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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,035 per month in Mackay vs $2,321 in Brisbane, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,210 per month in Mackay vs $3,353 in Brisbane, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,386 per month in Mackay vs $4,385 in Brisbane, rent included.

Mackay is about 12% cheaper than Brisbane, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Mackay and Brisbane sit above the global median – Mackay by 52%, Brisbane by 74%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.98 A$22.85

$16.36 A$23.40

-2.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.5 A$102

$70.1 A$100

1.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.87 A$16.98

$9.94 A$14.22

19.42%

Cappuccino

$4.04 A$5.77

$3.71 A$5.31

8.89%

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

$3.14 A$4.49

$2.68 A$3.83

17.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 A$3.77

$2.13 A$3.04

23.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.63 A$9.48

$6.33 A$9.05

4.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.39 A$9.14

$7.92 A$11.32

-19.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 A$1.87

$1.63 A$2.33

-19.63%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 A$3.16

$2.30 A$3.28

-3.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.67 A$3.81

$1.89 A$2.70

41.27%

Eggs

$4.92 A$7.04

$4.48 A$6.41

9.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.79 A$12.58

$8.37 A$11.97

5.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.92 A$11.32

$8.10 A$11.59

-2.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.95 A$21.37

$13.68 A$19.56

9.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 A$4.89

$3.36 A$4.81

1.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.87 A$4.10

$2.73 A$3.91

5.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 A$4.06

$2.64 A$3.77

7.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.79 A$6.84

$4.17 A$5.97

14.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 A$2.62

$2.43 A$3.48

-24.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 A$2.43

$2.33 A$3.34

-27.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 A$2.70

$2.15 A$3.07

-12.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 A$3.17

$1.24 A$1.77

79.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$38.74 A$55.4

$32.36 A$46.29

19.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.67 A$12.39

$12.70 A$18.16

-31.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.80 A$6.87

$4.68 A$6.70

2.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 A$8.22

$4.07 A$5.82

41.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.32 A$3.32

$0.34 A$0.49

582.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.5 A$92.3

$26.98 A$38.58

139.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.49 A$7.86

$2.26 A$3.23

142.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 A$2.72

$1.58 A$2.26

20.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.92 A$47.08

$33.14 A$47.40

-0.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 A$1.71

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

$37.1K A$53.0K

$28.9K A$41.3K

28.35%

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

$29.1K A$41.6K

$22.2K A$31.7K

31.10%

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

$187 A$268

$147 A$210

27.55%

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

$26.81 A$38.35

$25.80 A$36.90

3.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.0 A$107

$53.3 A$76.2

40.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 A$106

$49.59 A$70.9

49.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.60 A$28.03

$17.32 A$24.77

13.16%

Cinema Ticket

$15.57 A$22.27

$12.99 A$18.59

19.86%

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

$1,714 A$2,452

$1,644 A$2,352

4.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K A$16.9K

$8,777 A$12.6K

34.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 A$94.7

$70.8 A$101

-6.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.98 A$67.2

$44.15 A$63.1

6.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 A$159

$93.0 A$133

19.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.3 A$139

$102 A$146

-4.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$904 A$1,293

$1,603 A$2,292

-43.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$785 A$1,122

$1,267 A$1,812

-38.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,720 A$2,460

$2,594 A$3,709

-33.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 A$2,318

$1,889 A$2,702

-14.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,095 A$4,426

$8,305 A$11.9K

-62.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,744 A$2,494

$5,729 A$8,194

-69.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,605 A$8,017

$4,190 A$5,993

33.77%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $904 in Mackay versus $1,603 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 34% higher in Mackay, 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 $72.0 in Mackay versus $70.0 in Brisbane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $342 vs $328 – 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

Mackay vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brisbane costs about 14% more than Mackay, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,052 per month in Mackay and $3,481 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Brisbane – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $72.0 in Mackay and $70.0 in Brisbane. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Mackay, where all-in costs run around $2,035, than in Brisbane at $2,321. In Mackay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brisbane it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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