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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $325 per month in Suriname vs $2,509 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $548 per month in Suriname vs $3,641 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $771 per month in Suriname vs $4,772 in Australia, rent included.

The cost of living in Suriname is roughly 87% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Suriname sits 76% below the global median, while Australia is 83% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.25 SRD 502
$18.16 A$25.50
-27.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.24 SRD 1,752
$85.9 A$121
-46.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.67 SRD 405
$10.87 A$15.26
-1.84%
Cappuccino
$2.84 SRD 108
$4.11 A$5.77
-30.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 SRD 56.3
$3.04 A$4.27
-51.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 SRD 33.15
$2.47 A$3.46
-64.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 SRD 92.3
$7.87 A$11.05
-69.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 SRD 145
$7.98 A$11.20
-52.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 SRD 69.4
$1.73 A$2.43
5.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 SRD 52.9
$2.78 A$3.90
-49.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.36 SRD 51.6
$2.38 A$3.34
-42.86%
Eggs
$2.93 SRD 111
$5.08 A$7.14
-42.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.88 SRD 412
$9.98 A$14.01
9.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.41 SRD 243
$9.24 A$12.97
-30.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 SRD 370
$15.49 A$21.75
-36.93%
Apples (1kg)
$4.83 SRD 183
$3.73 A$5.24
29.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 SRD 84.8
$3.02 A$4.24
-25.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.66 SRD 139
$3.23 A$4.54
13.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.83 SRD 221
$4.88 A$6.86
19.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 SRD 48.61
$2.87 A$4.04
-55.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.91 SRD 72.5
$2.36 A$3.32
-19.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 SRD 58.7
$2.49 A$3.49
-37.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 SRD 53.3
$1.68 A$2.35
-16.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85 SRD 222
$38.51 A$54.1
-84.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.04 SRD 305
$14.25 A$20.01
-43.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 SRD 78.6
$5.07 A$7.12
-59.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 SRD 143
$5.19 A$7.29
-27.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Suriname
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 SRD 22.92
$2.78 A$3.90
-78.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.8 SRD 3,479
$94.8 A$133
-3.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 SRD 112
$3.52 A$4.95
-16.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 SRD 77.2
$1.60 A$2.24
27.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.88 SRD 374
$40.42 A$56.8
-75.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 SRD 43.70
$1.27 A$1.79
-9.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K SRD 957.2K
$28.3K A$39.8K
-10.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K SRD 937.3K
$28.6K A$40.2K
-13.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.34 SRD 1,453
$202 A$283
-81.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.01 SRD 948
$29.08 A$40.84
-14.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.50 SRD 1,156
$59.6 A$83.7
-48.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.30 SRD 504
$59.3 A$83.2
-77.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.02 SRD 759
$20.13 A$28.26
-0.55%
Cinema Ticket
$5.03 SRD 191
$15.75 A$22.11
-68.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$63.3 SRD 2,400
$2,197 A$3,086
-97.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,733 SRD 65.7K
$18.2K A$25.6K
-90.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.59 SRD 1,425
$79.3 A$111
-52.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.48 SRD 1,004
$57.2 A$80.4
-53.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.1 SRD 2,733
$114 A$160
-36.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 SRD 3,980
$125 A$175
-15.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suriname
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$492 SRD 18.7K
$1,581 A$2,220
-68.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$264 SRD 9,996
$1,291 A$1,812
-79.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,157 SRD 43.8K
$2,530 A$3,553
-54.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$507 SRD 19.2K
$1,982 A$2,783
-74.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$469 SRD 17.8K
$8,571 A$12.0K
-94.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$407 SRD 15.4K
$6,120 A$8,593
-93.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$279 SRD 10.6K
$3,979 A$5,588
-92.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.25
5.93
174.03%

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

Last update for Suriname: September 15, 2026

Last update for Australia: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $120 in Suriname vs $1,387 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $481 in Paramaribo and $1,829 in Canberra.

Average salary: $290 in Suriname vs $3,903 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1056% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 282% more in Australia.

Public transport is 259% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 1246% 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 305% 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 305% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
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 – 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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