Cost of Living Comparison Between Southern Cross and Brisbane Cost of Living Comparison Between Southern Cross and Brisbane

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,632 per month in Southern Cross vs $2,635 in Brisbane, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,725 per month in Southern Cross vs $3,941 in Brisbane, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,819 per month in Southern Cross vs $5,247 in Brisbane, rent included.

Southern Cross and Brisbane have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Southern Cross and Brisbane sit above the global median – Southern Cross by 92%, Brisbane by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.25 A$28.45

$17.92 A$25.18

13.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.7 A$88.1

$73.6 A$103

-14.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.66 A$13.57

$11.32 A$15.90

-14.66%

Cappuccino

$3.64 A$5.11

$4.39 A$6.17

-17.08%

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

$2.49 A$3.50

$2.91 A$4.08

-14.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 A$2.52

$2.52 A$3.55

-28.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 A$9.83

$8.73 A$12.26

-19.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.49 A$11.93

$8.49 A$11.92

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 A$2.31

$1.74 A$2.45

-5.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 A$3.89

$2.68 A$3.76

3.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 A$3.19

$2.37 A$3.33

-4.22%

Eggs

$2.84 A$3.99

$5.02 A$7.06

-43.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.02 A$14.08

$9.40 A$13.20

6.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.58 A$13.46

$9.29 A$13.06

3.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.06 A$21.16

$14.19 A$19.93

6.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.65 A$5.13

$4.21 A$5.91

-13.30%

Banana (1kg)

$3.06 A$4.30

$3.12 A$4.39

-1.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.32 A$4.66

$2.96 A$4.16

12.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 A$6.58

$5.03 A$7.07

-6.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 A$3.75

$2.83 A$3.98

-5.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 A$3.52

$2.49 A$3.49

0.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 A$3.56

$2.40 A$3.38

5.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 A$2.31

$1.24 A$1.74

33.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$36.00 A$50.6

$38.66 A$54.3

-6.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.11 A$19.82

$13.07 A$18.37

7.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.97 A$6.98

$5.35 A$7.52

-7.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.57 A$7.82

$5.07 A$7.12

9.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.52 A$4.95

$0.34 A$0.48

935.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.6 A$129

$21.08 A$29.62

334.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 A$4.51

$3.08 A$4.33

4.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 A$2.41

$1.84 A$2.59

-6.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$37.09 A$52.1

$41.32 A$58.1

-10.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 A$1.80

$1.36 A$1.91

-5.88%

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

$24.3K A$34.1K

$28.4K A$40.0K

-14.59%

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

$34.2K A$48.0K

$29.3K A$41.1K

16.80%

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

$216 A$303

$161 A$227

33.83%

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

$28.27 A$39.73

$26.36 A$37.04

7.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.5 A$80.7

$60.9 A$85.6

-5.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 A$75.4

$63.9 A$89.7

-15.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.20 A$25.56

$21.59 A$30.34

-15.70%

Cinema Ticket

$14.12 A$19.84

$17.98 A$25.26

-21.47%

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

$1,977 A$2,778

$2,104 A$2,956

-6.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.0K A$28.1K

$12.9K A$18.2K

54.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.3 A$120

$84.5 A$119

0.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.5 A$75.2

$42.77 A$60.1

25.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 A$156

$115 A$161

-3.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 A$158

0.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,468 A$2,063

$2,002 A$2,813

-26.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,200 A$1,686

$1,405 A$1,974

-14.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,088 A$2,934

$3,457 A$4,858

-39.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,056 A$2,889

$2,469 A$3,469

-16.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,218 A$8,736

$8,337 A$11.7K

-25.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,868 A$6,839

$6,333 A$8,897

-23.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,267 A$10.2K

$4,216 A$5,924

72.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

5.81

7.57%

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

Last update for Southern Cross: September 14, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,468 in Southern Cross versus $2,002 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 72% higher in Southern Cross. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Southern Cross versus $74.0 in Brisbane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $368 vs $369 – making Southern Cross 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

Southern Cross vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,948 per month in Southern Cross and $3,952 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 0% more in Brisbane, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $1,977 per month in Southern Cross and $2,104 in Brisbane. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,632 in Southern Cross and $2,635 in Brisbane. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Southern Cross – 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 Southern Cross. 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.