Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Rockhampton Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Rockhampton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,799 per month in Sydney vs $1,817 in Rockhampton, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,217 per month in Sydney vs $2,784 in Rockhampton, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,636 per month in Sydney vs $3,752 in Rockhampton, rent included.

Sydney costs about 54% more than Rockhampton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sydney and Rockhampton sit above the global median – Sydney by 110%, Rockhampton by 36%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.02 A$23.01

$17.92 A$25.74

-10.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.3 A$112

$77.0 A$111

1.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.61 A$13.81

$9.37 A$13.45

2.56%

Cappuccino

$3.33 A$4.78

$3.74 A$5.37

-10.96%

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

$2.44 A$3.50

$2.81 A$4.04

-13.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 A$2.86

$2.40 A$3.44

-17.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.58 A$9.45

$7.24 A$10.40

-9.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.05 A$10.12

$5.92 A$8.50

19.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 A$2.35

$1.74 A$2.50

-6.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 A$3.99

$1.84 A$2.64

51.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 A$3.37

$2.32 A$3.34

1.29%

Eggs

$5.14 A$7.38

$3.27 A$4.70

57.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.63 A$12.40

$6.33 A$9.09

36.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.64 A$12.41

$9.18 A$13.19

-5.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.03 A$20.15

$14.74 A$21.17

-4.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 A$4.68

$2.65 A$3.81

23.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.73 A$3.92

$4.31 A$6.19

-36.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 A$4.54

$2.43 A$3.49

30.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 A$6.36

$5.24 A$7.53

-15.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 A$3.62

$2.10 A$3.02

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 A$3.42

$2.13 A$3.05

11.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 A$3.05

$2.67 A$3.83

-20.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 A$1.80

$1.24 A$1.78

0.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.62 A$46.86

$33.56 A$48.21

-2.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.07 A$20.21

$13.36 A$19.20

5.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.78 A$6.87

$3.25 A$4.66

47.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.43 A$7.80

$5.57 A$8.01

-2.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.32 A$4.77

$1.53 A$2.20

116.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$144 A$207

$58.5 A$84.0

145.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 A$5.64

$3.17 A$4.56

23.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 A$4.21

$1.64 A$2.35

78.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$52.5 A$75.4

$36.32 A$52.2

44.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 A$1.73

$1.23 A$1.76

-1.63%

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

$28.8K A$41.3K

$27.3K A$39.3K

5.28%

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

$22.9K A$32.9K

$19.6K A$28.1K

17.05%

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

$205 A$295

$192 A$276

6.84%

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

$24.05 A$34.55

$22.11 A$31.77

8.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.6 A$77.0

$66.1 A$94.9

-18.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 A$88.5

$46.83 A$67.3

31.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.26 A$30.54

$13.16 A$18.90

61.55%

Cinema Ticket

$15.43 A$22.16

$13.13 A$18.86

17.52%

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

$2,064 A$2,965

$1,623 A$2,332

27.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K A$27.0K

$5,940 A$8,532

216.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.9 A$105

$67.3 A$96.7

8.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.3 A$83.7

$56.2 A$80.8

3.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 A$154

$131 A$189

-18.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 A$191

$58.9 A$84.7

125.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,130 A$3,059

$753 A$1,082

182.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,484 A$2,131

$630 A$905

135.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,449 A$6,391

$1,528 A$2,194

191.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,639 A$3,790

$1,130 A$1,623

133.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K A$18.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,985 A$11.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,200 A$6,033

$3,601 A$5,173

16.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.34

6.65

-4.66%

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

Last update for Sydney: July 27, 2026

Last update for Rockhampton: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,130 in Sydney versus $753 in Rockhampton. 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 17% higher in Sydney, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Sydney versus $77.0 in Rockhampton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $332 – making Rockhampton 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 Rockhampton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sydney is pricier by about 54%, 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 $4,198 per month in Sydney and $2,725 in Rockhampton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rockhampton, 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 $2,799 in Sydney and $1,817 in Rockhampton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 146% less in Rockhampton. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Rockhampton, where all-in costs run around $1,817, than in Sydney at $2,799. In Rockhampton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rockhampton – 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 Rockhampton. 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.