Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Cairns Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Cairns

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,759 per month in Sydney vs $2,317 in Cairns, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,168 per month in Sydney vs $3,472 in Cairns, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,578 per month in Sydney vs $4,627 in Cairns, rent included.

Sydney costs about 19% more than Cairns, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sydney and Cairns sit above the global median – Sydney by 106%, Cairns by 73%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.49 A$22.98

$11.59 A$16.15

42.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.9 A$110

$81.4 A$113

-3.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.93 A$13.84

$10.88 A$15.16

-8.73%

Cappuccino

$3.38 A$4.71

$3.75 A$5.23

-9.87%

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

$2.55 A$3.55

$2.84 A$3.96

-10.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 A$2.74

$2.30 A$3.21

-14.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.67 A$9.30

$6.43 A$8.96

3.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 A$10.24

$6.96 A$9.70

5.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 A$2.28

$1.74 A$2.42

-6.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 A$3.80

$2.44 A$3.40

11.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 A$3.17

$2.68 A$3.74

-14.93%

Eggs

$5.04 A$7.03

$4.00 A$5.58

26.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.92 A$12.43

$8.18 A$11.40

9.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 A$11.63

$9.26 A$12.90

-9.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.12 A$19.68

$12.76 A$17.78

10.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.51

$2.98 A$4.15

8.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.70 A$3.76

$2.23 A$3.10

21.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 A$4.36

$2.75 A$3.83

13.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 A$6.15

$7.39 A$10.30

-40.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 A$3.41

$2.23 A$3.11

9.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 A$3.25

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 A$3.08

$2.27 A$3.16

-2.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 A$1.74

$2.86 A$3.99

-56.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.36 A$45.10

$28.71 A$40.01

12.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.11 A$19.67

$11.50 A$16.02

22.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.66 A$6.49

$3.40 A$4.74

37.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 A$7.43

$3.49 A$4.86

52.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.28 A$4.57

$3.27 A$4.56

0.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$141 A$196

$64.9 A$90.5

116.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.99 A$5.56

$6.64 A$9.26

-39.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 A$4.08

$3.19 A$4.44

-8.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$52.5 A$73.1

$33.95 A$47.31

54.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 A$1.74

$1.10 A$1.53

13.64%

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

$29.4K A$41.0K

$22.8K A$31.8K

29.08%

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

$22.7K A$31.6K

$19.1K A$26.7K

18.32%

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

$204 A$284

$149 A$207

36.97%

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

$24.13 A$33.62

$37.35 A$52.1

-35.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 A$72.3

$58.6 A$81.6

-11.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 A$85.2

$38.65 A$53.9

58.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.84 A$29.04

$15.95 A$22.23

30.66%

Cinema Ticket

$15.71 A$21.90

$13.24 A$18.45

18.66%

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

$2,074 A$2,890

$1,636 A$2,280

26.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.9K A$26.4K

$11.9K A$16.6K

59.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.9 A$102

$83.6 A$116

-12.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.1 A$81.0

$66.6 A$92.8

-12.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 A$151

$101 A$141

6.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 A$186

$139 A$194

-4.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,194 A$3,057

$1,230 A$1,714

78.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,491 A$2,077

$1,111 A$1,548

34.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,416 A$6,154

$1,987 A$2,769

122.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,626 A$3,660

$1,866 A$2,601

40.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.4K A$18.6K

$6,707 A$9,347

99.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,589 A$10.6K

$5,132 A$7,151

47.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,193 A$5,843

$4,549 A$6,338

-7.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.34

6.96

-8.91%

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

Last update for Sydney: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cairns: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,194 in Sydney versus $1,230 in Cairns. 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 8% higher in Cairns, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Sydney versus $81.0 in Cairns. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $349 vs $356 – making Sydney 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

Sydney vs Cairns: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sydney costs about 19% more than Cairns, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,138 per month in Sydney and $3,476 in Cairns. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Sydney – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Sydney and $81.0 in Cairns. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cairns, where all-in costs run around $2,317, than in Sydney at $2,759. In Cairns it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cairns – 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 Cairns. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sydney makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.