Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Parramatta Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Parramatta

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,759 in Sydney versus $2,284 in Parramatta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,168 in Sydney versus $3,357 in Parramatta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,578 in Sydney versus $4,431 in Parramatta.

Living in Sydney is roughly 21% more expensive than Parramatta, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sydney 106% above, Parramatta 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.49 A$22.98

$16.58 A$23.10

-0.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.9 A$110

$79.5 A$111

-0.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.93 A$13.84

$9.59 A$13.37

3.55%

Cappuccino

$3.38 A$4.71

$3.35 A$4.67

0.90%

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

$2.55 A$3.55

$2.64 A$3.69

-3.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 A$2.74

$2.24 A$3.13

-12.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.67 A$9.30

$6.56 A$9.15

1.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 A$10.24

$7.20 A$10.03

2.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 A$2.28

$1.50 A$2.10

8.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 A$3.80

$2.65 A$3.70

2.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 A$3.17

$1.77 A$2.46

28.81%

Eggs

$5.04 A$7.03

$4.06 A$5.66

24.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.92 A$12.43

$9.01 A$12.55

-1.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 A$11.63

$8.17 A$11.38

2.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.12 A$19.68

$14.33 A$19.97

-1.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.51

$3.32 A$4.63

-2.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.70 A$3.76

$2.68 A$3.73

0.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 A$4.36

$3.10 A$4.32

0.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 A$6.15

$4.62 A$6.43

-4.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 A$3.41

$2.31 A$3.22

5.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 A$3.25

$2.10 A$2.93

10.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 A$3.08

$2.35 A$3.28

-5.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 A$1.74

$1.27 A$1.78

-1.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.36 A$45.10

$30.30 A$42.22

6.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.11 A$19.67

$14.09 A$19.63

0.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.66 A$6.49

$4.86 A$6.77

-4.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 A$7.43

$5.28 A$7.35

0.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.28 A$4.57

$2.64 A$3.68

24.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$141 A$196

$64.7 A$90.2

117.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.99 A$5.56

$4.00 A$5.58

-0.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 A$4.08

$1.59 A$2.22

84.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$52.5 A$73.1

$40.50 A$56.4

29.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 A$1.74

$1.19 A$1.66

5.04%

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

$29.4K A$41.0K

$28.3K A$39.5K

3.94%

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

$22.7K A$31.6K

-0.26%

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

$204 A$284

$223 A$310

-8.50%

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

$24.13 A$33.62

$29.12 A$40.57

-17.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 A$72.3

$52.1 A$72.6

-0.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 A$85.2

$49.35 A$68.8

23.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.84 A$29.04

$16.01 A$22.30

30.17%

Cinema Ticket

$15.71 A$21.90

$14.08 A$19.62

11.58%

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

$2,074 A$2,890

$1,747 A$2,434

18.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.9K A$26.4K

$13.5K A$18.8K

39.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.9 A$102

$73.0 A$102

-0.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.1 A$81.0

$57.3 A$79.9

1.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 A$151

$97.9 A$136

10.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 A$186

$117 A$163

14.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,194 A$3,057

$1,284 A$1,790

70.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,491 A$2,077

$1,080 A$1,506

37.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,416 A$6,154

$1,998 A$2,784

121.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,626 A$3,660

$1,706 A$2,377

53.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.4K A$18.6K

$6,189 A$8,625

116.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,589 A$10.6K

$5,227 A$7,284

45.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,193 A$5,843

$4,210 A$5,866

-0.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.34

6.29

0.79%

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

Last update for Sydney: May 31, 2026

Last update for Parramatta: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,194 in Sydney and $1,284 in Parramatta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Parramatta pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $79.0 in Sydney vs $79.0 in Parramatta. Groceries flip the comparison at $349 vs $343, with Parramatta 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 Parramatta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Parramatta is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Parramatta earns 0% less. 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: $2,194 in Sydney versus $1,284 in Parramatta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,759 per month in Sydney versus $2,284 in Parramatta – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Parramatta runs roughly 118% less than in Sydney. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,284 in Parramatta versus $2,759 in Sydney, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Parramatta but tight or insufficient in Sydney. The gap between the two cities makes Parramatta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Parramatta 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 Parramatta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Sydney. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.