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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,060 per month in Mackay vs $2,300 in Brisbane, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,193 per month in Mackay vs $3,347 in Brisbane, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,326 per month in Mackay vs $4,395 in Brisbane, rent included.

Mackay is about 10% cheaper than Brisbane, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Mackay and Brisbane sit above the global median – Mackay by 54%, Brisbane by 72%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.09 A$22.53

$16.30 A$22.82

-1.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.7 A$98.9

$72.0 A$101

-1.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 A$16.70

$9.53 A$13.34

25.18%

Cappuccino

$3.92 A$5.49

$3.69 A$5.17

6.23%

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

$3.04 A$4.26

$2.74 A$3.83

10.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 A$3.56

$2.13 A$2.98

19.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.65 A$9.30

$6.68 A$9.35

-0.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.57 A$9.19

$7.87 A$11.02

-16.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 A$1.85

$1.60 A$2.23

-17.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.13 A$2.98

$2.31 A$3.23

-7.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.54 A$3.56

$1.83 A$2.56

38.80%

Eggs

$5.10 A$7.14

$4.50 A$6.31

13.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.82 A$12.35

$8.42 A$11.79

4.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.22 A$11.51

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.79 A$20.70

$13.47 A$18.85

9.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 A$4.71

$3.39 A$4.74

-0.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 A$3.86

$2.89 A$4.05

-4.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.95 A$4.12

$2.61 A$3.65

13.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.80 A$6.71

$4.23 A$5.93

13.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 A$2.44

$2.51 A$3.51

-30.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 A$2.28

$2.28 A$3.20

-28.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 A$2.60

$2.22 A$3.11

-16.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 A$3.05

$1.30 A$1.82

67.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$38.75 A$54.2

$32.02 A$44.83

21.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.67 A$12.14

$14.31 A$20.04

-39.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.77 A$6.67

$4.71 A$6.60

1.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.66 A$7.92

$4.11 A$5.75

37.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 A$3.11

$0.34 A$0.48

552.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.0 A$92.4

$27.34 A$38.28

141.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.49 A$7.69

$2.32 A$3.25

136.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 A$2.56

$1.59 A$2.23

15.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.98 A$44.78

$34.04 A$47.65

-6.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 A$1.68

$1.23 A$1.73

-2.44%

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

$37.4K A$52.4K

$28.4K A$39.7K

31.93%

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

$29.0K A$40.6K

$22.6K A$31.6K

28.68%

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

$186 A$261

$147 A$206

26.65%

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

$26.73 A$37.43

$25.93 A$36.30

3.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.3 A$101

$54.2 A$75.9

33.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.9 A$105

$49.36 A$69.1

51.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.60 A$27.44

$17.40 A$24.36

12.64%

Cinema Ticket

$15.37 A$21.52

$13.21 A$18.49

16.35%

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

$1,755 A$2,457

$1,595 A$2,233

10.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.1K A$16.9K

$8,929 A$12.5K

35.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.4 A$94.3

$71.7 A$100

-5.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.86 A$65.6

$42.94 A$60.1

9.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 A$158

$92.5 A$129

22.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.9 A$137

$102 A$143

-3.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 A$1,280

$1,636 A$2,291

-44.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$797 A$1,116

$1,242 A$1,739

-35.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,724 A$2,414

$2,631 A$3,683

-34.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,645 A$2,303

$1,931 A$2,704

-14.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,180 A$8,652

$8,175 A$11.4K

-24.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,005 A$7,007

$5,407 A$7,570

-7.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,704 A$7,986

$4,271 A$5,980

33.54%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $915 in Mackay versus $1,636 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 $71 in Mackay versus $72 in Brisbane. Groceries tell a different story – $341 in Mackay vs $334 in Brisbane – so Brisbane wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 12% 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 $3,089 per month in Mackay and $3,450 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 2% 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 $71.0 in Mackay and $72.0 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 $2,060, than in Brisbane at $2,300. 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.