Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Muswellbrook Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Muswellbrook

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,292 per month in Sydney vs $2,466 in Muswellbrook, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,899 per month in Sydney vs $3,648 in Muswellbrook, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,505 per month in Sydney vs $4,830 in Muswellbrook, rent included.

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

Both Sydney and Muswellbrook sit above the global median – Sydney by 141%, Muswellbrook by 80%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.90 A$25.24

$17.40 A$24.54

2.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$93.0 A$131

$86.4 A$122

7.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.06 A$17.01

$10.77 A$15.19

11.98%

Cappuccino

$3.96 A$5.58

$3.52 A$4.97

12.50%

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

$2.89 A$4.07

$2.89 A$4.08

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 A$3.19

$2.26 A$3.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 A$11.12

$6.99 A$9.86

12.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.25 A$10.22

$7.12 A$10.05

1.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 A$2.56

$1.21 A$1.71

49.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 A$3.89

$2.99 A$4.21

-8.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 A$3.41

$2.20 A$3.10

10.00%

Eggs

$5.82 A$8.20

$4.13 A$5.83

40.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.53 A$17.67

$10.61 A$14.96

18.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.88 A$13.93

$9.75 A$13.75

1.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.55 A$23.34

$16.16 A$22.80

2.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 A$5.13

$3.09 A$4.36

17.80%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 A$4.42

$2.50 A$3.52

25.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 A$4.82

$2.93 A$4.13

16.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 A$6.66

$4.79 A$6.75

-1.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 A$4.66

$2.45 A$3.46

34.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 A$3.52

$2.61 A$3.68

-4.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 A$3.35

$2.78 A$3.92

-14.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 A$1.76

$1.80 A$2.53

-30.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.38 A$65.4

$42.93 A$60.5

8.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.50 A$20.44

$14.35 A$20.24

1.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 A$6.04

$4.60 A$6.49

-6.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 A$5.67

$4.75 A$6.70

-15.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.34 A$4.71

$2.97 A$4.18

12.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$158 A$223

$93.0 A$131

70.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 A$4.90

$3.05 A$4.30

13.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 A$2.36

$1.76 A$2.48

-5.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.99 A$57.8

$38.13 A$53.8

7.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 A$2.03

$1.33 A$1.88

8.27%

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

$30.5K A$43.0K

$39.5K A$55.7K

-22.83%

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

$30.4K A$42.9K

$25.3K A$35.7K

20.10%

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

$229 A$323

$141 A$199

62.35%

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

$27.42 A$38.67

$28.80 A$40.62

-4.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 A$80.4

$50.7 A$71.4

12.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.3 A$113

$55.7 A$78.6

44.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.63 A$34.74

$19.57 A$27.60

25.86%

Cinema Ticket

$17.92 A$25.28

$13.60 A$19.19

31.76%

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

$2,317 A$3,267

$2,185 A$3,082

6.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.1K A$41.0K

$17.7K A$25.0K

64.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.5 A$113

$70.5 A$99.4

14.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.2 A$106

$63.5 A$89.6

18.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 A$156

$149 A$210

-25.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 A$190

$111 A$156

21.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,591 A$3,654

$1,266 A$1,786

104.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,897 A$2,675

$1,154 A$1,627

64.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,109 A$7,205

$2,252 A$3,176

126.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,134 A$4,420

$1,750 A$2,467

79.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.7K A$19.3K

$7,111 A$10.0K

92.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,458 A$11.9K

$4,360 A$6,149

93.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,204 A$5,928

$6,510 A$9,181

-35.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.87

5.23

12.24%

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

Last update for Sydney: September 12, 2026

Last update for Muswellbrook: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,591 in Sydney versus $1,266 in Muswellbrook. 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 55% higher in Muswellbrook, 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 $93.0 in Sydney versus $86.0 in Muswellbrook. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $387 vs $369 – making Muswellbrook 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 Muswellbrook: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,292 in Sydney, $2,466 in Muswellbrook – roughly 34% apart. Sydney costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,939 per month in Sydney and $3,699 in Muswellbrook. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,292 in Sydney and $2,466 in Muswellbrook. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 70% less in Muswellbrook. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Muswellbrook, where all-in costs run around $2,466, than in Sydney at $3,292. In Muswellbrook it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Muswellbrook – 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 Muswellbrook. 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.