Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Dandenong Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Dandenong

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,352 per month in Sydney vs $2,564 in Dandenong, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,870 per month in Sydney vs $3,496 in Dandenong, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,389 per month in Sydney vs $4,428 in Dandenong, rent included.

Sydney costs about 31% more than Dandenong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sydney and Dandenong sit above the global median – Sydney by 143%, Dandenong by 86%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.19 A$25.36

$17.61 A$24.55

3.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.0 A$132

$53.2 A$74.2

78.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 A$17.24

$12.37 A$17.25

Cappuccino

$4.07 A$5.67

$4.02 A$5.60

1.24%

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

$2.82 A$3.93

$2.30 A$3.21

22.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 A$3.08

$2.37 A$3.31

-6.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.13 A$11.33

$5.84 A$8.15

39.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.38 A$10.29

$3.57 A$4.98

106.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 A$2.58

$1.63 A$2.27

13.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 A$3.97

$2.56 A$3.57

11.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 A$3.42

$2.44 A$3.41

0.41%

Eggs

$5.67 A$7.90

$5.69 A$7.93

-0.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 A$18.01

$8.44 A$11.77

53.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.63 A$13.42

$8.02 A$11.19

20.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.07 A$23.80

$12.15 A$16.94

40.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 A$5.29

$3.54 A$4.94

7.34%

Banana (1kg)

$3.23 A$4.50

$2.83 A$3.95

14.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.37 A$4.70

$2.12 A$2.95

58.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 A$6.58

$2.10 A$2.92

124.76%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 A$4.54

$2.20 A$3.07

47.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 A$3.57

$2.64 A$3.68

-3.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 A$3.46

$0.69 A$0.97

259.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 A$1.84

$1.61 A$2.25

-18.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.98 A$65.5

$45.37 A$63.3

3.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.62 A$20.38

$10.92 A$15.22

33.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.20 A$5.86

$5.51 A$7.69

-23.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 A$5.65

$3.60 A$5.02

12.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.21 A$4.48

$5.24 A$7.31

-38.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$157 A$219

$85.4 A$119

83.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 A$5.15

$4.33 A$6.04

-14.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 A$2.24

$1.44 A$2.01

11.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.67 A$56.7

$30.78 A$42.91

32.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 A$2.03

$1.45 A$2.03

0.69%

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

$30.6K A$42.7K

$29.6K A$41.3K

3.40%

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

$30.4K A$42.5K

$24.9K A$34.6K

22.52%

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

$224 A$313

$243 A$338

-7.58%

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

$27.89 A$38.88

$15.82 A$22.06

76.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 A$82.9

$42.45 A$59.2

40.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.3 A$111

$57.6 A$80.3

37.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.63 A$34.34

$18.13 A$25.28

35.85%

Cinema Ticket

$18.37 A$25.62

$18.08 A$25.21

1.60%

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

$2,288 A$3,191

$2,405 A$3,353

-4.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.5K A$41.2K

$32.8K A$45.8K

-10.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.3 A$116

$32.90 A$45.87

153.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.1 A$106

$17.62 A$24.56

331.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 A$156

$107 A$150

4.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 A$190

$114 A$159

19.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,637 A$3,676

$1,473 A$2,054

78.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,808 A$2,521

$1,280 A$1,784

41.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,114 A$7,129

$2,297 A$3,203

122.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,057 A$4,262

$1,885 A$2,628

62.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.6K A$18.9K

$6,607 A$9,212

105.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,504 A$11.9K

$5,237 A$7,301

62.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,239 A$5,911

$4,313 A$6,013

-1.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.84

5.85

-0.17%

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

Last update for Sydney: September 7, 2026

Last update for Dandenong: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,637 in Sydney versus $1,473 in Dandenong. 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 2% higher in Dandenong, 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 $53.0 in Dandenong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $321 – making Dandenong 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 Dandenong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sydney is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,027 per month in Sydney and $3,846 in Dandenong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 22% more in Sydney, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Sydney and $53.0 in Dandenong. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Dandenong, where all-in costs run around $2,564, than in Sydney at $3,352. In Dandenong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dandenong – 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 Dandenong. 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.