Cost of Living Comparison Between Townsville and Brisbane Cost of Living Comparison Between Townsville and Brisbane

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,756 per month in Townsville vs $2,635 in Brisbane, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,042 per month in Townsville vs $3,941 in Brisbane, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,328 per month in Townsville vs $5,247 in Brisbane, rent included.

Townsville costs about 5% more than Brisbane, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Townsville and Brisbane sit above the global median – Townsville by 101%, Brisbane by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.06 A$29.56

$17.92 A$25.16

17.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.0 A$96.9

$73.6 A$103

-6.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 A$17.27

$11.32 A$15.88

8.66%

Cappuccino

$3.64 A$5.11

$4.39 A$6.16

-17.08%

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

$2.66 A$3.73

$2.91 A$4.08

-8.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 A$3.42

$2.52 A$3.54

-3.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.81 A$12.36

$8.73 A$12.25

0.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.10 A$9.96

$8.49 A$11.91

-16.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 A$2.57

$1.74 A$2.44

5.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.31 A$3.25

$2.68 A$3.76

-13.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 A$2.04

$2.37 A$3.32

-38.82%

Eggs

$5.28 A$7.41

$5.02 A$7.05

5.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.98 A$11.20

$9.40 A$13.19

-15.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.10 A$14.18

$9.29 A$13.05

8.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.50 A$18.95

$14.19 A$19.91

-4.86%

Apples (1kg)

$4.07 A$5.72

$4.21 A$5.91

-3.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.68 A$3.77

$3.12 A$4.38

-14.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 A$5.05

$2.96 A$4.16

21.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 A$6.08

$5.03 A$7.06

-13.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 A$3.78

$2.83 A$3.97

-4.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 A$3.83

$2.49 A$3.49

9.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 A$3.35

$2.40 A$3.37

-0.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 A$2.96

$1.24 A$1.74

70.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$30.45 A$42.74

$38.66 A$54.3

-21.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.82 A$15.19

$13.07 A$18.35

-17.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$7.11 A$9.97

$5.35 A$7.51

32.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 A$12.25

$5.07 A$7.11

72.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.24 A$3.14

$0.34 A$0.48

558.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.9 A$114

$21.08 A$29.59

283.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 A$5.46

$3.08 A$4.32

26.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.43 A$3.42

$1.84 A$2.58

32.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$54.4 A$76.3

$41.32 A$58.0

31.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 A$1.68

$1.36 A$1.91

-11.76%

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

$28.8K A$40.4K

$28.4K A$39.9K

1.29%

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

$35.4K A$49.7K

$29.3K A$41.1K

20.96%

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

$389 A$546

$161 A$226

141.03%

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

$36.84 A$51.7

$26.36 A$37.00

39.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.1 A$95.6

$60.9 A$85.5

11.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 A$78.6

$63.9 A$89.6

-12.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.58 A$28.88

$21.59 A$30.31

-4.68%

Cinema Ticket

$15.73 A$22.08

$17.98 A$25.24

-12.51%

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

$2,146 A$3,012

$2,104 A$2,953

1.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.0K A$29.5K

$12.9K A$18.2K

62.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$96.7 A$136

$84.5 A$119

14.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.6 A$99.1

$42.77 A$60.0

64.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$164 A$231

$115 A$161

42.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 A$189

$112 A$158

19.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,317 A$1,849

$2,002 A$2,811

-34.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,189 A$1,669

$1,405 A$1,972

-15.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 A$3,679

$3,457 A$4,853

-24.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,105 A$2,955

$2,469 A$3,466

-14.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,955 A$6,956

$8,337 A$11.7K

-40.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,175 A$5,861

$6,333 A$8,889

-34.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,213 A$5,913

$4,216 A$5,918

-0.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.54

5.81

-4.65%

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

Last update for Townsville: September 13, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,317 in Townsville versus $2,002 in Brisbane. 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 0% higher in Brisbane, 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 $69.0 in Townsville versus $74.0 in Brisbane. Groceries tell a different story – $379 in Townsville vs $369 in Brisbane – so Brisbane wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Townsville vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Townsville costs about 5% more than Brisbane, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,134 per month in Townsville and $3,952 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 3% more in Townsville, 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 $69.0 in Townsville and $74.0 in Brisbane. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,756 in Townsville and $2,635 in Brisbane. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Brisbane – 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 Brisbane. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Townsville makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.