Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Helena and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Helena and Australia

Name: Australia
Address: AU

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $299 per month in Saint Helena vs $2,509 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $623 per month in Saint Helena vs $3,641 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $947 per month in Saint Helena vs $4,772 in Australia, rent included.

The cost of living in Saint Helena is roughly 88% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Saint Helena sits 78% below the global median, while Australia is 83% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,174–$3,292) than in Saint Helena ($90.0–$508), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.89 SHP 11.86

$18.16 A$25.50

-12.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.6 SHP 51.2

$85.9 A$121

-20.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.67 SHP 10.20

$10.87 A$15.26

25.76%

Cappuccino

$4.11 A$5.77

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

$1.25 SHP 0.93

$3.04 A$4.27

-58.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 SHP 0.77

$2.47 A$3.46

-58.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.87 A$11.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.98 A$11.20

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 A$2.43

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 SHP 1.45

$2.78 A$3.90

-29.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 A$3.34

Eggs

$5.29 SHP 3.95

$5.08 A$7.14

4.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.98 A$14.01

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.24 A$12.97

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.00 SHP 8.21

$15.49 A$21.75

-28.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 A$5.24

Banana (1kg)

$3.02 A$4.24

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 A$4.54

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 A$6.86

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 A$4.04

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 A$3.32

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 A$3.49

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 SHP 1.02

$1.68 A$2.35

-19.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.77 SHP 8.78

$38.51 A$54.1

-69.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.83 SHP 11.81

$14.25 A$20.01

11.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.07 A$7.12

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.19 A$7.29

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 A$3.90

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.08 SHP 29.91

$94.8 A$133

-57.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 A$4.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 A$2.24

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.42 A$56.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.59 SHP 1.94

$1.27 A$1.79

103.94%

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

$28.3K A$39.8K

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

$28.6K A$40.2K

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

$202 A$283

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

$29.08 A$40.84

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$219 SHP 163

$59.6 A$83.7

267.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.18 SHP 15.06

$59.3 A$83.2

-65.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.13 A$28.26

Cinema Ticket

$15.75 A$22.11

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

$2,197 A$3,086

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.2K A$25.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.3 A$111

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.2 A$80.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 A$160

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 A$175

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$741 SHP 553

$1,581 A$2,220

-53.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,291 A$1,812

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 A$3,553

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$520 SHP 388

$1,982 A$2,783

-73.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,571 A$12.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,120 A$8,593

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$777 SHP 580

$3,979 A$5,588

-80.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.93

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

Last update for Saint Helena: September 15, 2026

Last update for Australia: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average salary: $781 in Saint Helena vs $3,903 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 273% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 140% more in Australia.

Public transport is 295% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 400% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Saint Helena.

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

Saint Helena vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Helena is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 647% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Saint Helena, contributing to the overall 647% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Saint Helena, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Saint Helena 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.