Cost of Living Comparison Between Mildura and Sydney Cost of Living Comparison Between Mildura and Sydney

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,173 per month in Mildura vs $2,827 in Sydney, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,273 per month in Mildura vs $4,192 in Sydney, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,372 per month in Mildura vs $5,557 in Sydney, rent included.

Mildura is about 23% cheaper than Sydney, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Mildura and Sydney sit above the global median – Mildura by 62%, Sydney by 111%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mildura
Sydney
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.36 A$22.75
$16.13 A$22.42
1.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.9 A$107
$78.8 A$109
-2.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.67 A$13.44
$9.90 A$13.76
-2.32%
Cappuccino
$3.52 A$4.90
$3.26 A$4.53
7.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 A$3.49
$2.55 A$3.55
-1.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 A$3.30
$1.96 A$2.73
20.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.62 A$9.20
$6.32 A$8.78
4.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.92 A$9.62
$7.28 A$10.11
-4.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mildura
Sydney
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 A$2.69
$1.62 A$2.26
19.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 A$3.55
$2.68 A$3.73
-4.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 A$2.79
$2.32 A$3.23
-13.36%
Eggs
$7.36 A$10.23
$4.97 A$6.91
48.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.58 A$11.93
$8.71 A$12.11
-1.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.44 A$11.73
$8.34 A$11.59
1.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.45 A$18.69
$14.14 A$19.66
-4.88%
Apples (1kg)
$3.35 A$4.66
$3.30 A$4.59
1.52%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 A$3.94
$2.65 A$3.68
7.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.89 A$4.02
$3.17 A$4.41
-8.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.18 A$5.81
$4.29 A$5.96
-2.56%
Potato (1kg)
$2.48 A$3.45
$2.55 A$3.55
-2.75%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 A$2.95
$2.30 A$3.20
-7.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 A$2.90
$2.14 A$2.98
-2.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 A$2.10
$1.24 A$1.73
21.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.31 A$43.52
$32.15 A$44.68
-2.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.55 A$20.22
$14.16 A$19.68
2.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.59 A$6.38
$4.70 A$6.54
-2.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.37 A$7.47
$5.29 A$7.36
1.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Mildura
Sydney
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 A$3.52
$3.29 A$4.57
-23.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.7 A$91.3
$142 A$198
-53.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 A$4.83
$3.92 A$5.44
-11.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 A$2.13
$2.87 A$3.99
-46.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.95 A$45.80
$52.9 A$73.5
-37.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 A$1.77
$1.24 A$1.72
2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K A$39.6K
$28.5K A$39.6K
0.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K A$31.0K
$22.2K A$30.8K
0.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mildura
Sydney
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 A$260
$200 A$278
-6.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.85 A$37.33
$23.54 A$32.71
14.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.45 A$57.6
$52.3 A$72.7
-20.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mildura
Sydney
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 A$66.5
$60.6 A$84.2
-20.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.47 A$21.50
$20.94 A$29.10
-26.12%
Cinema Ticket
$13.09 A$18.20
$15.77 A$21.92
-16.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mildura
Sydney
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,619 A$2,251
$2,111 A$2,934
-23.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K A$16.7K
$18.5K A$25.8K
-35.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mildura
Sydney
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.7 A$92.7
$74.8 A$104
-10.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7 A$70.5
$57.4 A$79.8
-11.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.6 A$137
$105 A$147
-6.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 A$151
$130 A$181
-16.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mildura
Sydney
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,291 A$1,795
$2,181 A$3,032
-40.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$990 A$1,377
$1,480 A$2,057
-33.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,123 A$2,951
$4,395 A$6,110
-51.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 A$2,394
$2,682 A$3,728
-35.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,989 A$8,325
$12.7K A$17.7K
-52.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,006 A$6,958
$7,993 A$11.1K
-37.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mildura
Sydney
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,550 A$4,935
$4,239 A$5,892
-16.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.34
6.34
-

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

Last update for Mildura: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sydney: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,291 in Mildura versus $2,181 in Sydney. 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 19% higher in Sydney, 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 $77.0 in Mildura versus $79.0 in Sydney. Groceries tell a different story – $358 in Mildura vs $347 in Sydney – so Sydney 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
Mildura vs Sydney: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sydney cheaper than Mildura?
Yes – Sydney is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,260 per month in Mildura and $4,240 in Sydney. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 116% less in Mildura. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,619 per month in Mildura and $2,111 in Sydney. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Mildura or Sydney?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Mildura, where all-in costs run around $2,173, than in Sydney at $2,827. In Mildura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mildura or Sydney more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Mildura or Sydney?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mildura. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sydney makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Mildura vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities