Cost of Living Comparison Between Suriname and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between Suriname and Australia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $296 per month in Suriname vs $2,181 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $524 per month in Suriname vs $3,218 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $752 per month in Suriname vs $4,254 in Australia, rent included.

The cost of living in Suriname is roughly 86% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Suriname sits 78% below the global median, while Australia is 64% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.14 SRD 268
$15.97 A$22.66
-55.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.38 SRD 1,593
$79.0 A$112
-46.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.25 SRD 385
$9.68 A$13.74
5.89%
Cappuccino
$2.71 SRD 102
$3.58 A$5.08
-24.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 SRD 44.31
$2.56 A$3.64
-53.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 SRD 23.89
$2.22 A$3.15
-71.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.77 SRD 104
$6.34 A$8.99
-56.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 SRD 154
$6.95 A$9.86
-41.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 SRD 61.8
$1.56 A$2.22
5.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 SRD 47.88
$2.53 A$3.59
-49.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 SRD 55.3
$2.00 A$2.83
-26.50%
Eggs
$3.21 SRD 121
$4.26 A$6.05
-24.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.38 SRD 465
$8.75 A$12.42
41.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.42 SRD 204
$8.23 A$11.68
-34.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.32 SRD 388
$14.15 A$20.08
-27.07%
Apples (1kg)
$4.45 SRD 167
$3.26 A$4.63
36.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 SRD 73.4
$2.81 A$3.99
-30.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.12 SRD 117
$3.00 A$4.26
4.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.30 SRD 199
$4.31 A$6.12
22.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 SRD 50.7
$2.55 A$3.62
-47.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 SRD 72.7
$2.16 A$3.07
-10.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 SRD 72.5
$2.22 A$3.15
-13.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 SRD 55.3
$1.53 A$2.17
-3.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.67 SRD 213
$31.28 A$44.38
-81.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.15 SRD 306
$14.09 A$20.00
-42.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 SRD 84.6
$4.44 A$6.30
-49.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 SRD 125
$4.90 A$6.96
-31.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Suriname
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 SRD 18.14
$2.95 A$4.19
-83.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.4 SRD 3,323
$95.9 A$136
-7.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 SRD 114
$3.49 A$4.95
-13.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 SRD 94.4
$1.84 A$2.61
36.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.07 SRD 379
$37.26 A$52.9
-72.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 SRD 42.18
$1.17 A$1.66
-4.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K SRD 934.2K
$28.7K A$40.8K
-13.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K SRD 935.1K
$22.5K A$31.9K
10.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.83 SRD 1,497
$173 A$246
-77.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.45 SRD 994
$26.62 A$37.77
-0.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.48 SRD 1,108
$53.1 A$75.3
-44.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.68 SRD 477
$46.82 A$66.4
-72.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.37 SRD 766
$16.38 A$23.25
24.36%
Cinema Ticket
$4.59 SRD 173
$13.56 A$19.24
-66.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$63.3 SRD 2,379
$1,571 A$2,229
-95.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,921 SRD 72.2K
$12.6K A$17.9K
-84.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.07 SRD 1,356
$72.1 A$102
-49.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.59 SRD 1,075
$51.6 A$73.2
-44.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.8 SRD 2,885
$101 A$144
-24.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 SRD 4,216
$108 A$153
3.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suriname
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$510 SRD 19.2K
$1,398 A$1,984
-63.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$221 SRD 8,295
$1,086 A$1,541
-79.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,096 SRD 41.2K
$2,272 A$3,223
-51.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$561 SRD 21.1K
$1,751 A$2,485
-67.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$475 SRD 17.9K
$7,955 A$11.3K
-94.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$403 SRD 15.2K
$5,978 A$8,483
-93.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$282 SRD 10.6K
$4,053 A$5,751
-93.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.25
6.35
155.91%

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

Last update for Suriname: July 28, 2026

Last update for Australia: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $125 in Suriname vs $1,230 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $501 in Paramaribo and $1,557 in Canberra.

Average salary: $288 in Suriname vs $3,808 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 884% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 285% more in Australia.

Public transport is 191% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 1222% 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
Suriname vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Suriname?
Suriname is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 345% 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 Suriname, contributing to the overall 345% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget in Australia or in Suriname?
$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Suriname, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Suriname?
Suriname 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.

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