Cost of Living Comparison Between Northam and Brisbane Cost of Living Comparison Between Northam and Brisbane

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,673 per month in Northam vs $2,668 in Brisbane, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,763 per month in Northam vs $3,910 in Brisbane, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,853 per month in Northam vs $5,152 in Brisbane, rent included.

Northam and Brisbane have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Northam and Brisbane sit above the global median – Northam by 94%, Brisbane by 94%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.47 A$29.72

$18.39 A$25.46

16.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.5 A$121

$79.5 A$110

10.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.62 A$14.70

$11.70 A$16.20

-9.23%

Cappuccino

$4.61 A$6.38

$4.45 A$6.16

3.60%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 A$4.11

$3.03 A$4.20

-1.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 A$3.23

$2.62 A$3.62

-11.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.59 A$11.89

$8.77 A$12.14

-2.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.72 A$12.07

$8.60 A$11.91

1.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 A$2.42

$1.76 A$2.44

-0.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 A$3.66

$2.82 A$3.91

-6.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 A$2.83

$2.39 A$3.31

-14.64%

Eggs

$4.79 A$6.63

$5.15 A$7.13

-6.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.33 A$8.76

$9.25 A$12.81

-31.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.62 A$13.32

$9.25 A$12.81

4.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.21 A$19.68

$14.29 A$19.78

-0.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 A$4.05

$4.21 A$5.83

-30.64%

Banana (1kg)

$3.28 A$4.55

$3.16 A$4.37

3.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.49 A$4.83

$2.99 A$4.14

16.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.44 A$7.52

$4.85 A$6.71

12.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 A$4.11

$2.77 A$3.84

7.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 A$2.80

$2.45 A$3.39

-17.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 A$3.33

$2.42 A$3.34

-0.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 A$1.03

$1.31 A$1.82

-42.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$43.33 A$60.0

$40.09 A$55.5

8.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.50 A$4.85

$12.92 A$17.88

-72.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.52 A$6.25

$5.44 A$7.53

-16.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 A$4.83

$5.12 A$7.10

-31.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.16 A$4.38

$0.35 A$0.48

802.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.6 A$117

$21.40 A$29.62

295.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 A$5.27

$3.01 A$4.17

26.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 A$1.99

$1.84 A$2.55

-21.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.01 A$56.8

$43.17 A$59.8

-5.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 A$1.87

$1.44 A$2.00

-6.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.6K A$39.6K

$28.7K A$39.8K

-0.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.8K A$42.6K

$28.6K A$39.6K

7.82%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$207 A$287

$170 A$236

21.70%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.47 A$35.26

$27.80 A$38.48

-8.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 A$87.9

$63.0 A$87.3

0.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.2 A$80.6

$63.6 A$88.0

-8.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.38 A$25.45

$21.88 A$30.29

-16.00%

Cinema Ticket

$16.97 A$23.49

$16.29 A$22.56

4.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,367 A$3,277

$2,148 A$2,974

10.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K A$33.0K

$13.0K A$18.1K

82.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.8 A$106

$86.9 A$120

-11.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.0 A$96.9

$44.20 A$61.2

58.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 A$168

$113 A$157

6.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 A$220

$110 A$153

44.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,469 A$2,034

$2,054 A$2,844

-28.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,279 A$1,770

$1,455 A$2,015

-12.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,284 A$3,162

$3,464 A$4,796

-34.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,861 A$2,576

$2,425 A$3,357

-23.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,713 A$9,295

$8,514 A$11.8K

-21.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,276 A$7,305

$6,339 A$8,777

-16.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,229 A$5,854

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

5.87

0.85%

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

Last update for Northam: September 5, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,469 in Northam versus $2,054 in Brisbane. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Northam versus $80.0 in Brisbane. Groceries tell a different story – $325 in Northam vs $371 in Brisbane – so Northam 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

Northam vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,010 per month in Northam and $4,003 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Brisbane, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Northam – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $2,367 per month in Northam and $2,148 in Brisbane. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,673 in Northam and $2,668 in Brisbane. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Brisbane – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Brisbane. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Northam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.