Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Margaret River Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Margaret River

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,824 per month in Sydney vs $2,248 in Margaret River, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,241 per month in Sydney vs $3,269 in Margaret River, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,658 per month in Sydney vs $4,291 in Margaret River, rent included.

Sydney costs about 26% more than Margaret River, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sydney and Margaret River sit above the global median – Sydney by 111%, Margaret River by 68%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.22 A$23.24

$16.27 A$23.31

-0.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.3 A$114

$78.0 A$112

1.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.59 A$13.74

$10.61 A$15.20

-9.61%

Cappuccino

$3.29 A$4.72

$3.59 A$5.15

-8.36%

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

$2.46 A$3.53

$2.59 A$3.70

-5.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 A$2.82

$1.98 A$2.83

-0.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.63 A$9.50

$7.99 A$11.45

-17.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.12 A$10.21

$6.67 A$9.56

6.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 A$2.36

$1.46 A$2.09

13.01%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 A$3.82

$2.43 A$3.48

9.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 A$3.35

$1.94 A$2.77

20.62%

Eggs

$5.03 A$7.21

$4.60 A$6.59

9.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 A$12.31

$8.47 A$12.13

1.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 A$11.99

$8.60 A$12.32

-2.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.03 A$20.10

$13.72 A$19.66

2.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 A$4.63

$3.47 A$4.98

-6.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.75 A$3.94

$2.89 A$4.14

-4.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.18 A$4.56

$2.93 A$4.19

8.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 A$6.25

$4.58 A$6.56

-4.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 A$3.51

$2.53 A$3.62

-3.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 A$3.38

$1.72 A$2.47

37.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 A$3.10

$1.94 A$2.78

11.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 A$1.84

$1.47 A$2.10

-12.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.49 A$46.55

$32.14 A$46.05

1.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.96 A$20.00

$13.03 A$18.67

7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.62 A$6.62

$3.87 A$5.55

19.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.30 A$7.60

$4.27 A$6.12

24.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.18 A$4.56

$2.63 A$3.77

20.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$143 A$205

$65.2 A$93.3

119.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 A$5.48

$4.02 A$5.76

-4.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.03 A$4.35

$2.20 A$3.15

37.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$52.3 A$75.0

$49.31 A$70.6

6.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 A$1.71

$1.15 A$1.65

4.35%

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

$28.4K A$40.7K

$28.5K A$40.8K

-0.35%

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

$22.4K A$32.1K

$24.1K A$34.6K

-7.20%

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

$198 A$284

$156 A$223

27.44%

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

$24.17 A$34.62

$27.67 A$39.64

-12.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.8 A$74.2

$55.1 A$78.9

-5.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.4 A$86.5

$47.85 A$68.6

26.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.22 A$30.40

$15.65 A$22.43

35.59%

Cinema Ticket

$15.72 A$22.52

$16.11 A$23.08

-2.42%

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

$2,085 A$2,988

$1,820 A$2,608

14.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K A$27.0K

$12.2K A$17.5K

54.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.1 A$108

$69.1 A$99.0

8.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.3 A$85.0

$47.71 A$68.4

24.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 A$152

$102 A$146

4.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 A$188

$104 A$149

26.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,182 A$3,126

$1,282 A$1,837

70.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,506 A$2,157

$1,065 A$1,526

41.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,461 A$6,391

$2,025 A$2,902

120.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 A$3,865

$1,660 A$2,379

62.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.8K A$18.4K

$6,829 A$9,784

87.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,341 A$10.5K

$4,784 A$6,854

53.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,217 A$6,042

$2,902 A$4,158

45.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.34

6.42

-1.25%

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

Last update for Sydney: July 13, 2026

Last update for Margaret River: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,182 in Sydney versus $1,282 in Margaret River. 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 45% 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 $79.0 in Sydney versus $78.0 in Margaret River. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $347 vs $334 – making Margaret River 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 Margaret River: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sydney is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,235 per month in Sydney and $3,372 in Margaret River. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Sydney and $78.0 in Margaret River. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,824 in Sydney and $2,248 in Margaret River. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Margaret River, where all-in costs run around $2,248, than in Sydney at $2,824. In Margaret River it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Margaret River – 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 Margaret River. 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.