Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Redland City Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Redland City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,759 per month in Sydney vs $2,048 in Redland City, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,168 per month in Sydney vs $2,974 in Redland City, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,578 per month in Sydney vs $3,899 in Redland City, rent included.

Sydney costs about 35% more than Redland City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sydney and Redland City sit above the global median – Sydney by 106%, Redland City by 53%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.49 A$22.98

$13.12 A$18.29

25.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.9 A$110

$59.4 A$82.7

32.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.93 A$13.84

$9.30 A$12.96

6.77%

Cappuccino

$3.38 A$4.71

$3.35 A$4.66

0.90%

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

$2.55 A$3.55

$2.68 A$3.73

-4.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 A$2.74

$1.98 A$2.75

-0.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.67 A$9.30

$6.51 A$9.08

2.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 A$10.24

$5.75 A$8.02

27.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 A$2.28

$1.49 A$2.07

9.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 A$3.80

$2.56 A$3.56

6.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 A$3.17

$2.24 A$3.12

1.79%

Eggs

$5.04 A$7.03

$4.58 A$6.38

10.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.92 A$12.43

$7.29 A$10.16

22.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 A$11.63

$8.20 A$11.43

1.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.12 A$19.68

$12.30 A$17.15

14.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.51

$3.32 A$4.63

-2.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.70 A$3.76

$2.63 A$3.67

2.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 A$4.36

$2.00 A$2.78

56.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 A$6.15

$3.29 A$4.58

34.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 A$3.41

$2.36 A$3.29

3.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 A$3.25

$1.67 A$2.33

39.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 A$3.08

$2.00 A$2.78

10.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 A$1.74

$1.89 A$2.64

-33.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.36 A$45.10

$30.73 A$42.82

5.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.11 A$19.67

$11.64 A$16.22

21.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.66 A$6.49

$4.42 A$6.16

5.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 A$7.43

$3.94 A$5.49

35.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.28 A$4.57

$2.55 A$3.56

28.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$141 A$196

$66.1 A$92.2

112.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.99 A$5.56

$2.04 A$2.84

95.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 A$4.08

$1.38 A$1.93

112.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$52.5 A$73.1

$33.98 A$47.35

54.47%

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

$29.3K A$40.8K

0.57%

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

$22.7K A$31.6K

$21.6K A$30.1K

4.77%

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

$204 A$284

$83.8 A$117

143.18%

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

$24.13 A$33.62

$32.89 A$45.83

-26.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 A$72.3

$54.9 A$76.5

-5.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 A$85.2

$49.46 A$68.9

23.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.84 A$29.04

$15.57 A$21.69

33.85%

Cinema Ticket

$15.71 A$21.90

$6.66 A$9.28

135.89%

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

$2,074 A$2,890

$485 A$676

327.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.9K A$26.4K

$3,858 A$5,376

390.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.9 A$102

$60.6 A$84.5

20.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.1 A$81.0

$47.80 A$66.6

21.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 A$151

$90.2 A$126

19.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 A$186

$91.9 A$128

45.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,194 A$3,057

$1,269 A$1,769

72.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,491 A$2,077

$1,076 A$1,500

38.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,416 A$6,154

$2,002 A$2,789

120.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,626 A$3,660

$1,664 A$2,319

57.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.4K A$18.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,589 A$10.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,193 A$5,843

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.34

5.67%

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

Last update for Sydney: May 31, 2026

Last update for Redland City: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,194 in Sydney versus $1,269 in Redland City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Sydney versus $59.0 in Redland City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $349 vs $319 – making Redland City 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 Redland City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sydney is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,138 per month in Sydney and $3,072 in Redland City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Redland City, 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 $2,759 in Sydney and $2,048 in Redland City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 113% less in Redland City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Redland City, where all-in costs run around $2,048, than in Sydney at $2,759. In Redland City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Redland City – 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 Redland City. 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.