Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Sunshine Coast Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Sunshine Coast

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,352 per month in Sydney vs $2,267 in Sunshine Coast, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,870 per month in Sydney vs $3,485 in Sunshine Coast, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,389 per month in Sydney vs $4,703 in Sunshine Coast, rent included.

Sydney costs about 48% more than Sunshine Coast, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sydney and Sunshine Coast sit above the global median – Sydney by 143%, Sunshine Coast by 64%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.19 A$25.36

$17.82 A$24.84

2.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.0 A$132

$76.5 A$107

24.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 A$17.24

$10.62 A$14.80

16.48%

Cappuccino

$4.07 A$5.67

$4.30 A$5.99

-5.35%

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

$2.82 A$3.93

$2.87 A$4.00

-1.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 A$3.08

$2.85 A$3.98

-22.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.13 A$11.33

$7.99 A$11.14

1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.38 A$10.29

$9.50 A$13.25

-22.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 A$2.58

$1.37 A$1.91

35.04%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 A$3.97

$1.94 A$2.71

46.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 A$3.42

$2.11 A$2.94

16.11%

Eggs

$5.67 A$7.90

$4.77 A$6.64

18.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 A$18.01

$11.35 A$15.82

13.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.63 A$13.42

$8.44 A$11.77

14.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.07 A$23.80

$21.39 A$29.82

-20.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 A$5.29

$3.11 A$4.33

22.19%

Banana (1kg)

$3.23 A$4.50

$2.63 A$3.66

22.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.37 A$4.70

$3.12 A$4.35

8.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 A$6.58

$4.04 A$5.63

16.83%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 A$4.54

$2.12 A$2.95

53.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 A$3.57

$1.74 A$2.43

47.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 A$3.46

$2.25 A$3.13

10.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 A$1.84

$2.42 A$3.38

-45.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.98 A$65.5

$48.97 A$68.3

-4.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.62 A$20.38

$16.03 A$22.34

-8.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.20 A$5.86

$5.37 A$7.49

-21.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 A$5.65

$6.33 A$8.82

-36.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.21 A$4.48

$1.53 A$2.14

109.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$157 A$219

$41.88 A$58.4

274.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 A$5.15

$2.25 A$3.14

64.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 A$2.24

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.67 A$56.7

$36.86 A$51.4

10.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 A$2.03

$1.28 A$1.79

14.06%

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

$30.6K A$42.7K

$31.6K A$44.1K

-3.13%

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

$30.4K A$42.5K

$31.7K A$44.2K

-4.03%

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

$224 A$313

$142 A$199

57.57%

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

$27.89 A$38.88

$44.03 A$61.4

-36.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 A$82.9

$68.7 A$95.8

-13.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.3 A$111

$51.9 A$72.3

52.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.63 A$34.34

$17.55 A$24.47

40.34%

Cinema Ticket

$18.37 A$25.62

$15.82 A$22.06

16.12%

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

$2,288 A$3,191

$2,155 A$3,004

6.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.5K A$41.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.3 A$116

$65.8 A$91.8

26.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.1 A$106

$115 A$160

-33.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 A$156

$103 A$144

8.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 A$190

$103 A$144

32.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,637 A$3,676

$1,239 A$1,728

112.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,808 A$2,521

$1,049 A$1,463

72.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,114 A$7,129

$1,942 A$2,707

163.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,057 A$4,262

$1,762 A$2,457

73.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.6K A$18.9K

$5,667 A$7,901

139.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,504 A$11.9K

$5,264 A$7,339

61.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,239 A$5,911

$3,544 A$4,941

19.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.84

5.75

1.57%

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

Last update for Sydney: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sunshine Coast: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,637 in Sydney versus $1,239 in Sunshine Coast. 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 20% 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 $95.0 in Sydney versus $76.0 in Sunshine Coast. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $384 – making Sunshine Coast 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 Sunshine Coast: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sydney is pricier by about 48%, 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 $5,027 per month in Sydney and $3,400 in Sunshine Coast. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sunshine Coast, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Sydney, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Sydney and $76.0 in Sunshine Coast. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Sunshine Coast, where all-in costs run around $2,267, than in Sydney at $3,352. In Sunshine Coast it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sunshine Coast – 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 Sunshine Coast. 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.