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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $299 per month in Suriname vs $2,184 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $532 per month in Suriname vs $3,217 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $765 per month in Suriname vs $4,249 in Australia, rent included.

Suriname is roughly 86% cheaper than Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Suriname sits 78% below the global median, while Australia is 63% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.14 SRD 269
$16.24 A$22.57
-56.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.56 SRD 1,639
$77.1 A$107
-43.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.25 SRD 385
$9.81 A$13.64
4.49%
Cappuccino
$2.77 SRD 104
$3.58 A$4.97
-22.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 SRD 46.87
$2.57 A$3.57
-51.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 SRD 24.02
$2.18 A$3.03
-70.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.90 SRD 109
$6.63 A$9.22
-56.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 SRD 150
$7.12 A$9.90
-44.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 SRD 64.7
$1.50 A$2.09
14.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 SRD 46.20
$2.53 A$3.51
-51.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 SRD 54.8
$2.07 A$2.88
-29.47%
Eggs
$3.34 SRD 126
$4.29 A$5.96
-22.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.48 SRD 470
$8.65 A$12.02
44.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.40 SRD 203
$8.34 A$11.60
-35.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.35 SRD 389
$13.90 A$19.33
-25.54%
Apples (1kg)
$4.31 SRD 162
$3.30 A$4.58
30.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.92 SRD 72.1
$2.77 A$3.85
-30.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.27 SRD 123
$2.95 A$4.10
10.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.44 SRD 205
$4.19 A$5.83
29.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 SRD 50.8
$2.42 A$3.36
-44.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 SRD 71.6
$2.10 A$2.92
-9.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 SRD 72.3
$2.26 A$3.14
-15.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 SRD 55.3
$1.50 A$2.09
-2.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.63 SRD 212
$31.58 A$43.90
-82.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.59 SRD 323
$14.29 A$19.86
-39.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 SRD 80.8
$4.59 A$6.38
-53.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 SRD 125
$4.82 A$6.70
-31.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Suriname
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.45 SRD 16.90
$3.02 A$4.19
-85.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.6 SRD 3,448
$98.3 A$137
-6.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 SRD 111
$3.48 A$4.84
-15.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.56 SRD 96.4
$1.75 A$2.43
46.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.14 SRD 381
$37.97 A$52.8
-73.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 SRD 41.02
$1.21 A$1.68
-9.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K SRD 954.5K
$29.0K A$40.4K
-12.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K SRD 922.6K
$22.6K A$31.4K
8.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.62 SRD 1,453
$177 A$247
-78.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.01 SRD 978
$26.85 A$37.32
-3.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.78 SRD 1,083
$52.4 A$72.9
-45.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.70 SRD 478
$47.57 A$66.1
-73.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.09 SRD 756
$16.46 A$22.88
22.05%
Cinema Ticket
$4.75 SRD 179
$13.73 A$19.09
-65.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$62.5 SRD 2,350
$1,593 A$2,215
-96.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,953 SRD 73.5K
$12.7K A$17.7K
-84.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.81 SRD 1,347
$72.0 A$100
-50.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.94 SRD 1,089
$51.3 A$71.3
-43.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.4 SRD 2,798
$103 A$143
-27.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 SRD 4,171
$108 A$151
2.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suriname
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$511 SRD 19.2K
$1,401 A$1,947
-63.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$220 SRD 8,288
$1,080 A$1,501
-79.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,057 SRD 39.8K
$2,340 A$3,253
-54.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$577 SRD 21.7K
$1,756 A$2,441
-67.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$493 SRD 18.6K
$7,733 A$10.7K
-93.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$425 SRD 16.0K
$5,563 A$7,733
-92.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suriname
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$284 SRD 10.7K
$4,000 A$5,560
-92.91%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Australia: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $125 in Suriname vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $500 in Paramaribo and $1,529 in Canberra.

Average salary: $289 in Suriname vs $3,878 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 886% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 285% more in Australia.

Public transport is 191% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 1242% higher in Australia, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.

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 343% 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 343% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget in Australia or 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 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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