.98 A$41.33
145.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.37 A$8.23
$2.23 A$3.41
140.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.9 A$2.91
$1.56 A$2.4
21.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.85 A$50.3
$33.95 A$52
-3.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 A$1.82
$1.23 A$1.89
-3.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K A$58.1K
$28.6K A$43.8K
32.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8K A$44.1K
$22.6K A$34.7K
27.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mackay
Brisbane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 A$284
$144 A$221
28.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.9 A$41.21
$25.53 A$39.11
5.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.9 A$115
$53.9 A$82.6
38.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mackay
Brisbane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.3 A$112
$49.01 A$75.1
49.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.69 A$30.16
$17.02 A$26.07
15.69%
Cinema Ticket
$15.37 A$23.54
$13.17 A$20.18
16.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mackay
Brisbane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,747 A$2,676
$1,646 A$2,521
6.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K A$18.5K
$8,863 A$13.6K
36.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mackay
Brisbane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.9 A$104
$72.8 A$111
-6.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.43 A$71.1
$44.21 A$67.7
5.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 A$172
$94.5 A$145
18.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.9 A$148
$101 A$155
-4.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mackay
Brisbane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$918 A$1,407
$1,588 A$2,433
-42.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$772 A$1,182
$1,237 A$1,894
-37.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,682 A$2,577
$2,568 A$3,935
-34.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,655 A$2,536
$1,885 A$2,888
-12.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,027 A$4,637
$8,805 A$13.5K
-65.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,637 A$2,508
$6,597 A$10.1K
-75.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mackay
Brisbane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,200 A$7,967
$3,896 A$5,968
33.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.7
6.24
-8.65%

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

Last update for Mackay: October 29, 2025

Last update for Brisbane: October 28, 2025

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