🙂A single person spends $950 per month in New Caledonia vs $2,185 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,466 per month in New Caledonia vs $3,220 in Australia, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,982 per month in New Caledonia vs $4,254 in Australia, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in New Caledonia is roughly 57% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊New Caledonia sits 29% below the global median, while Australia is 64% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New Caledonia
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.42CFPF 1,501
$16.19A$23.19
-10.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.3CFPF 10.0K
$77.1A$111
24.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.50CFPF 1,509
$9.47A$13.57
53.12%
Cappuccino
$5.87CFPF 611
$3.46A$4.95
69.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49CFPF 259
$2.68A$3.85
-7.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06CFPF 111
$2.19A$3.13
-51.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.02CFPF 1,147
$6.61A$9.47
66.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.63CFPF 793
$7.10A$10.18
7.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Caledonia
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17CFPF 122
$1.55A$2.22
-24.52%
White Bread(500g)
$3.09CFPF 321
$2.47A$3.55
25.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90CFPF 198
$2.10A$3.01
-9.52%
Eggs
$5.53CFPF 576
$4.24A$6.08
30.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.07CFPF 1,985
$8.57A$12.28
122.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$22.43CFPF 2,334
$8.60A$12.32
160.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.35CFPF 2,741
$13.81A$19.79
90.80%
Apples(1kg)
$4.20CFPF 437
$3.17A$4.55
32.49%
Banana(1kg)
$7.33CFPF 763
$2.72A$3.90
169.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.68CFPF 695
$2.96A$4.24
125.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.37CFPF 767
$4.31A$6.17
71.00%
Potato(1kg)
$3.73CFPF 388
$2.47A$3.53
51.01%
Onion(1kg)
$3.30CFPF 343
$2.10A$3.00
57.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.88CFPF 299
$2.19A$3.14
31.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53CFPF 160
$1.53A$2.19
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.61CFPF 2,041
$31.29A$44.83
-37.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.02CFPF 1,563
$13.94A$19.97
7.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.19CFPF 540
$4.46A$6.39
16.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.08CFPF 632
$5.01A$7.18
21.36%
🚌 Getting Around
New Caledonia
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.89CFPF 301
$3.00A$4.30
-3.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.4CFPF 6,598
$96.0A$138
-33.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.40CFPF 562
$3.56A$5.11
51.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00CFPF 104
$1.75A$2.51
-42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.07CFPF 2,608
$37.88A$54.3
-33.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69CFPF 176
$1.15A$1.65
46.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KCFPF 3.5M
$29.4KA$42.1K
15.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2KCFPF 4.2M
$23.1KA$33.1K
74.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Caledonia
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$206CFPF 21.5K
$174A$249
18.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.45CFPF 4,208
$26.88A$38.51
50.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.2CFPF 6,054
$52.7A$75.5
10.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Caledonia
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.1CFPF 6,352
$47.69A$68.3
28.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.55CFPF 785
$16.51A$23.65
-54.27%
Cinema Ticket
$12.80CFPF 1,331
$13.73A$19.67
-6.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Caledonia
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793CFPF 82.5K
$1,555A$2,227
-49.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$12.7KA$18.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Caledonia
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111CFPF 11.6K
$69.6A$99.7
59.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.7CFPF 6,005
$51.2A$73.4
12.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.7CFPF 9,645
$102A$146
-8.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$243CFPF 25.2K
$112A$161
116.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Caledonia
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$752CFPF 78.2K
$1,359A$1,947
-44.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$777CFPF 80.9K
$1,080A$1,547
-27.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,576CFPF 163.9K
$2,300A$3,296
-31.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,359CFPF 141.4K
$1,751A$2,509
-22.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,769CFPF 496.2K
$7,618A$10.9K
-37.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,528CFPF 367.1K
$5,762A$8,255
-38.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New Caledonia
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,756CFPF 286.8K
$4,023A$5,764
-31.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.33
6.35
-63.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for New Caledonia: July 12, 2026
Last update for Australia: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $459 in New Caledonia vs $1,231 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $805 in Noumea and $1,549 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $2,814 in New Caledonia vs $3,775 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 168% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 54% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 219% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are 34% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in New Caledonia.
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
New Caledonia vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than New Caledonia?
New Caledonia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 84% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in New Caledonia, contributing to the overall 84% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Australia or in New Caledonia?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in New Caledonia, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to New Caledonia?
New Caledonia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
New Caledonia vs other spots: cost of living compared