Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Mandurah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Mandurah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,827 per month in Sydney vs $2,102 in Mandurah, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,192 per month in Sydney vs $3,115 in Mandurah, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,557 per month in Sydney vs $4,128 in Mandurah, rent included.

Sydney costs about 34% more than Mandurah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sydney and Mandurah sit above the global median – Sydney by 111%, Mandurah by 57%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.13 A$22.58

$16.12 A$22.57

0.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 A$110

$77.7 A$109

1.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 A$13.86

$10.32 A$14.45

-4.07%

Cappuccino

$3.26 A$4.57

$3.75 A$5.25

-13.07%

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

$2.55 A$3.58

$2.50 A$3.50

2.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 A$2.75

$1.93 A$2.70

1.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.32 A$8.85

$6.01 A$8.42

5.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.28 A$10.19

$6.52 A$9.13

11.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 A$2.27

$1.46 A$2.04

10.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 A$3.76

$2.19 A$3.07

22.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.32 A$3.25

$1.97 A$2.75

17.77%

Eggs

$4.97 A$6.96

$4.40 A$6.16

12.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.71 A$12.19

$8.69 A$12.16

0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 A$11.67

$8.52 A$11.93

-2.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.14 A$19.80

$12.88 A$18.03

9.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 A$4.63

$3.13 A$4.38

5.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 A$3.71

$2.98 A$4.17

-11.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.17 A$4.44

$2.97 A$4.16

6.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 A$6.01

$4.66 A$6.52

-7.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 A$3.58

$1.49 A$2.09

71.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 A$3.22

$0.82 A$1.14

180.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 A$3.00

$1.93 A$2.71

10.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 A$1.74

$1.45 A$2.03

-14.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.15 A$45.01

$31.85 A$44.60

0.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.16 A$19.82

$10.57 A$14.80

33.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.70 A$6.58

$3.95 A$5.53

18.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.29 A$7.41

$4.27 A$5.98

23.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.29 A$4.60

$3.33 A$4.66

-1.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$142 A$199

$84.8 A$119

67.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.92 A$5.48

$3.98 A$5.58

-1.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.87 A$4.02

$2.18 A$3.06

31.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$52.9 A$74.0

$49.99 A$70.0

5.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 A$1.73

$1.13 A$1.58

9.73%

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

$28.5K A$39.8K

$29.2K A$40.8K

-2.42%

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

$22.2K A$31.0K

$24.0K A$33.6K

-7.62%

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

$200 A$280

$158 A$221

26.45%

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

$23.54 A$32.95

$16.27 A$22.78

44.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.3 A$73.2

$54.5 A$76.3

-4.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.6 A$84.8

$31.79 A$44.51

90.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.94 A$29.31

$9.73 A$13.62

115.21%

Cinema Ticket

$15.77 A$22.07

$8.01 A$11.22

96.88%

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

$2,111 A$2,955

$1,804 A$2,525

17.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.5K A$26.0K

$12.0K A$16.8K

54.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.8 A$105

$70.3 A$98.4

6.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.4 A$80.4

$41.30 A$57.8

39.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 A$148

$103 A$144

2.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 A$183

$72.9 A$102

78.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,181 A$3,053

$1,299 A$1,819

67.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,480 A$2,072

$1,037 A$1,452

42.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,395 A$6,153

$2,309 A$3,233

90.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,682 A$3,755

$1,655 A$2,317

62.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.7K A$17.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,993 A$11.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,239 A$5,934

$4,276 A$5,987

-0.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.34

5.8

9.31%

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

Last update for Sydney: April 26, 2026

Last update for Mandurah: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,181 in Sydney versus $1,299 in Mandurah. 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 1% higher in Mandurah, 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 $78.0 in Mandurah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $347 vs $319 – making Mandurah 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 Mandurah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sydney costs about 34% more than Mandurah, 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 $4,240 per month in Sydney and $3,154 in Mandurah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $2,111 per month in Sydney and $1,804 in Mandurah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Sydney, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mandurah, where all-in costs run around $2,102, than in Sydney at $2,827. In Mandurah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mandurah – 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 Mandurah. 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.