Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Mount Victoria Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Mount Victoria

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,292 in Sydney versus $2,656 in Mount Victoria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,899 in Sydney versus $3,830 in Mount Victoria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,505 in Sydney versus $5,004 in Mount Victoria.

Living in Sydney is roughly 24% more expensive than in Mount Victoria, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sydney 141% above, Mount Victoria 94% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.90 A$25.07

$19.98 A$27.98

-10.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$93.0 A$130

$90.9 A$127

2.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.06 A$16.89

$10.86 A$15.20

11.05%

Cappuccino

$3.96 A$5.54

$4.03 A$5.64

-1.74%

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

$2.89 A$4.05

$3.18 A$4.46

-9.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 A$3.17

$2.80 A$3.92

-19.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 A$11.04

$8.77 A$12.29

-10.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.25 A$10.15

$10.24 A$14.34

-29.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 A$2.54

$1.61 A$2.26

12.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 A$3.86

$3.28 A$4.60

-16.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 A$3.39

$2.63 A$3.68

-7.98%

Eggs

$5.82 A$8.14

$5.27 A$7.38

10.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.53 A$17.54

$14.23 A$19.93

-11.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.88 A$13.83

$11.00 A$15.41

-10.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.55 A$23.18

$16.50 A$23.11

0.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 A$5.09

$3.96 A$5.55

-8.08%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 A$4.39

$3.29 A$4.60

-4.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 A$4.79

$3.63 A$5.09

-5.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 A$6.62

$5.18 A$7.25

-8.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 A$4.63

$3.10 A$4.34

6.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 A$3.49

$2.77 A$3.88

-10.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 A$3.33

$2.69 A$3.77

-11.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 A$1.75

$1.43 A$2.00

-12.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.38 A$65.0

$44.83 A$62.8

3.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.50 A$20.30

$14.68 A$20.56

-1.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 A$6.00

$4.75 A$6.66

-9.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 A$5.63

$5.53 A$7.74

-27.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.34 A$4.68

$3.41 A$4.78

-2.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$158 A$222

$85.4 A$120

85.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 A$4.86

$4.10 A$5.74

-15.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 A$2.35

$1.61 A$2.25

3.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.99 A$57.4

$44.96 A$63.0

-8.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 A$2.02

$1.33 A$1.86

8.27%

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

$30.5K A$42.7K

$27.4K A$38.4K

11.18%

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

$30.4K A$42.6K

$30.8K A$43.1K

-1.22%

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

$229 A$321

$189 A$265

21.28%

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

$27.42 A$38.41

$27.92 A$39.11

-1.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 A$79.8

$56.2 A$78.7

1.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.3 A$112

$56.3 A$78.9

42.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.63 A$34.50

$17.78 A$24.90

38.53%

Cinema Ticket

$17.92 A$25.10

$17.10 A$23.95

4.80%

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

$2,317 A$3,244

$2,427 A$3,399

-4.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.1K A$40.7K

$20.6K A$28.9K

41.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.5 A$113

$79.7 A$112

0.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.2 A$105

$58.7 A$82.2

28.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 A$155

$124 A$173

-10.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 A$188

0.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,591 A$3,629

$1,530 A$2,143

69.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,897 A$2,657

$1,387 A$1,942

36.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,109 A$7,155

$2,041 A$2,858

150.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,134 A$4,389

$1,659 A$2,324

88.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.7K A$19.2K

$6,072 A$8,504

125.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,458 A$11.8K

$5,073 A$7,104

66.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,204 A$5,887

$4,234 A$5,930

-0.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.87

5.95

-1.34%

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

Last update for Sydney: September 12, 2026

Last update for Mount Victoria: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,591 in Sydney and $1,530 in Mount Victoria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mount Victoria pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $93.0 in Sydney vs $91.0 in Mount Victoria. Groceries flip the comparison at $387 vs $415, with Sydney cheaper for home cooking.

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 Mount Victoria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mount Victoria is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Mount Victoria. 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: $2,591 in Sydney versus $1,530 in Mount Victoria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,292 per month in Sydney versus $2,656 in Mount Victoria – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mount Victoria runs roughly 85% 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 $2,500. Mount Victoria 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 Mount Victoria 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 Mount Victoria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Sydney. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.