Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Eden NSW Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Eden NSW

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,352 in Sydney versus $2,651 in Eden NSW.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,870 in Sydney versus $3,773 in Eden NSW.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,389 in Sydney versus $4,896 in Eden NSW.

Living in Sydney is roughly 26% more expensive than in Eden NSW, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sydney 143% above, Eden NSW 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.19 A$25.42

$17.61 A$24.61

3.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.0 A$133

$86.8 A$121

9.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 A$17.29

$10.70 A$14.95

15.61%

Cappuccino

$4.07 A$5.68

$4.12 A$5.75

-1.21%

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

$2.82 A$3.94

$2.94 A$4.10

-4.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 A$3.08

$2.27 A$3.18

-2.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.13 A$11.36

$8.07 A$11.28

0.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.38 A$10.32

$7.62 A$10.65

-3.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 A$2.59

$1.65 A$2.30

12.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 A$3.99

$2.82 A$3.94

1.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 A$3.42

$2.24 A$3.13

9.37%

Eggs

$5.67 A$7.92

$5.18 A$7.24

9.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 A$18.05

$9.39 A$13.12

37.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.63 A$13.46

$9.71 A$13.57

-0.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.07 A$23.86

$15.17 A$21.20

12.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 A$5.31

$3.74 A$5.23

1.60%

Banana (1kg)

$3.23 A$4.51

$3.05 A$4.26

5.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.37 A$4.71

$3.46 A$4.83

-2.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 A$6.59

$4.74 A$6.62

-0.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 A$4.55

$2.76 A$3.86

17.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 A$3.58

$2.41 A$3.37

6.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 A$3.47

$2.48 A$3.46

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 A$1.85

$1.67 A$2.34

-20.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.98 A$65.7

$39.48 A$55.2

19.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.62 A$20.43

$14.25 A$19.92

2.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.20 A$5.87

$4.97 A$6.95

-15.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 A$5.67

$5.53 A$7.72

-26.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.21 A$4.49

$3.10 A$4.33

3.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$157 A$219

$86.6 A$121

81.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 A$5.16

$3.58 A$5.00

3.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 A$2.25

$1.62 A$2.27

-0.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.67 A$56.8

$41.39 A$57.9

-1.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 A$2.04

$1.27 A$1.77

14.96%

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

$30.6K A$42.8K

$28.3K A$39.5K

8.30%

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

$30.4K A$42.6K

$31.2K A$43.6K

-2.49%

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

$224 A$314

$218 A$305

2.99%

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

$27.89 A$38.98

$28.28 A$39.53

-1.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 A$83.1

$57.5 A$80.3

3.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.3 A$111

$56.8 A$79.4

39.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.63 A$34.42

$18.27 A$25.54

34.81%

Cinema Ticket

$18.37 A$25.68

$16.00 A$22.37

14.81%

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

$2,288 A$3,199

$2,168 A$3,030

5.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.5K A$41.3K

$21.2K A$29.7K

38.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.3 A$116

$78.6 A$110

5.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.1 A$106

$56.9 A$79.6

33.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 A$156

-0.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 A$190

$125 A$174

9.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,637 A$3,686

$1,452 A$2,029

81.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,808 A$2,528

$1,310 A$1,831

38.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,114 A$7,148

$2,323 A$3,246

120.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,057 A$4,273

$1,894 A$2,647

61.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.6K A$19.0K

$6,554 A$9,161

107.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,504 A$11.9K

$5,140 A$7,185

65.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,239 A$5,926

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 Eden NSW: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,637 in Sydney and $1,452 in Eden NSW. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $95.0 in Sydney vs $87.0 in Eden NSW for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $379 per month, with Eden NSW cheaper across the board.

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 Eden NSW: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Eden NSW is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,027 in Sydney and $3,976 in Eden NSW to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,637 in Sydney versus $1,452 in Eden NSW. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Eden NSW – a meal for two runs $87.0 versus $95.0 in Sydney. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,352 per month in Sydney versus $2,651 in Eden NSW – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Eden NSW is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Sydney and Eden NSW are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Eden NSW gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Sydney. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.