Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Puerto Princesa

For one person, living is cheaper in Puerto Princesa: $705 a month against $3,152 in Sydney, rent and utilities included – about $29,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sydney
🇦🇺 Australia
$3,152
/mo nomad
Puerto Princesa
🇵🇭 Philippines
$705
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sydney and in Puerto Princesa

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 Puerto Princesa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,152 in Sydney versus $705 in Puerto Princesa.

  • Sydney $3,152
  • Puerto Princesa $705

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,710 in Sydney versus $1,050 in Puerto Princesa.

  • Sydney $4,710
  • Puerto Princesa $1,050

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,268 in Sydney versus $1,396 in Puerto Princesa.

  • Sydney $6,268
  • Puerto Princesa $1,396

Living in Sydney is roughly 347% more expensive than in Puerto Princesa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sydney is 133% above, Puerto Princesa is 48% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sydney
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.57 A$25.29
$4.28 ₱269
310.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.5 A$132
$16.84 ₱1,061
443.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.96 A$17.21
$4.59 ₱289
160.57%
Cappuccino
$4.07 A$5.85
$2.34 ₱147
73.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 A$4.10
$0.88 ₱55.2
223.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 A$3.24
$0.52 ₱32.91
332.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.60 A$10.94
$1.26 ₱79.5
503.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.43 A$10.69
$2.37 ₱149
213.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sydney
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 A$2.38
$1.75 ₱110
-5.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 A$4.00
$1.02 ₱64.4
172.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 A$3.49
$0.82 ₱51.9
195.12%
Eggs
$5.64 A$8.12
$1.75 ₱110
222.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.71 A$16.85
$5.52 ₱347
112.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.66 A$13.89
$5.43 ₱342
77.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.75 A$24.10
$6.59 ₱415
154.17%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 A$5.85
$2.37 ₱149
71.73%
Banana (1kg)
$3.25 A$4.68
$0.85 ₱53.3
282.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.44 A$4.96
$2.40 ₱151
43.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 A$6.16
$1.14 ₱71.6
275.44%
Potato (1kg)
$3.28 A$4.72
$1.53 ₱96.4
114.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 A$3.30
$1.35 ₱84.8
70.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.30 A$3.31
$0.94 ₱59.4
144.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 A$1.74
$0.70 ₱43.92
72.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$43.71 A$62.9
$2.86 ₱180
1428.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.88 A$19.97
$7.28 ₱458
90.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.90 A$5.62
$1.06 ₱66.6
267.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 A$5.63
$1.35 ₱84.8
189.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Sydney
Puerto Princesa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.04 A$4.38
$0.25 ₱15.71
1116.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$150 A$216
$11.06 ₱697
1258.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.38 A$4.86
$0.74 ₱46.36
356.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 A$2.24
$0.21 ₱13.17
642.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.01 A$57.6
$1.95 ₱123
1951.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 A$2.01
$1.01 ₱63.7
38.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K A$41.9K
$17.1K ₱1.1M
70.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K A$43.4K
$19.1K ₱1.2M
57.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sydney
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 A$320
$62.2 ₱3,915
257.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.16 A$39.08
$10.94 ₱689
148.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.8 A$80.3
$24.60 ₱1,549
126.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sydney
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.6 A$107
$32.60 ₱2,052
128.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.99 A$34.52
$4.75 ₱299
405.05%
Cinema Ticket
$17.56 A$25.27
$5.05 ₱318
247.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sydney
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,196 A$3,160
$133 ₱8,357
1554.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.2K A$40.6K
$8,060 ₱507.5K
249.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sydney
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.4 A$113
$33.45 ₱2,106
134.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.4 A$98.5
$19.50 ₱1,228
250.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 A$160
$71.1 ₱4,478
56.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 A$193
$56.2 ₱3,541
139.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sydney
Puerto Princesa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,500 A$3,598
$283 ₱17.8K
783.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,709 A$2,460
$201 ₱12.7K
749.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,946 A$7,117
$519 ₱32.7K
852.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,022 A$4,349
$313 ₱19.7K
865.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.2K A$18.9K
$2,404 ₱151.4K
447.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,370 A$12.0K
$1,008 ₱63.4K
730.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sydney
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,113 A$5,919
$223 ₱14.1K
1742.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.84
8.12
-28.08%

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

Last update for Sydney: October 11, 2026

Last update for Puerto Princesa: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sydney
$1.7K
Puerto Princesa
$201 88.2% $1.5K
Groceries & Markets
Sydney
$379
Puerto Princesa
$176 53.6% $203
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sydney
$306
Puerto Princesa
$98 68% $208
Eating Out
Sydney
$299
Puerto Princesa
$93 69% $206
Clothing & Footwear
Sydney
$177
Puerto Princesa
$81 54.1% $95
Getting Around
Sydney
$174
Puerto Princesa
$14 92% $160
Sport & Entertainment
Sydney
$110
Puerto Princesa
$43 61.1% $67

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,500 in Sydney and $283 in Puerto Princesa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sydney pays 1743% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $91.0 in Sydney vs $17.00 in Puerto Princesa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $176 per month, with Puerto Princesa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Sydney
🇵🇭 Puerto Princesa
🕒 Local time
11:50 11:50 AM
08:50 8:50 AM
3 h behind Sydney
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,840,600
307,079
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sydney Puerto Princesa 5,940 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sydney
  • Puerto Princesa

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 Puerto Princesa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Puerto Princesa cheaper than Sydney?
Puerto Princesa is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 347% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sydney or Puerto Princesa?
Average pay runs 1743% higher in Sydney, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Sydney and Puerto Princesa?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,500 in Sydney versus $283 in Puerto Princesa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Sydney and in Puerto Princesa?
All in, you'll spend $3,152 per month in Sydney versus $705 in Puerto Princesa – a 347% 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 Puerto Princesa runs roughly 1258% less than in Sydney. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Sydney or in Puerto Princesa?
At $705 in Puerto Princesa versus $3,152 in Sydney, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Puerto Princesa but tight or insufficient in Sydney. The gap between the two cities makes Puerto Princesa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Sydney or Puerto Princesa more family-friendly?
For families, Puerto Princesa is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sydney, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Sydney or Puerto Princesa?
Safety-wise, Sydney and Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 347% less than in Sydney. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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