Cost of Living Comparison Between Rockhampton and Brisbane Cost of Living Comparison Between Rockhampton and Brisbane

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,826 per month in Rockhampton vs $2,285 in Brisbane, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,827 per month in Rockhampton vs $3,328 in Brisbane, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,827 per month in Rockhampton vs $4,372 in Brisbane, rent included.

Rockhampton is about 20% cheaper than Brisbane, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Rockhampton and Brisbane sit above the global median – Rockhampton by 36%, Brisbane by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.45 A$25.71

$15.97 A$22.26

15.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.0 A$110

$70.8 A$98.7

11.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.16 A$12.77

$9.50 A$13.24

-3.58%

Cappuccino

$3.83 A$5.34

$3.65 A$5.08

4.93%

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

$2.79 A$3.89

$2.67 A$3.72

4.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 A$3.34

$2.13 A$2.97

12.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 A$10.03

$6.32 A$8.80

13.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.82 A$8.10

$8.02 A$11.18

-27.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 A$2.43

$1.54 A$2.14

12.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 A$2.55

$2.28 A$3.18

-19.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 A$3.19

$1.86 A$2.60

23.12%

Eggs

$3.16 A$4.41

$4.48 A$6.25

-29.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 A$8.81

$8.24 A$11.48

-23.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.59 A$13.37

$8.09 A$11.28

18.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.60 A$20.34

$13.33 A$18.57

9.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 A$3.62

$3.38 A$4.71

-23.08%

Banana (1kg)

$4.28 A$5.96

$2.73 A$3.81

56.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 A$3.45

$2.71 A$3.78

-8.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.25 A$7.31

$4.29 A$5.98

22.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 A$2.82

$2.52 A$3.52

-19.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 A$2.83

$2.30 A$3.21

-11.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 A$3.65

$2.14 A$2.98

22.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 A$1.82

$1.24 A$1.72

4.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.95 A$45.92

$32.55 A$45.36

1.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.45 A$18.74

$12.85 A$17.90

4.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.25 A$4.52

$4.66 A$6.50

-30.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.79 A$8.06

$4.18 A$5.83

38.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.61 A$2.24

$0.31 A$0.44

419.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.8 A$81.9

$27.52 A$38.35

113.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 A$4.60

$2.29 A$3.20

44.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 A$2.26

$1.58 A$2.20

2.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$36.78 A$51.3

$34.11 A$47.54

7.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 A$1.76

$1.24 A$1.73

1.61%

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

$27.5K A$38.3K

$29.1K A$40.5K

-5.46%

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

$19.8K A$27.6K

$22.6K A$31.5K

-12.33%

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

$196 A$273

$146 A$204

33.94%

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

$21.79 A$30.36

$25.26 A$35.20

-13.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.9 A$89.0

$52.5 A$73.2

21.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.69 A$66.5

$49.65 A$69.2

-3.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.87 A$17.94

$17.25 A$24.04

-25.39%

Cinema Ticket

$12.89 A$17.97

$13.23 A$18.43

-2.57%

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

$1,611 A$2,245

$1,591 A$2,218

1.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,124 A$8,534

$8,689 A$12.1K

-29.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.5 A$95.4

$70.3 A$97.9

-2.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.5 A$77.3

$44.49 A$62.0

24.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 A$184

$91.4 A$127

44.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.1 A$80.9

$100 A$139

-41.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$772 A$1,076

$1,616 A$2,252

-52.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 A$886

$1,241 A$1,729

-48.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,516 A$2,113

$2,670 A$3,720

-43.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 A$1,594

$1,939 A$2,701

-41.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,525 A$11.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,824 A$8,116

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,783 A$5,272

$4,294 A$5,984

-11.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.65

6.24

6.57%

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

Last update for Rockhampton: May 30, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $772 in Rockhampton versus $1,616 in Brisbane. 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 14% higher in Brisbane, 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 $79.0 in Rockhampton versus $71.0 in Brisbane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $334 vs $327 – making Brisbane 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

Rockhampton vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brisbane costs about 25% more than Rockhampton, 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 $2,739 per month in Rockhampton and $3,427 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Brisbane – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Rockhampton and $71.0 in Brisbane. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Rockhampton, where all-in costs run around $1,826, than in Brisbane at $2,285. In Rockhampton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brisbane it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rockhampton – 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 Rockhampton. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brisbane makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.