Cost of Living Comparison Between Mildura and Brisbane Cost of Living Comparison Between Mildura and Brisbane

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,352 per month in Mildura vs $2,635 in Brisbane, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,688 per month in Mildura vs $3,941 in Brisbane, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,024 per month in Mildura vs $5,247 in Brisbane, rent included.

Mildura is about 11% cheaper than Brisbane, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Mildura and Brisbane sit above the global median – Mildura by 72%, Brisbane by 93%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mildura
Brisbane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82 A$22.31
$17.92 A$25.28
-11.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$107 A$151
$73.6 A$104
45.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.38 A$16.06
$11.32 A$15.96
0.53%
Cappuccino
$3.62 A$5.10
$4.39 A$6.19
-17.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 A$3.77
$2.91 A$4.10
-8.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 A$3.96
$2.52 A$3.56
11.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.46 A$9.11
$8.73 A$12.31
-26.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.66 A$9.40
$8.49 A$11.97
-21.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mildura
Brisbane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.11 A$2.97
$1.74 A$2.46
21.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.84 A$4.01
$2.68 A$3.78
5.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.27 A$3.20
$2.37 A$3.34
-4.22%
Eggs
$8.38 A$11.82
$5.02 A$7.08
66.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.79 A$13.81
$9.40 A$13.25
4.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.43 A$13.30
$9.29 A$13.11
1.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.96 A$21.09
$14.19 A$20.01
5.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.80 A$5.37
$4.21 A$5.93
-9.74%
Banana (1kg)
$3.09 A$4.35
$3.12 A$4.40
-0.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.51 A$4.95
$2.96 A$4.18
18.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.69 A$6.62
$5.03 A$7.09
-6.76%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 A$3.53
$2.83 A$3.99
-11.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.51 A$3.55
$2.49 A$3.51
0.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.53 A$3.57
$2.40 A$3.39
5.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 A$2.30
$1.24 A$1.75
31.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$42.17 A$59.5
$38.66 A$54.5
9.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.16 A$19.98
$13.07 A$18.44
8.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.01 A$7.06
$5.35 A$7.55
-6.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.41 A$7.63
$5.07 A$7.14
6.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Mildura
Brisbane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.12 A$4.40
$0.34 A$0.48
817.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$92.3 A$130
$21.08 A$29.73
337.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 A$5.39
$3.08 A$4.34
24.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 A$2.38
$1.84 A$2.59
-8.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.12 A$58.0
$41.32 A$58.3
-0.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 A$1.85
$1.36 A$1.92
-3.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K A$38.7K
$28.4K A$40.1K
-3.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K A$42.8K
$29.3K A$41.3K
3.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mildura
Brisbane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 A$282
$161 A$227
23.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.74 A$40.54
$26.36 A$37.18
9.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.8 A$80.1
$60.9 A$85.9
-6.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mildura
Brisbane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.6 A$79.8
$63.9 A$90.1
-11.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 A$26.23
$21.59 A$30.45
-13.85%
Cinema Ticket
$16.02 A$22.60
$17.98 A$25.36
-10.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mildura
Brisbane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,160 A$3,046
$2,104 A$2,967
2.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.8K A$28.0K
$12.9K A$18.3K
53.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mildura
Brisbane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.8 A$110
$84.5 A$119
-7.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.5 A$76.9
$42.77 A$60.3
27.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 A$157
$115 A$162
-3.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 A$180
$112 A$158
13.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mildura
Brisbane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,442 A$2,033
$2,002 A$2,824
-28.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,084 A$1,529
$1,405 A$1,981
-22.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,277 A$3,211
$3,457 A$4,876
-34.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,835 A$2,588
$2,469 A$3,482
-25.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,842 A$8,239
$8,337 A$11.8K
-29.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,173 A$7,296
$6,333 A$8,931
-18.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mildura
Brisbane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,632 A$5,122
$4,216 A$5,946
-13.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.87
5.81
1.03%

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

Last update for Mildura: September 13, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,442 in Mildura versus $2,002 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 16% higher in Brisbane, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $107 in Mildura versus $74.0 in Brisbane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $369 – 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
Mildura vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mildura or Brisbane?
Brisbane costs about 12% more than Mildura, 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 Mildura and in Brisbane?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,528 per month in Mildura and $3,952 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mildura or Brisbane?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mildura, 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 Mildura or in Brisbane?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Brisbane – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Mildura and in Brisbane?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $107 in Mildura and $74.0 in Brisbane. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Mildura or in Brisbane?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,352 in Mildura and $2,635 in Brisbane. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Mildura – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Mildura 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 Mildura or to Brisbane?
If budget matters most, go with Mildura. 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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