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 $2,759 per month in Sydney vs $1,962 in Sunshine Coast, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,168 per month in Sydney vs $2,946 in Sunshine Coast, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,578 per month in Sydney vs $3,930 in Sunshine Coast, rent included.

Sydney costs about 41% more than Sunshine Coast, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sydney and Sunshine Coast sit above the global median – Sydney by 106%, Sunshine Coast by 46%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.49 A$22.98

$14.40 A$20.06

14.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.9 A$110

$66.2 A$92.3

19.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.93 A$13.84

$8.94 A$12.45

11.07%

Cappuccino

$3.38 A$4.71

$3.40 A$4.73

-0.59%

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

$2.55 A$3.55

$2.14 A$2.99

19.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 A$2.74

$2.31 A$3.22

-14.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.67 A$9.30

$6.31 A$8.79

5.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 A$10.24

$7.09 A$9.87

3.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 A$2.28

$1.27 A$1.77

28.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 A$3.80

$1.81 A$2.52

50.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 A$3.17

$1.74 A$2.43

31.03%

Eggs

$5.04 A$7.03

$4.35 A$6.06

15.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.92 A$12.43

$7.13 A$9.94

25.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 A$11.63

$8.85 A$12.34

-5.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.12 A$19.68

$12.61 A$17.57

11.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.51

$2.70 A$3.77

20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.70 A$3.76

$2.29 A$3.19

17.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 A$4.36

$3.51 A$4.89

-10.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 A$6.15

$3.82 A$5.32

15.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 A$3.41

$1.91 A$2.66

27.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 A$3.25

$1.73 A$2.41

34.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 A$3.08

$1.92 A$2.67

15.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 A$1.74

$1.68 A$2.34

-25.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.36 A$45.10

$23.79 A$33.15

36.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.11 A$19.67

$14.22 A$19.81

-0.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.66 A$6.49

$4.93 A$6.87

-5.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 A$7.43

$5.78 A$8.06

-7.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.28 A$4.57

$1.38 A$1.93

137.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$141 A$196

$37.51 A$52.3

275.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.99 A$5.56

$2.06 A$2.87

93.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 A$4.08

$1.39 A$1.94

110.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$52.5 A$73.1

$34.17 A$47.61

53.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 A$1.74

$1.14 A$1.59

9.65%

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

$29.4K A$41.0K

$28.5K A$39.8K

3.17%

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

$22.7K A$31.6K

$21.5K A$30.0K

5.21%

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

$204 A$284

$129 A$179

58.40%

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

$24.13 A$33.62

$28.51 A$39.73

-15.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 A$72.3

$44.05 A$61.4

17.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 A$85.2

$50.1 A$69.8

21.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.84 A$29.04

$15.68 A$21.85

32.91%

Cinema Ticket

$15.71 A$21.90

$13.19 A$18.38

19.11%

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

$2,074 A$2,890

$292 A$408

609.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.9K A$26.4K

$7,188 A$10.0K

163.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.9 A$102

$60.4 A$84.2

20.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.1 A$81.0

$47.44 A$66.1

22.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 A$151

$88.7 A$124

21.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 A$186

$95.1 A$132

40.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,194 A$3,057

$1,086 A$1,514

101.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,491 A$2,077

$934 A$1,302

59.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,416 A$6,154

$1,791 A$2,496

146.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,626 A$3,660

$1,642 A$2,288

59.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.4K A$18.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,589 A$10.6K

$5,366 A$7,477

41.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,193 A$5,843

$3,534 A$4,925

18.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.34

6.25

1.44%

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

Last update for Sydney: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sunshine Coast: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,194 in Sydney versus $1,086 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 19% 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 $79.0 in Sydney versus $66.0 in Sunshine Coast. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $349 vs $321 – 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 41%, 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 $2,943 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 9% 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 $79.0 in Sydney and $66.0 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 $1,962, than in Sydney at $2,759. 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.