😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,759 in Sydney versus $2,267 in Eden NSW.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,168 in Sydney versus $3,304 in Eden NSW.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,578 in Sydney versus $4,342 in Eden NSW.
😐Living in Sydney is roughly 22% more expensive than Eden NSW, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sydney106% above, Eden NSW69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sydney
Eden NSW
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.49A$22.98
$16.50A$22.99
-0.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.9A$110
$77.7A$108
1.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.93A$13.84
$9.80A$13.66
1.33%
Cappuccino
$3.38A$4.71
$3.49A$4.87
-3.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55A$3.55
$2.52A$3.51
1.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97A$2.74
$2.12A$2.96
-7.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.67A$9.30
$6.53A$9.10
2.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.35A$10.24
$6.97A$9.71
5.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sydney
Eden NSW
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63A$2.28
$1.44A$2.01
13.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72A$3.80
$2.45A$3.41
11.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.28A$3.17
$2.04A$2.84
11.76%
Eggs
$5.04A$7.03
$4.35A$6.06
15.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.92A$12.43
$8.38A$11.68
6.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34A$11.63
$8.27A$11.53
0.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.12A$19.68
$13.42A$18.70
5.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24A$4.51
$3.27A$4.56
-0.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.70A$3.76
$2.74A$3.81
-1.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.13A$4.36
$2.86A$3.99
9.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.41A$6.15
$4.13A$5.76
6.78%
Potato(1kg)
$2.44A$3.41
$2.47A$3.44
-1.21%
Onion(1kg)
$2.33A$3.25
$2.18A$3.04
6.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.21A$3.08
$2.17A$3.03
1.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25A$1.74
$1.59A$2.22
-21.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$32.36A$45.10
$31.11A$43.36
4.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.11A$19.67
$13.89A$19.35
1.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.66A$6.49
$4.52A$6.30
3.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33A$7.43
$5.26A$7.33
1.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Sydney
Eden NSW
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.28A$4.57
$2.59A$3.61
26.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$141A$196
$64.1A$89.3
119.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.99A$5.56
$3.69A$5.14
8.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.93A$4.08
$1.56A$2.17
87.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$52.5A$73.1
$33.67A$46.92
55.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25A$1.74
$1.19A$1.66
5.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4KA$41.0K
$29.1KA$40.5K
1.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7KA$31.6K
$22.7KA$31.7K
-0.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sydney
Eden NSW
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$204A$284
$180A$250
13.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.13A$33.62
$27.29A$38.03
-11.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.9A$72.3
$53.2A$74.1
-2.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sydney
Eden NSW
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.1A$85.2
$48.10A$67.0
27.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.84A$29.04
$15.94A$22.22
30.74%
Cinema Ticket
$15.71A$21.90
$12.83A$17.88
22.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sydney
Eden NSW
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,074A$2,890
$1,620A$2,257
28.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.9KA$26.4K
$12.0KA$16.7K
57.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sydney
Eden NSW
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.9A$102
$68.4A$95.4
6.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.1A$81.0
$49.66A$69.2
17.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108A$151
$97.9A$136
10.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133A$186
$107A$149
24.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sydney
Eden NSW
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,194A$3,057
$1,279A$1,783
71.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,491A$2,077
$1,059A$1,475
40.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,416A$6,154
$1,985A$2,765
122.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,626A$3,660
$1,687A$2,351
55.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.4KA$18.6K
$6,111A$8,516
118.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,589A$10.6K
$5,828A$8,121
30.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sydney
Eden NSW
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,193A$5,843
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
6.34
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sydney: May 31, 2026
Last update for Eden NSW: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,194 in Sydney and $1,279 in Eden NSW. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $79.0 in Sydney vs $78.0 in Eden NSW for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $349 vs $337 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
Is Eden NSW cheaper than Sydney?
Eden NSW is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,138 in Sydney and $3,400 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.
What is the rent difference between Sydney and Eden NSW?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,194 in Sydney versus $1,279 in Eden NSW. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Sydney or Eden NSW?
Dining out is cheaper in Eden NSW – a meal for two runs $78.0 versus $79.0 in Sydney. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Sydney vs Eden NSW?
All in, you'll spend $2,759 per month in Sydney versus $2,267 in Eden NSW – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Sydney or Eden NSW?
At $2,267 in Eden NSW versus $2,759 in Sydney, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Eden NSW but tight or insufficient in Sydney. The gap between the two cities makes Eden NSW the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Sydney or Eden NSW?
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.
Which city is safer, Sydney or Eden NSW?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Eden NSW gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Sydney. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.