Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Hervey Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Hervey Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,352 per month in Sydney vs $2,500 in Hervey Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,870 per month in Sydney vs $3,619 in Hervey Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,389 per month in Sydney vs $4,738 in Hervey Bay, rent included.

Sydney costs about 34% more than Hervey Bay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sydney and Hervey Bay sit above the global median – Sydney by 143%, Hervey Bay by 81%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.19 A$25.36

$18.28 A$25.49

-0.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.0 A$132

$83.9 A$117

13.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 A$17.24

$10.93 A$15.25

13.17%

Cappuccino

$4.07 A$5.67

$3.91 A$5.45

4.09%

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

$2.82 A$3.93

$3.05 A$4.25

-7.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 A$3.08

$2.29 A$3.19

-3.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.13 A$11.33

$6.30 A$8.78

29.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.38 A$10.29

$8.82 A$12.30

-16.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 A$2.58

$1.76 A$2.45

5.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 A$3.97

$2.82 A$3.93

1.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 A$3.42

$2.35 A$3.27

4.26%

Eggs

$5.67 A$7.90

$5.08 A$7.08

11.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 A$18.01

$9.31 A$12.97

38.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.63 A$13.42

$9.50 A$13.24

1.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.07 A$23.80

$14.22 A$19.82

20.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 A$5.29

$4.28 A$5.96

-11.21%

Banana (1kg)

$3.23 A$4.50

$3.02 A$4.21

6.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.37 A$4.70

$2.95 A$4.12

14.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 A$6.58

$5.00 A$6.97

-5.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 A$4.54

$2.90 A$4.05

12.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 A$3.57

$2.45 A$3.41

4.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 A$3.46

$2.46 A$3.43

0.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 A$1.84

$1.31 A$1.83

0.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.98 A$65.5

$40.44 A$56.4

16.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.62 A$20.38

$13.12 A$18.29

11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.20 A$5.86

$5.40 A$7.53

-22.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 A$5.65

$5.22 A$7.28

-22.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.21 A$4.48

$3.04 A$4.24

5.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$157 A$219

$97.8 A$136

60.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 A$5.15

$3.01 A$4.20

22.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 A$2.24

$1.86 A$2.59

-13.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.67 A$56.7

$43.21 A$60.2

-5.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 A$2.03

$1.39 A$1.94

5.04%

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

$30.6K A$42.7K

$28.1K A$39.1K

9.17%

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

$30.4K A$42.5K

$29.5K A$41.1K

3.30%

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

$224 A$313

$171 A$238

31.59%

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

$27.89 A$38.88

$28.57 A$39.83

-2.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 A$82.9

$63.1 A$88.0

-5.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.3 A$111

$50.2 A$69.9

58.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.63 A$34.34

$21.09 A$29.41

16.79%

Cinema Ticket

$18.37 A$25.62

$16.62 A$23.16

10.53%

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

$2,288 A$3,191

$2,180 A$3,040

4.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.5K A$41.2K

$12.8K A$17.8K

130.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.3 A$116

$64.1 A$89.3

30.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.1 A$106

$44.36 A$61.9

71.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 A$156

$64.2 A$89.5

74.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 A$190

$63.9 A$89.1

113.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,637 A$3,676

$1,457 A$2,032

80.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,808 A$2,521

$1,283 A$1,788

40.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,114 A$7,129

$2,337 A$3,258

118.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,057 A$4,262

$1,866 A$2,601

63.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.6K A$18.9K

$5,920 A$8,253

129.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,504 A$11.9K

$4,634 A$6,460

83.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,239 A$5,911

$2,943 A$4,104

44.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.84

5.87

-0.51%

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

Last update for Sydney: September 7, 2026

Last update for Hervey Bay: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,637 in Sydney versus $1,457 in Hervey Bay. 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 44% higher in Sydney, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Sydney versus $84.0 in Hervey Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $373 – making Hervey Bay 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 Hervey Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sydney is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $3,750 in Hervey Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $2,288 per month in Sydney and $2,180 in Hervey Bay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Sydney, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,352 in Sydney and $2,500 in Hervey Bay. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Hervey Bay – 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 Hervey Bay. 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.