Cost of Living Comparison Between Sierra Leone and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between Sierra Leone and Australia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,981 per month in Sierra Leone vs $2,181 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,705 per month in Sierra Leone vs $3,218 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,429 per month in Sierra Leone vs $4,254 in Australia, rent included.

The cost of living in Sierra Leone is roughly 9% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Sierra Leone and Australia are pricier than the global median – Sierra Leone by 49%, Australia by 64%.

The regional cost range is wider in Sierra Leone ($1,981$1,981) than in Australia ($1,595$2,799), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.08 SLL 70.1K
$15.97 A$22.66
-80.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.57 SLL 742.2K
$79.0 A$112
-58.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.83 SLL 224.1K
$9.68 A$13.74
1.55%
Cappuccino
$1.74 SLL 39.7K
$3.58 A$5.08
-51.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 SLL 20.9K
$2.56 A$3.64
-64.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 SLL 19.2K
$2.22 A$3.15
-62.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.54 SLL 35.2K
$6.34 A$8.99
-75.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 SLL 66.0K
$6.95 A$9.86
-58.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.43 SLL 55.4K
$1.56 A$2.22
55.77%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 SLL 15.0K
$2.53 A$3.59
-73.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 SLL 30.0K
$2.00 A$2.83
-34.00%
Eggs
$2.00 SLL 45.6K
$4.26 A$6.05
-53.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.25 SLL 165.1K
$8.75 A$12.42
-17.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.59 SLL 173.0K
$8.23 A$11.68
-7.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.22 SLL 118.9K
$14.15 A$20.08
-63.11%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 SLL 93.1K
$3.26 A$4.63
25.46%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 SLL 46.3K
$2.81 A$3.99
-27.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.73 SLL 16.6K
$3.00 A$4.26
-75.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.12 SLL 116.7K
$4.31 A$6.12
18.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 SLL 46.5K
$2.55 A$3.62
-20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.60 SLL 36.5K
$2.16 A$3.07
-25.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 SLL 23.3K
$2.22 A$3.15
-54.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 SLL 32.6K
$1.53 A$2.17
-6.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95 SLL 44.5K
$31.28 A$44.38
-93.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.68 SLL 175.0K
$14.09 A$20.00
-45.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 SLL 33.6K
$4.44 A$6.30
-66.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 SLL 46.6K
$4.90 A$6.96
-58.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 SLL 10.7K
$2.95 A$4.19
-84.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$95.9 A$136
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.78 SLL 17.7K
$3.49 A$4.95
-77.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.24 SLL 28.2K
$1.84 A$2.61
-32.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 SLL 113.3K
$37.26 A$52.9
-86.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 SLL 30.7K
$1.17 A$1.66
15.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.1K SLL 276.2M
$28.7K A$40.8K
-57.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K SLL 570.2M
$22.5K A$31.9K
11.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 SLL 3.3M
$173 A$246
-17.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.64 SLL 402.0K
$26.62 A$37.77
-33.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.5 SLL 1.7M
$53.1 A$75.3
40.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.6 SLL 1.2M
$46.82 A$66.4
8.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.38 A$23.25
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$13.56 A$19.24
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$1,571 A$2,229
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$12.6K A$17.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.90 SLL 225.7K
$72.1 A$102
-86.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.16 SLL 186.0K
$51.6 A$73.2
-84.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$19.97 SLL 455.1K
$101 A$144
-80.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.58 SLL 1.1M
$108 A$153
-54.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$831 SLL 18.9M
$1,398 A$1,984
-40.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,251 SLL 28.5M
$1,086 A$1,541
15.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 SLL 47.9M
$2,272 A$3,223
-7.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$101 SLL 2.3M
$1,751 A$2,485
-94.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,086 SLL 24.8M
$7,955 A$11.3K
-86.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,095 SLL 24.9M
$5,978 A$8,483
-81.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,333 SLL 30.4M
$4,053 A$5,751
-67.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
6.35
-

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

Last update for Sierra Leone: July 28, 2026

Last update for Australia: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $808 in Sierra Leone vs $1,230 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $808 in Freetown and $1,557 in Canberra.

Average salary: $1,334 in Sierra Leone vs $3,808 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 52% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 133% more in Australia.

Salaries are 185% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.

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
Sierra Leone vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 11% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Sierra Leone, contributing to the overall 11% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Australia or in Sierra Leone?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Sierra Leone, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone 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.

Sierra Leone vs other spots: cost of living compared

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