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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,292 per month in Sydney vs $2,003 in Rockhampton, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,899 per month in Sydney vs $3,257 in Rockhampton, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,505 per month in Sydney vs $4,510 in Rockhampton, rent included.

Sydney costs about 64% more than Rockhampton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sydney and Rockhampton sit above the global median – Sydney by 141%, Rockhampton by 46%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.90 A$25.24

$21.02 A$29.65

-14.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$93.0 A$131

$86.4 A$122

7.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.06 A$17.01

$9.78 A$13.79

23.31%

Cappuccino

$3.96 A$5.58

$5.07 A$7.15

-21.89%

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

$2.89 A$4.07

$2.48 A$3.50

16.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 A$3.19

$2.81 A$3.96

-19.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 A$11.12

$8.05 A$11.35

-2.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.25 A$10.22

$6.25 A$8.81

16.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 A$2.56

$2.43 A$3.42

-25.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 A$3.89

$2.36 A$3.33

16.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 A$3.41

$2.21 A$3.12

9.50%

Eggs

$5.82 A$8.20

$3.74 A$5.28

55.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.53 A$17.67

$6.96 A$9.81

80.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.88 A$13.93

$11.08 A$15.63

-10.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.55 A$23.34

$16.20 A$22.84

2.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 A$5.13

$2.65 A$3.74

37.36%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 A$4.42

$2.19 A$3.09

43.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 A$4.82

$1.84 A$2.59

85.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 A$6.66

$5.01 A$7.07

-5.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 A$4.66

$2.02 A$2.85

63.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 A$3.52

$2.34 A$3.30

6.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 A$3.35

$1.94 A$2.74

22.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 A$1.76

$2.18 A$3.08

-42.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.38 A$65.4

$38.14 A$53.8

21.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.50 A$20.44

$15.62 A$22.02

-7.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 A$6.04

$3.50 A$4.94

22.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 A$5.67

$6.15 A$8.68

-34.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.34 A$4.71

$1.70 A$2.39

96.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$158 A$223

$64.5 A$90.9

145.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 A$4.90

$3.62 A$5.10

-4.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 A$2.36

$1.86 A$2.62

-10.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.99 A$57.8

$39.67 A$56.0

3.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 A$2.03

$1.25 A$1.76

15.20%

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

$30.5K A$43.0K

$29.3K A$41.4K

3.96%

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

$30.4K A$42.9K

$23.0K A$32.4K

32.48%

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

$229 A$323

$210 A$296

9.16%

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

$27.42 A$38.67

$24.28 A$34.25

12.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 A$80.4

$70.2 A$99.1

-18.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.3 A$113

$40.76 A$57.5

97.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.63 A$34.74

$14.19 A$20.02

73.57%

Cinema Ticket

$17.92 A$25.28

$16.47 A$23.22

8.80%

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

$2,317 A$3,267

$1,809 A$2,551

28.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.1K A$41.0K

$6,552 A$9,241

343.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.5 A$113

$127 A$179

-36.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.2 A$106

$61.0 A$86.0

23.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 A$156

$143 A$201

-22.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 A$190

$64.8 A$91.4

107.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,591 A$3,654

$819 A$1,155

216.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,897 A$2,675

$677 A$954

180.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,109 A$7,205

$1,673 A$2,359

205.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,134 A$4,420

$1,553 A$2,191

101.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.7K A$19.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,458 A$11.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,204 A$5,928

$3,455 A$4,872

21.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.87

6.27

-6.38%

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

Last update for Sydney: September 12, 2026

Last update for Rockhampton: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,591 in Sydney versus $819 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 22% 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 $93.0 in Sydney versus $86.0 in Rockhampton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $387 vs $361 – 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 64%, 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 $4,939 per month in Sydney and $3,005 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 $3,292 in Sydney and $2,003 in Rockhampton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 145% 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 $2,003, than in Sydney at $3,292. 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.