For one person, living is cheaper in Suriname: $1,045 a month against $2,589 in Australia, rent and utilities included – about $18,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Suriname and in Australia
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Suriname and in Australia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,045 per month in Suriname vs $2,589 in Australia, rent included.
Suriname $1,045
Australia $2,589
A couple spends around $1,707 per month in Suriname vs $3,789 in Australia, rent included.
Suriname $1,707
Australia $3,789
A family of three spends $2,370 per month in Suriname vs $4,990 in Australia, rent included.
Suriname $2,370
Australia $4,990
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,068–$3,299) than in Suriname ($202–$1,050), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Suriname is roughly 60% lower than in Australia on average.
📊
Suriname sits 23% below the global median, while Australia is 91% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.49SRD 504
$17.24A$24.58
-21.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.28SRD 1,729
$85.1A$121
-45.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.72SRD 400
$11.18A$15.94
-4.11%
Cappuccino
$2.81SRD 105
$4.01A$5.71
-29.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48SRD 55.2
$2.90A$4.13
-48.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87SRD 32.56
$2.30A$3.28
-62.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.37SRD 88.7
$7.74A$11.04
-69.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03SRD 151
$8.16A$11.64
-50.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81SRD 67.5
$1.73A$2.46
4.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36SRD 50.8
$2.69A$3.83
-49.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43SRD 53.5
$2.24A$3.19
-36.16%
Eggs
$3.05SRD 114
$4.95A$7.05
-38.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.71SRD 437
$9.42A$13.43
24.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.42SRD 240
$9.40A$13.40
-31.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.95SRD 372
$15.30A$21.81
-34.97%
Apples(1kg)
$4.91SRD 183
$3.65A$5.21
34.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.44SRD 91.1
$3.08A$4.39
-20.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.82SRD 143
$3.27A$4.66
16.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.83SRD 218
$4.59A$6.54
27.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32SRD 49.15
$2.83A$4.03
-53.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94SRD 72.6
$2.26A$3.23
-14.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55SRD 57.9
$2.37A$3.39
-34.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35SRD 50.4
$1.66A$2.36
-18.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.27SRD 271
$38.43A$54.8
-81.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.22SRD 307
$14.21A$20.26
-42.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00SRD 74.6
$4.95A$7.06
-59.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79SRD 142
$5.13A$7.32
-26.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Suriname
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55SRD 20.63
$2.46A$3.51
-77.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.28SRD 1,206
$93.0A$133
-65.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.13SRD 79.4
$3.66A$5.22
-41.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56SRD 58.2
$1.82A$2.59
-14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.06SRD 264
$43.83A$62.5
-83.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11SRD 41.32
$1.35A$1.92
-17.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KSRD 940.8K
$29.8KA$42.5K
-15.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7KSRD 922.3K
$26.1KA$37.2K
-5.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.24SRD 1,391
$208A$297
-82.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.90SRD 967
$29.05A$41.41
-10.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.32SRD 1,132
$58.7A$83.7
-48.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.70SRD 512
$56.4A$80.4
-75.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.78SRD 776
$19.40A$27.66
7.11%
Cinema Ticket
$5.08SRD 190
$15.11A$21.54
-66.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$62.1SRD 2,319
$2,113A$3,012
-97.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.4KSRD 576.8K
$23.1KA$32.9K
-33.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.03SRD 1,383
$80.0A$114
-53.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.77SRD 1,075
$54.2A$77.3
-46.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.3SRD 2,811
$112A$159
-32.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119SRD 4,456
$125A$178
-4.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suriname
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$489SRD 18.3K
$1,620A$2,310
-69.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$268SRD 10.0K
$1,256A$1,790
-78.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956SRD 35.7K
$2,616A$3,730
-63.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500SRD 18.7K
$2,007A$2,862
-75.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$468SRD 17.5K
$8,539A$12.2K
-94.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$400SRD 14.9K
$6,404A$9,129
-93.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$280SRD 10.4K
$3,931A$5,604
-92.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.25
5.96
172.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Suriname: November 2, 2026
Last update for Australia: November 3, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Suriname
$295 28.2%
Australia
$373 14.4% ↑ 26.5%$78
🏠Accommodation & Living
Suriname
$268 25.6%
Australia
$1.3K 48.5% ↑ 369%$988
🍽Eating Out
Suriname
$203 19.5%
Australia
$295 11.4% ↑ 45.4%$92
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Suriname
$117 11.2%
Australia
$167 6.4% ↑ 42.3%$50
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suriname
$93 9%
Australia
$296 11.4% ↑ 217%$202
🚌Getting Around
Suriname
$44 4.3%
Australia
$116 4.5% ↑ 160%$71
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Suriname
$24 2.3%
Australia
$87 3.4% ↑ 263%$63
🛒Groceries & Markets
Suriname
$687 29%
Australia
$845 16.9% ↑ 23%$158
🏠Accommodation & Living
Suriname
$500 21.1%
Australia
$2K 40.2% ↑ 301%$1.5K
🍽Eating Out
Suriname
$645 27.2%
Australia
$1K 20.3% ↑ 57.2%$369
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Suriname
$260 11%
Australia
$370 7.4% ↑ 42.3%$110
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suriname
$119 5%
Australia
$325 6.5% ↑ 172%$206
🚌Getting Around
Suriname
$90 3.8%
Australia
$236 4.7% ↑ 163%$146
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Suriname
$69 2.9%
Australia
$193 3.9% ↑ 181%$124
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $494 in Suriname vs $1,381 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $494 in Paramaribo and $1,761 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $291 in Suriname vs $3,863 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 180% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 89% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 166% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are about 13 times higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 60% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia: a central one-bedroom averages $1,381 versus $494 in Suriname.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Suriname – part of why living there is about 60% cheaper overall.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Australia or in Suriname?
$2,000 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. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.