Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandurah and Brisbane Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandurah and Brisbane

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,104 per month in Mandurah vs $2,285 in Brisbane, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,097 per month in Mandurah vs $3,328 in Brisbane, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,089 per month in Mandurah vs $4,372 in Brisbane, rent included.

Mandurah is about 8% cheaper than Brisbane, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Mandurah and Brisbane sit above the global median – Mandurah by 57%, Brisbane by 71%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandurah
Brisbane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.52 A$23.02
$15.97 A$22.26
3.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.2 A$108
$70.8 A$98.7
9.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 A$14.75
$9.50 A$13.24
11.47%
Cappuccino
$3.78 A$5.27
$3.65 A$5.08
3.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 A$3.46
$2.67 A$3.72
-7.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 A$2.71
$2.13 A$2.97
-8.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.82 A$8.12
$6.32 A$8.80
-7.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.64 A$9.26
$8.02 A$11.18
-17.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandurah
Brisbane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 A$1.94
$1.54 A$2.14
-9.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 A$3.05
$2.28 A$3.18
-3.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 A$2.69
$1.86 A$2.60
3.76%
Eggs
$4.53 A$6.31
$4.48 A$6.25
1.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.37 A$11.66
$8.24 A$11.48
1.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.31 A$11.58
$8.09 A$11.28
2.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.18 A$18.37
$13.33 A$18.57
-1.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 A$4.55
$3.38 A$4.71
-3.55%
Banana (1kg)
$2.85 A$3.97
$2.73 A$3.81
4.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 A$4.13
$2.71 A$3.78
9.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.66 A$6.50
$4.29 A$5.98
8.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 A$2.15
$2.52 A$3.52
-38.89%
Onion (1kg)
$0.81 A$1.13
$2.30 A$3.21
-64.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 A$2.59
$2.14 A$2.98
-13.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 A$2.08
$1.24 A$1.72
20.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$32.30 A$45.01
$32.55 A$45.36
-0.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.73 A$17.74
$12.85 A$17.90
-0.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.95 A$5.50
$4.66 A$6.50
-15.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 A$5.92
$4.18 A$5.83
1.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandurah
Brisbane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.34 A$4.66
$0.31 A$0.44
977.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.9 A$118
$27.52 A$38.35
208.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.94 A$5.50
$2.29 A$3.20
72.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.18 A$3.04
$1.58 A$2.20
37.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.83 A$69.5
$34.11 A$47.54
46.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 A$1.63
$1.24 A$1.73
-5.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K A$39.7K
$29.1K A$40.5K
-2.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K A$34.5K
$22.6K A$31.5K
9.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandurah
Brisbane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$154 A$215
$146 A$204
5.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.53 A$23.03
$25.26 A$35.20
-34.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.8 A$76.4
$52.5 A$73.2
4.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandurah
Brisbane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.96 A$44.53
$49.65 A$69.2
-35.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.57 A$13.33
$17.25 A$24.04
-44.52%
Cinema Ticket
$7.93 A$11.05
$13.23 A$18.43
-40.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandurah
Brisbane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,768 A$2,464
$1,591 A$2,218
11.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K A$16.5K
$8,689 A$12.1K
36.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandurah
Brisbane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.1 A$99.1
$70.3 A$97.9
1.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.35 A$57.6
$44.49 A$62.0
-7.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 A$145
$91.4 A$127
13.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.8 A$101
$100 A$139
-27.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandurah
Brisbane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,279 A$1,783
$1,616 A$2,252
-20.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 A$1,431
$1,241 A$1,729
-17.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,317 A$3,229
$2,670 A$3,720
-13.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,639 A$2,284
$1,939 A$2,701
-15.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$8,525 A$11.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$5,824 A$8,116
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandurah
Brisbane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,298 A$5,989
$4,294 A$5,984
0.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.8
6.24
-7.05%

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

Last update for Mandurah: June 1, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,279 in Mandurah versus $1,616 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 0% higher in Mandurah, 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 $77.0 in Mandurah versus $71.0 in Brisbane. Groceries tell a different story – $322 in Mandurah vs $327 in Brisbane – so Mandurah 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
Mandurah vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mandurah or Brisbane?
Brisbane costs about 9% more than Mandurah, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mandurah vs Brisbane?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,157 per month in Mandurah and $3,427 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mandurah or Brisbane?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mandurah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Mandurah or Brisbane?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Brisbane, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Mandurah vs Brisbane?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Mandurah and $71.0 in Brisbane. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Mandurah or Brisbane?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mandurah, where all-in costs run around $2,104, than in Brisbane at $2,285. In Mandurah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brisbane it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Mandurah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Mandurah compared to Brisbane?
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.
Should I move to Mandurah or Brisbane?
If budget matters most, go with Mandurah. 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.

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