Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Canberra Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Canberra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,352 per month in Sydney vs $2,980 in Canberra, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,870 per month in Sydney vs $4,172 in Canberra, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,389 per month in Sydney vs $5,364 in Canberra, rent included.

Sydney costs about 12% more than Canberra, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sydney and Canberra sit above the global median – Sydney by 143%, Canberra by 116%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.19 A$25.36

$20.20 A$28.16

-9.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.0 A$132

$94.6 A$132

0.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 A$17.24

$11.03 A$15.38

12.15%

Cappuccino

$4.07 A$5.67

$4.24 A$5.91

-4.01%

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

$2.82 A$3.93

$3.31 A$4.62

-14.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 A$3.08

$2.82 A$3.94

-21.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.13 A$11.33

$8.72 A$12.16

-6.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.38 A$10.29

$10.09 A$14.07

-26.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 A$2.58

$1.66 A$2.32

11.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 A$3.97

$3.46 A$4.83

-17.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 A$3.42

$2.64 A$3.69

-7.20%

Eggs

$5.67 A$7.90

$5.63 A$7.84

0.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 A$18.01

$14.40 A$20.08

-10.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.63 A$13.42

$11.15 A$15.55

-13.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.07 A$23.80

$16.29 A$22.72

4.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 A$5.29

$4.08 A$5.69

-6.86%

Banana (1kg)

$3.23 A$4.50

$3.25 A$4.53

-0.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.37 A$4.70

$3.70 A$5.15

-8.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 A$6.58

$5.10 A$7.11

-7.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 A$4.54

$3.18 A$4.43

2.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 A$3.57

$2.89 A$4.03

-11.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 A$3.46

$2.73 A$3.80

-9.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 A$1.84

$1.45 A$2.02

-8.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.98 A$65.5

$46.77 A$65.2

0.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.62 A$20.38

$15.02 A$20.94

-2.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.20 A$5.86

$4.80 A$6.69

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 A$5.65

$5.80 A$8.08

-30.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.21 A$4.48

$3.51 A$4.90

-8.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$157 A$219

$95.0 A$132

65.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 A$5.15

$4.12 A$5.75

-10.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 A$2.24

$1.63 A$2.27

-1.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.67 A$56.7

$44.00 A$61.4

-7.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 A$2.03

$1.31 A$1.83

11.45%

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

$30.6K A$42.7K

$28.1K A$39.2K

8.85%

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

$30.4K A$42.5K

$31.0K A$43.3K

-1.85%

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

$224 A$313

$189 A$264

18.67%

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

$27.89 A$38.88

$28.38 A$39.57

-1.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 A$82.9

$58.6 A$81.6

1.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.3 A$111

$89.6 A$125

-11.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.63 A$34.34

$28.52 A$39.77

-13.64%

Cinema Ticket

$18.37 A$25.62

$16.91 A$23.58

8.63%

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

$2,288 A$3,191

$2,492 A$3,475

-8.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.5K A$41.2K

$20.8K A$29.0K

41.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.3 A$116

$78.2 A$109

6.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.1 A$106

$57.9 A$80.7

31.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 A$156

$122 A$170

-8.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 A$190

$138 A$192

-1.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,637 A$3,676

$1,845 A$2,572

42.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,808 A$2,521

$1,576 A$2,197

14.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,114 A$7,129

$3,365 A$4,691

51.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,057 A$4,262

$2,122 A$2,958

44.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.6K A$18.9K

$11.5K A$16.1K

17.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,504 A$11.9K

$7,639 A$10.7K

11.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,239 A$5,911

$4,447 A$6,201

-4.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.84

5.95

-1.85%

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

Last update for Sydney: September 7, 2026

Last update for Canberra: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,637 in Sydney versus $1,845 in Canberra. 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 5% higher in Canberra, 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 $95.0 in Sydney versus $95.0 in Canberra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $422 – 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 Canberra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,352 in Sydney, $2,980 in Canberra – roughly 12% apart. Sydney costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,027 per month in Sydney and $4,470 in Canberra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,352 in Sydney and $2,980 in Canberra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 65% less in Canberra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,352 in Sydney and $2,980 in Canberra. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Canberra – 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 Canberra. 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.