Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Penshurst, NSW

For one person, living is cheaper in Penshurst, NSW: $2,478 a month against $3,245 in Sydney, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sydney
🇦🇺 Australia
$3,245
/mo nomad
Penshurst, NSW
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,478
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sydney and in Penshurst, NSW

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sydney and in Penshurst, NSW actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,245 in Sydney versus $2,478 in Penshurst, NSW.

  • Sydney $3,245
  • Penshurst, NSW $2,478

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,803 in Sydney versus $3,587 in Penshurst, NSW.

  • Sydney $4,803
  • Penshurst, NSW $3,587

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,362 in Sydney versus $4,696 in Penshurst, NSW.

  • Sydney $6,362
  • Penshurst, NSW $4,696

Living in Sydney is roughly 31% more expensive than in Penshurst, NSW, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sydney 139% above, Penshurst, NSW 83% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sydney
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.41 A$25.05
$17.72 A$25.50
-1.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.3 A$130
$84.1 A$121
7.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.92 A$17.15
$10.31 A$14.84
15.62%
Cappuccino
$4.03 A$5.80
$4.08 A$5.87
-1.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 A$4.15
$2.89 A$4.16
-0.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 A$3.20
$2.24 A$3.22
-0.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.89 A$11.36
$7.80 A$11.23
1.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.78 A$9.76
$7.43 A$10.70
-8.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sydney
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 A$2.45
$1.56 A$2.25
9.62%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 A$4.23
$2.63 A$3.79
11.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 A$3.61
$2.22 A$3.19
13.06%
Eggs
$5.55 A$7.99
$4.96 A$7.14
11.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.77 A$16.94
$9.02 A$12.99
30.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.28 A$13.35
$9.17 A$13.20
1.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.70 A$24.03
$14.85 A$21.37
12.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.92 A$5.64
$3.85 A$5.53
1.82%
Banana (1kg)
$3.16 A$4.55
$2.98 A$4.29
6.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.48 A$5.00
$3.27 A$4.71
6.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.38 A$6.31
$4.53 A$6.52
-3.31%
Potato (1kg)
$3.33 A$4.79
$2.73 A$3.93
21.98%
Onion (1kg)
$2.40 A$3.46
$2.40 A$3.46
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 A$3.32
$2.36 A$3.39
-2.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 A$1.65
$1.55 A$2.22
-25.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$44.34 A$63.8
$41.48 A$59.7
6.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.71 A$19.72
$14.09 A$20.28
-2.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.00 A$5.75
$4.78 A$6.87
-16.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 A$5.80
$5.13 A$7.38
-21.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Sydney
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.22 A$4.63
$2.82 A$4.06
14.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$154 A$222
$81.9 A$118
88.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 A$5.14
$3.42 A$4.92
4.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 A$2.27
$1.58 A$2.27
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.44 A$56.8
$39.61 A$57.0
-0.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 A$2.13
$1.35 A$1.95
9.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K A$42.5K
$27.1K A$39.0K
9.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K A$39.8K
$29.2K A$42.1K
-5.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sydney
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$241 A$347
$204 A$293
18.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.57 A$39.67
$27.94 A$40.20
-1.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3 A$81.0
$56.4 A$81.2
-0.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sydney
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.1 A$112
$55.3 A$79.6
41.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.26 A$33.47
$17.31 A$24.91
34.37%
Cinema Ticket
$17.55 A$25.26
$14.86 A$21.39
18.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sydney
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,185 A$3,144
$2,170 A$3,123
0.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.8K A$40.0K
$20.0K A$28.8K
39.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sydney
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.0 A$115
$77.5 A$112
3.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.7 A$102
$53.1 A$76.4
33.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 A$159
$106 A$153
4.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 A$186
$120 A$173
7.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sydney
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,477 A$3,564
$1,365 A$1,964
81.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,777 A$2,557
$1,179 A$1,697
50.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,885 A$7,030
$2,117 A$3,047
130.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,093 A$4,451
$1,782 A$2,565
73.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.4K A$19.3K
$5,918 A$8,517
126.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,375 A$12.1K
$4,848 A$6,977
72.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sydney
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,074 A$5,862
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.92
5.84
1.37%

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

Last update for Sydney: October 20, 2026

Last update for Penshurst, NSW: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sydney
$1.8K
Penshurst, NSW
$1.2K 33.6% $598
Groceries & Markets
Sydney
$378
Penshurst, NSW
$364 3.7% $14
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sydney
$325
Penshurst, NSW
$288 11.5% $37
Eating Out
Sydney
$297
Penshurst, NSW
$296 0.3% $0.8
Getting Around
Sydney
$178
Penshurst, NSW
$105 41.4% $74
Clothing & Footwear
Sydney
$176
Penshurst, NSW
$161 8.6% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Sydney
$113
Penshurst, NSW
$85 24.9% $28

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,477 in Sydney and $1,365 in Penshurst, NSW. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $90.0 in Sydney vs $84.0 in Penshurst, NSW for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $378 vs $364 per month, with Penshurst, NSW cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Sydney
🇦🇺 Penshurst, NSW
🕒 Local time
22:38 10:38 PM
22:38 10:38 PM
Same time as Sydney
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,840,600
12,673
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sydney Penshurst, NSW 16 km
From you
  • Sydney
  • Penshurst, NSW

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Penshurst, NSW: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Penshurst, NSW cheaper than Sydney?
Penshurst, NSW is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and transport. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,867 in Sydney and $3,717 in Penshurst, NSW to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Sydney and Penshurst, NSW?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,477 in Sydney versus $1,365 in Penshurst, NSW. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Sydney and in Penshurst, NSW?
All in, you'll spend $3,245 per month in Sydney versus $2,478 in Penshurst, NSW – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Penshurst, NSW runs roughly 88% less than in Sydney. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Sydney or in Penshurst, NSW?
At $2,478 in Penshurst, NSW versus $3,245 in Sydney, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Penshurst, NSW but tight or insufficient in Sydney. The gap between the two cities makes Penshurst, NSW the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Sydney or in Penshurst, NSW?
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.
Which city is safer, Sydney or Penshurst, NSW?
Safety-wise, Sydney and Penshurst, NSW are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Penshurst, NSW gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Sydney. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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