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 $1,724 per month in Sierra Leone vs $2,509 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,431 per month in Sierra Leone vs $3,641 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,138 per month in Sierra Leone vs $4,772 in Australia, rent included.

The cost of living in Sierra Leone is roughly 31% 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 26%, Australia by 83%.

The regional cost range is wider in Sierra Leone ($1,724$1,724) than in Australia ($1,174$3,292), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.05 SLL 46.7K
$18.16 A$25.61
-88.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.26 SLL 896.1K
$85.9 A$121
-54.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.78 SLL 246.1K
$10.87 A$15.33
-0.83%
Cappuccino
$2.43 SLL 55.5K
$4.11 A$5.80
-40.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 SLL 29.4K
$3.04 A$4.29
-57.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 SLL 16.5K
$2.47 A$3.48
-70.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.84 SLL 41.9K
$7.87 A$11.09
-76.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 SLL 77.5K
$7.98 A$11.25
-57.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.43 SLL 55.5K
$1.73 A$2.44
40.46%
White Bread (500g)
$0.64 SLL 14.6K
$2.78 A$3.92
-76.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 SLL 30.2K
$2.38 A$3.36
-44.54%
Eggs
$1.82 SLL 41.6K
$5.08 A$7.17
-64.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.06 SLL 161.1K
$9.98 A$14.07
-29.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.83 SLL 224.4K
$9.24 A$13.03
6.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.13 SLL 117.1K
$15.49 A$21.85
-66.88%
Apples (1kg)
$3.93 SLL 89.8K
$3.73 A$5.26
5.36%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 SLL 46.1K
$3.02 A$4.26
-33.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.69 SLL 15.8K
$3.23 A$4.56
-78.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.07 SLL 115.7K
$4.88 A$6.89
3.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 SLL 46.8K
$2.87 A$4.05
-28.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 SLL 38.1K
$2.36 A$3.33
-29.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$2.49 A$3.51
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 SLL 30.0K
$1.68 A$2.36
-22.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96 SLL 67.6K
$38.51 A$54.3
-92.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.35 SLL 167.8K
$14.25 A$20.10
-48.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 SLL 26.8K
$5.07 A$7.15
-76.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 SLL 45.8K
$5.19 A$7.32
-61.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.41 SLL 9,421
$2.78 A$3.92
-85.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$94.8 A$134
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 SLL 11.1K
$3.52 A$4.97
-86.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 SLL 11.7K
$1.60 A$2.25
-68.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$40.42 A$57.0
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 SLL 28.9K
$1.27 A$1.80
-0.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.8K SLL 270.3M
$28.3K A$40.0K
-58.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K SLL 564.5M
$28.6K A$40.4K
-13.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.6 SLL 1.4M
$202 A$285
-70.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.34 SLL 395.8K
$29.08 A$41.02
-40.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.78 SLL 1.1M
$59.6 A$84.0
-16.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$59.3 A$83.6
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.13 A$28.38
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$15.75 A$22.21
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$2,197 A$3,099
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$18.2K A$25.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.86 SLL 225.1K
$79.3 A$112
-87.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$7.82 SLL 178.5K
$57.2 A$80.7
-86.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$20.28 SLL 462.9K
$114 A$161
-82.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.15 SLL 1.1M
$125 A$176
-60.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$937 SLL 21.4M
$1,581 A$2,229
-40.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,279 SLL 29.2M
$1,291 A$1,820
-0.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,455 SLL 78.9M
$2,530 A$3,568
36.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,982 A$2,795
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,070 SLL 24.4M
$8,571 A$12.1K
-87.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,098 SLL 25.1M
$6,120 A$8,631
-82.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sierra Leone
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,345 SLL 30.7M
$3,979 A$5,612
-66.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.93
-

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

Last update for Sierra Leone: September 12, 2026

Last update for Australia: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $917 in Sierra Leone vs $1,387 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $917 in Freetown and $1,829 in Canberra.

Average salary: $1,311 in Sierra Leone vs $3,903 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 51% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 110% more in Australia.

Salaries are 198% 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 30% 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 30% 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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