Cost of Living Comparison Between Mackay and Sydney Cost of Living Comparison Between Mackay and Sydney

🙂 Solo nomad: Mackay is 11.9% cheaper than Sydney without rent, and 28.6% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Mackay is 6.1% more expensive than Sydney without rent, and 21% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mackay
Sydney
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.34 A$25.03
$16.02 A$24.54
2.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.7 A$111
$77.1 A$118
-5.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.49 A$17.61
$9.6 A$14.7
19.69%
Cappuccino
$3.99 A$6.11
$3.33 A$5.11
19.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 A$4.79
$2.5 A$3.83
25.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 A$3.87
$2 A$3.06
26.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.33 A$9.69
$6.33 A$9.69
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.32 A$9.68
$7.09 A$10.86
-10.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mackay
Sydney
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 A$2.07
$1.69 A$2.59
-20.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 A$3.35
$2.7 A$4.13
-18.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.55 A$3.91
$2.34 A$3.59
8.97%
Eggs
$5.05 A$7.74
$5.05 A$7.74
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.74 A$13.39
$8.65 A$13.25
1.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.92 A$12.13
$8.45 A$12.95
-6.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.19 A$23.26
$13.8 A$21.14
10.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 A$5.23
$3.18 A$4.88
7.55%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 A$4.22
$2.67 A$4.09
3.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 A$4.58
$3.13 A$4.8
-4.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.78 A$7.32
$4.36 A$6.67
9.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 A$2.72
$2.56 A$3.92
-30.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 A$2.56
$2.36 A$3.62
-29.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.91 A$2.93
$2.16 A$3.31
-11.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 A$3.33
$1.24 A$1.91
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$38.71 A$59.3
$31.93 A$48.92
21.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.96 A$12.19
$13.43 A$20.58
-40.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.82 A$7.38
$4.8 A$7.35
0.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.68 A$8.7
$5.26 A$8.06
7.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Mackay
Sydney
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.31 A$3.55
$3.19 A$4.88
-27.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.2 A$101
$139 A$212
-52.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.37 A$8.23
$3.79 A$5.81
41.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.9 A$2.91
$2.96 A$4.54
-35.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.85 A$50.3
$51.4 A$78.7
-36.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 A$1.82
$1.2 A$1.84
-0.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K A$58.1K
$29.3K A$44.9K
29.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8K A$44.1K
$22.2K A$34K
29.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mackay
Sydney
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 A$284
$201 A$308
-7.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.9 A$41.21
$23.73 A$36.35
13.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.9 A$115
$53.1 A$81.3
41.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mackay
Sydney
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.3 A$112
$61.5 A$94.2
19.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.69 A$30.16
$20.64 A$31.62
-4.60%
Cinema Ticket
$15.37 A$23.54
$15.47 A$23.7
-0.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mackay
Sydney
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,747 A$2,676
$2,109 A$3,231
-17.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K A$18.5K
$18.8K A$28.8K
-35.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mackay
Sydney
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.9 A$104
$74.8 A$115
-9.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.43 A$71.1
$58.4 A$89.5
-20.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 A$172
$107 A$165
4.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.9 A$148
$132 A$203
-26.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mackay
Sydney
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$918 A$1,407
$2,205 A$3,378
-58.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$772 A$1,182
$1,462 A$2,239
-47.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,682 A$2,577
$4,389 A$6,724
-61.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,655 A$2,536
$2,669 A$4,090
-37.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,027 A$4,637
$12.7K A$19.5K
-76.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,637 A$2,508
$7,165 A$11K
-77.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mackay
Sydney
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,200 A$7,967
$3,965 A$6,074
31.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.7
6.34
-10.09%

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

Last update for Mackay: October 29, 2025

Last update for Sydney: October 28, 2025

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