Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Australia

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 12.5% more expensive than Australia without rent, and 21.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 7.1% more expensive than Australia without rent, and 24% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.33 $20.33
$15.97 A$24.47
27.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.4 $74.4
$77.2 A$118
-3.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.49 $11.49
$9.66 A$14.8
18.94%
Cappuccino
$5.09 $5.09
$3.57 A$5.48
42.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.64 A$4.04
-3.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.22 A$3.41
-4.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 $6.09
$6.57 A$10.06
-7.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.1 $7.1
$6.98 A$10.7
1.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.5 A$2.3
-28.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.42 A$3.7
52.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$2.02 A$3.1
130.20%
Eggs
$4.21 $4.21
$4.38 A$6.71
-3.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.75 $12.75
$8.86 A$13.58
43.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.24 $12.24
$8.26 A$12.66
48.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.08 $16.08
$14.14 A$21.66
13.72%
Apples (1kg)
$5.41 $5.41
$3.24 A$4.96
66.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.68 A$4.11
-35.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.86 A$4.39
52.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$4.25 A$6.5
16.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.55 A$3.91
12.94%
Onion (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.19 A$3.35
40.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.24 A$3.43
0.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.57 A$2.41
40.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.09 $10.09
$31.36 A$48.04
-67.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.73 $14.73
$13.32 A$20.41
10.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$4.61 A$7.06
-58.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 $3.54
$4.97 A$7.61
-28.77%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.97 A$4.54
-13.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.9 $63.9
$98 A$150
-34.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 $3.81
$3.62 A$5.55
5.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.82 A$2.79
-2.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.4 $30.4
$37.78 A$57.9
-19.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.2 A$1.84
-21.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K $30K
$29.1K A$44.6K
2.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$22.5K A$34.5K
14.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$209 $209
$180 A$276
15.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.9 $57.9
$26.23 A$40.19
120.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.1 $71.1
$52.8 A$80.9
34.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.88 $45.88
$46.77 A$71.7
-1.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.25 $22.25
$16.37 A$25.08
35.92%
Cinema Ticket
$14.14 $14.14
$13.82 A$21.18
2.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,373 $1,373
$1,599 A$2,450
-14.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$12.3K A$18.8K
82.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 $51.5
$71.7 A$110
-28.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.96 $41.96
$51.5 A$78.8
-18.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 $88.3
$101 A$155
-12.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$110 A$168
1.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,731 $1,731
$1,395 A$2,137
24.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,446 $1,446
$1,106 A$1,694
30.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,846 $2,846
$2,271 A$3,480
25.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,366 $2,366
$1,775 A$2,719
33.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,245 $3,245
$6,985 A$10.7K
-53.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,667 $2,667
$5,106 A$7,823
-47.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,312 $4,312
$3,626 A$5,555
18.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.35
2.52%

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

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

Last update for Australia: October 29, 2025

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