Cost of Living Comparison Between Nowra NSW and Sydney Cost of Living Comparison Between Nowra NSW and Sydney

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,585 per month in Nowra NSW vs $3,292 in Sydney, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,770 per month in Nowra NSW vs $4,899 in Sydney, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,954 per month in Nowra NSW vs $6,505 in Sydney, rent included.

Nowra NSW is about 21% cheaper than Sydney, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nowra NSW and Sydney sit above the global median – Nowra NSW by 89%, Sydney by 141%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.84 A$27.84

$17.90 A$25.11

10.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$94.2 A$132

$93.0 A$130

1.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.54 A$14.79

$12.06 A$16.92

-12.60%

Cappuccino

$4.21 A$5.91

$3.96 A$5.55

6.31%

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

$3.11 A$4.36

$2.89 A$4.05

7.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 A$3.86

$2.26 A$3.18

21.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.41 A$11.80

$7.88 A$11.06

6.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.86 A$13.83

$7.25 A$10.17

36.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 A$1.83

$1.81 A$2.54

-27.62%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 A$4.25

$2.75 A$3.86

10.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.71 A$3.81

$2.42 A$3.39

11.98%

Eggs

$5.57 A$7.82

$5.82 A$8.16

-4.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.15 A$17.05

$12.53 A$17.57

-3.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.73 A$15.05

$9.88 A$13.85

8.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.42 A$23.03

$16.55 A$23.22

-0.79%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 A$5.86

$3.64 A$5.10

14.84%

Banana (1kg)

$3.31 A$4.65

$3.14 A$4.40

5.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.55 A$4.99

$3.42 A$4.80

3.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 A$7.43

$4.72 A$6.63

12.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 A$4.58

$3.30 A$4.64

-0.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 A$3.88

$2.49 A$3.50

11.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.81 A$3.94

$2.38 A$3.33

18.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 A$2.10

$1.25 A$1.75

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.34 A$65.0

$46.38 A$65.1

-0.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 A$20.77

$14.50 A$20.34

2.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.84 A$6.79

$4.28 A$6.01

13.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.69 A$7.98

$4.02 A$5.64

41.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.06 A$4.29

$3.34 A$4.69

-8.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.4 A$121

$158 A$222

-45.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.22 A$5.92

$3.47 A$4.87

21.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 A$2.27

$1.67 A$2.35

-2.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.58 A$62.5

$40.99 A$57.5

8.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 A$1.79

$1.44 A$2.02

-11.11%

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

$27.1K A$38.0K

$30.5K A$42.8K

-11.20%

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

$30.6K A$43.0K

$30.4K A$42.7K

0.71%

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

$187 A$263

$229 A$322

-18.31%

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

$28.34 A$39.76

$27.42 A$38.47

3.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.7 A$79.5

$57.0 A$80.0

-0.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 A$71.4

$80.3 A$113

-36.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.65 A$23.36

$24.63 A$34.56

-32.40%

Cinema Ticket

$16.57 A$23.24

$17.92 A$25.15

-7.53%

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

$2,385 A$3,346

$2,317 A$3,250

2.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K A$29.7K

$29.1K A$40.8K

-27.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.0 A$109

$80.5 A$113

-3.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.8 A$79.7

$75.2 A$105

-24.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 A$172

$111 A$156

10.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 A$192

$134 A$189

1.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,371 A$1,923

$2,591 A$3,635

-47.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,409 A$1,977

$1,897 A$2,661

-25.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,496 A$3,502

$5,109 A$7,168

-51.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,896 A$2,661

$3,134 A$4,396

-39.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,491 A$7,703

$13.7K A$19.2K

-59.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,615 A$7,877

$8,458 A$11.9K

-33.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,204 A$5,897

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.95

5.87

1.36%

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

Last update for Nowra NSW: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sydney: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,371 in Nowra NSW versus $2,591 in Sydney. 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 $94.0 in Nowra NSW versus $93.0 in Sydney. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $407 vs $387 – making Sydney 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

Nowra NSW vs Sydney: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,585 in Nowra NSW, $3,292 in Sydney – roughly 27% apart. Sydney costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,877 per month in Nowra NSW and $4,939 in Sydney. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,585 in Nowra NSW and $3,292 in Sydney. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 83% less in Nowra NSW. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,585 in Nowra NSW and $3,292 in Sydney. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Nowra NSW – 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 Nowra NSW. 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.