Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Gladstone Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Gladstone

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,352 in Sydney versus $2,653 in Gladstone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,870 in Sydney versus $3,588 in Gladstone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,389 in Sydney versus $4,524 in Gladstone.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.19 A$25.36

$17.58 A$24.51

3.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.0 A$132

$83.9 A$117

13.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 A$17.24

$12.43 A$17.32

-0.48%

Cappuccino

$4.07 A$5.67

$4.37 A$6.09

-6.86%

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

$2.82 A$3.93

$3.26 A$4.54

-13.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 A$3.08

$2.90 A$4.04

-23.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.13 A$11.33

$7.74 A$10.80

5.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.38 A$10.29

$9.58 A$13.35

-22.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 A$2.58

$1.65 A$2.31

12.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 A$3.97

$2.68 A$3.74

6.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 A$3.42

$2.35 A$3.28

4.26%

Eggs

$5.67 A$7.90

$5.12 A$7.14

10.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 A$18.01

$9.63 A$13.43

34.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.63 A$13.42

$9.60 A$13.39

0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.07 A$23.80

$15.38 A$21.45

10.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 A$5.29

$3.61 A$5.03

5.26%

Banana (1kg)

$3.23 A$4.50

$3.19 A$4.44

1.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.37 A$4.70

$3.48 A$4.85

-3.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 A$6.58

$4.68 A$6.53

0.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 A$4.54

$2.65 A$3.69

22.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 A$3.57

$2.41 A$3.36

6.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 A$3.46

$2.50 A$3.49

-0.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 A$1.84

$1.69 A$2.36

-21.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.98 A$65.5

$40.00 A$55.8

17.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.62 A$20.38

$14.51 A$20.22

0.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.20 A$5.86

$5.17 A$7.21

-18.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 A$5.65

$5.50 A$7.67

-26.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.21 A$4.48

$3.05 A$4.26

5.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$157 A$219

$87.4 A$122

79.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 A$5.15

$3.63 A$5.07

1.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 A$2.24

$1.67 A$2.33

-3.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.67 A$56.7

$41.67 A$58.1

-2.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 A$2.03

$1.25 A$1.74

16.80%

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

$30.6K A$42.7K

$27.8K A$38.8K

10.13%

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

$30.4K A$42.5K

$30.4K A$42.4K

0.20%

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

$224 A$313

$214 A$298

4.95%

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

$27.89 A$38.88

$28.96 A$40.38

-3.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 A$82.9

$55.0 A$76.7

8.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.3 A$111

$56.8 A$79.1

39.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.63 A$34.34

$18.61 A$25.94

32.35%

Cinema Ticket

$18.37 A$25.62

$14.22 A$19.83

29.18%

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

$2,288 A$3,191

$2,203 A$3,072

3.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.5K A$41.2K

$20.7K A$28.8K

42.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.3 A$116

$78.7 A$110

5.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.1 A$106

$55.3 A$77.0

37.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 A$156

$111 A$155

0.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 A$190

$125 A$174

8.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,637 A$3,676

$1,490 A$2,077

77.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,808 A$2,521

$1,311 A$1,828

37.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,114 A$7,129

$1,390 A$1,938

267.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,057 A$4,262

$1,524 A$2,125

100.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.6K A$18.9K

$6,699 A$9,340

102.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,504 A$11.9K

$5,243 A$7,310

62.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,239 A$5,911

$5,751 A$8,018

-26.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.84

5.25

11.24%

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

Last update for Sydney: September 7, 2026

Last update for Gladstone: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,637 in Sydney and $1,490 in Gladstone. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gladstone pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $95.0 in Sydney vs $84.0 in Gladstone for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $380 per month, with Gladstone 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 Gladstone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gladstone wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Sydney. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gladstone the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 36% lower in Gladstone. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,637 in Sydney versus $1,490 in Gladstone. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,352 per month in Sydney versus $2,653 in Gladstone – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Gladstone runs roughly 80% less than in Sydney. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Gladstone 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 Gladstone 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 Gladstone 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.