Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Hobart Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Hobart

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,759 per month in Sydney vs $2,528 in Hobart, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,168 per month in Sydney vs $3,495 in Hobart, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,578 per month in Sydney vs $4,461 in Hobart, rent included.

Sydney costs about 9% more than Hobart, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sydney and Hobart sit above the global median – Sydney by 106%, Hobart by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.49 A$23.11

$16.48 A$23.10

0.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.9 A$110

$83.9 A$118

-6.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.93 A$13.92

$9.96 A$13.96

-0.30%

Cappuccino

$3.38 A$4.73

$3.60 A$5.05

-6.11%

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

$2.55 A$3.57

$2.73 A$3.82

-6.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 A$2.75

$1.79 A$2.51

10.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.67 A$9.35

$7.54 A$10.57

-11.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 A$10.29

$7.93 A$11.12

-7.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 A$2.29

$1.86 A$2.61

-12.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 A$3.82

$2.44 A$3.42

11.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 A$3.19

$1.70 A$2.38

34.12%

Eggs

$5.04 A$7.07

$5.18 A$7.25

-2.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.92 A$12.50

$10.82 A$15.15

-17.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 A$11.69

$8.74 A$12.25

-4.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.12 A$19.79

$16.34 A$22.90

-13.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.54

$3.04 A$4.25

6.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.70 A$3.78

$3.24 A$4.54

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 A$4.38

$3.38 A$4.73

-7.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 A$6.18

$4.53 A$6.35

-2.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 A$3.42

$2.92 A$4.08

-16.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 A$3.27

$2.24 A$3.14

4.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 A$3.10

$2.68 A$3.76

-17.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 A$1.75

$1.89 A$2.65

-33.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.36 A$45.35

$25.50 A$35.74

26.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.11 A$19.78

$14.67 A$20.56

-3.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.66 A$6.52

$5.19 A$7.27

-10.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 A$7.47

$5.43 A$7.61

-1.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.28 A$4.60

$3.46 A$4.84

-5.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$141 A$197

$67.9 A$95.1

107.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.99 A$5.59

$4.19 A$5.87

-4.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 A$4.11

$1.91 A$2.68

53.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$52.5 A$73.5

$29.04 A$40.69

80.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 A$1.75

$1.16 A$1.63

7.76%

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

$29.4K A$41.2K

$28.8K A$40.4K

2.20%

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

$22.7K A$31.7K

$27.5K A$38.5K

-17.53%

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

$204 A$286

$272 A$381

-25.00%

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

$24.13 A$33.81

$29.72 A$41.65

-18.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 A$72.7

$53.4 A$74.9

-2.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 A$85.6

$43.49 A$60.9

40.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.84 A$29.20

$12.13 A$16.99

71.81%

Cinema Ticket

$15.71 A$22.02

$16.07 A$22.52

-2.24%

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

$2,074 A$2,906

$1,659 A$2,325

24.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.9K A$26.5K

$28.5K A$39.9K

-33.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.9 A$102

$64.2 A$89.9

13.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.1 A$81.4

$54.3 A$76.1

6.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 A$151

$110 A$154

-1.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 A$187

$112 A$157

19.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,194 A$3,074

$1,607 A$2,251

36.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,491 A$2,089

$1,165 A$1,632

28.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,416 A$6,188

$2,196 A$3,078

101.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,626 A$3,680

$1,604 A$2,248

63.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.4K A$18.7K

$5,767 A$8,080

131.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,589 A$10.6K

$5,097 A$7,141

48.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,193 A$5,876

$4,274 A$5,989

-1.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.34

6.56

-3.35%

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

Last update for Sydney: May 31, 2026

Last update for Hobart: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,194 in Sydney versus $1,607 in Hobart. 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 Hobart, 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 $79.0 in Sydney versus $84.0 in Hobart. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $349 vs $379 – making Sydney 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 Hobart: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sydney costs about 9% more than Hobart, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,138 per month in Sydney and $3,792 in Hobart. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Sydney – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Sydney and $84.0 in Hobart. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,759 in Sydney and $2,528 in Hobart. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Hobart – 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 Hobart. 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.