Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Wollongong Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Wollongong

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,352 per month in Sydney vs $2,125 in Wollongong, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,870 per month in Sydney vs $3,347 in Wollongong, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,389 per month in Sydney vs $4,569 in Wollongong, rent included.

Sydney costs about 58% more than Wollongong, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sydney and Wollongong sit above the global median – Sydney by 143%, Wollongong by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.19 A$25.42

$18.01 A$25.17

1.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.0 A$133

$86.0 A$120

10.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.37 A$17.29

$10.88 A$15.21

13.69%

Cappuccino

$4.07 A$5.68

$3.68 A$5.15

10.60%

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

$2.82 A$3.94

$3.20 A$4.47

-11.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 A$3.08

$2.36 A$3.30

-6.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.13 A$11.36

$7.38 A$10.32

10.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.38 A$10.32

$7.03 A$9.82

4.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 A$2.59

$1.23 A$1.72

50.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 A$3.99

$3.03 A$4.24

-5.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 A$3.42

$2.25 A$3.15

8.89%

Eggs

$5.67 A$7.92

$4.20 A$5.87

35.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 A$18.05

$10.92 A$15.26

18.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.63 A$13.46

$9.71 A$13.57

-0.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.07 A$23.86

$16.14 A$22.56

5.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 A$5.31

$3.03 A$4.23

25.41%

Banana (1kg)

$3.23 A$4.51

$2.55 A$3.57

26.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.37 A$4.71

$3.48 A$4.86

-3.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 A$6.59

$4.78 A$6.68

-1.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 A$4.55

$2.36 A$3.30

37.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 A$3.58

$2.69 A$3.77

-4.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 A$3.47

$2.71 A$3.79

-8.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 A$1.85

$1.46 A$2.05

-9.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.98 A$65.7

$46.82 A$65.5

0.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.62 A$20.43

$14.40 A$20.13

1.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.20 A$5.87

$4.54 A$6.35

-7.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 A$5.67

$4.90 A$6.85

-17.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.21 A$4.49

$2.11 A$2.96

52.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$157 A$219

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 A$5.16

$4.14 A$5.79

-10.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 A$2.25

$1.62 A$2.26

-0.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.67 A$56.8

$44.47 A$62.2

-8.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 A$2.04

$1.29 A$1.81

13.18%

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

$30.6K A$42.8K

$28.1K A$39.3K

8.92%

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

$30.4K A$42.6K

$25.2K A$35.2K

20.88%

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

$224 A$314

$188 A$262

19.61%

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

$27.89 A$38.98

$27.70 A$38.71

0.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 A$83.1

$51.9 A$72.5

14.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.3 A$111

$84.2 A$118

-5.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.63 A$34.42

$14.16 A$19.79

73.94%

Cinema Ticket

$18.37 A$25.68

$13.56 A$18.95

35.47%

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

$2,288 A$3,199

$2,289 A$3,200

-0.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.5K A$41.3K

$21.3K A$29.7K

38.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.3 A$116

$72.8 A$102

14.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.1 A$106

$58.3 A$81.5

30.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 A$156

$126 A$176

-11.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 A$190

$111 A$156

22.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,637 A$3,686

$1,024 A$1,431

157.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,808 A$2,528

$887 A$1,240

103.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,114 A$7,148

$2,054 A$2,871

148.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,057 A$4,273

$1,700 A$2,376

79.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.6K A$19.0K

$4,632 A$6,474

193.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,504 A$11.9K

$3,771 A$5,270

125.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,239 A$5,926

$4,584 A$6,407

-7.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.84

5.23

11.66%

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

Last update for Sydney: September 7, 2026

Last update for Wollongong: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,637 in Sydney versus $1,024 in Wollongong. 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 8% higher in Wollongong, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Sydney versus $86.0 in Wollongong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $369 – making Wollongong 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 Wollongong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,352 in Sydney, $2,125 in Wollongong – roughly 58% apart. Sydney costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,027 per month in Sydney and $3,188 in Wollongong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Wollongong, 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 $3,352 in Sydney and $2,125 in Wollongong. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,288 per month in Sydney and $2,289 in Wollongong. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Wollongong, where all-in costs run around $2,125, than in Sydney at $3,352. In Wollongong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Wollongong – 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 Wollongong. 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.