Cost of Living Comparison Between Penrith and Sydney Cost of Living Comparison Between Penrith and Sydney

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,136 per month in Penrith vs $2,759 in Sydney, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,163 per month in Penrith vs $4,168 in Sydney, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,190 per month in Penrith vs $5,578 in Sydney, rent included.

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

Both Penrith and Sydney sit above the global median – Penrith by 59%, Sydney by 106%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.17 A$15.56

$16.49 A$22.98

-32.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 A$123

$78.9 A$110

12.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.75 A$13.58

$9.93 A$13.84

-1.81%

Cappuccino

$2.64 A$3.68

$3.38 A$4.71

-21.89%

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

$2.71 A$3.77

$2.55 A$3.55

6.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 A$3.15

$1.97 A$2.74

14.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.41 A$8.94

$6.67 A$9.30

-3.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 A$6.25

$7.35 A$10.24

-38.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 A$1.97

$1.63 A$2.28

-13.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 A$3.21

$2.72 A$3.80

-15.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 A$1.25

$2.28 A$3.17

-60.53%

Eggs

$3.38 A$4.70

$5.04 A$7.03

-32.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.24 A$14.27

$8.92 A$12.43

14.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 A$11.56

$8.34 A$11.63

-0.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 A$20.15

$14.12 A$19.68

2.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 A$3.22

$3.24 A$4.51

-28.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.89 A$4.02

$2.70 A$3.76

7.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 A$4.17

$3.13 A$4.36

-4.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.76 A$6.64

$4.41 A$6.15

7.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 A$3.16

$2.44 A$3.41

-6.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 A$2.65

$2.33 A$3.25

-18.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 A$3.47

$2.21 A$3.08

12.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 A$1.08

$1.25 A$1.74

-38.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$30.97 A$43.16

$32.36 A$45.10

-4.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.92 A$20.79

$14.11 A$19.67

5.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.22 A$7.28

$4.66 A$6.49

12.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.07 A$8.45

$5.33 A$7.43

13.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.62 A$3.65

$3.28 A$4.57

-20.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.7 A$90.2

$141 A$196

-54.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.91 A$5.45

$3.99 A$5.56

-2.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 A$2.40

$2.93 A$4.08

-41.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.85 A$55.5

$52.5 A$73.1

-24.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 A$1.57

$1.25 A$1.74

-9.60%

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

$29.0K A$40.5K

$29.4K A$41.0K

-1.35%

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

$23.3K A$32.5K

$22.7K A$31.6K

2.96%

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

$163 A$227

$204 A$284

-20.11%

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

$29.58 A$41.22

$24.13 A$33.62

22.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 A$73.3

$51.9 A$72.3

1.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.41 A$67.5

$61.1 A$85.2

-20.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.75 A$21.95

$20.84 A$29.04

-24.42%

Cinema Ticket

$13.47 A$18.77

$15.71 A$21.90

-14.26%

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

$1,756 A$2,446

$2,074 A$2,890

-15.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.1K A$18.3K

$18.9K A$26.4K

-30.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.0 A$98.9

$72.9 A$102

-2.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.7 A$79.0

$58.1 A$81.0

-2.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.7 A$136

$108 A$151

-9.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 A$159

$133 A$186

-14.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 A$1,556

$2,194 A$3,057

-49.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,083 A$1,510

$1,491 A$2,077

-27.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,989 A$2,772

$4,416 A$6,154

-54.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,654 A$2,305

$2,626 A$3,660

-37.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,090 A$8,487

$13.4K A$18.6K

-54.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,081 A$7,080

$7,589 A$10.6K

-33.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,517 A$3,508

$4,193 A$5,843

-39.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.29

6.34

-0.79%

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

Last update for Penrith: June 2, 2026

Last update for Sydney: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Penrith versus $2,194 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 67% 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 $88.0 in Penrith versus $79.0 in Sydney. Groceries tell a different story – $332 in Penrith vs $349 in Sydney – so Penrith 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

Penrith vs Sydney: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sydney costs about 29% more than Penrith, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,204 per month in Penrith and $4,138 in Sydney. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 118% less in Penrith. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,756 per month in Penrith and $2,074 in Sydney. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Penrith, where all-in costs run around $2,136, than in Sydney at $2,759. In Penrith it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Penrith – 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 Penrith. 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.