Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Wagga Wagga and Brisbane

For one person, living is cheaper in Wagga Wagga: $1,906 a month against $2,630 in Brisbane, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Wagga Wagga, Australia
Brisbane, Australia
Wagga Wagga
🇦🇺 Australia
$1,906
/mo nomad
Brisbane
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,630
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Wagga Wagga and in Brisbane

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Wagga Wagga and in Brisbane actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,906 per month in Wagga Wagga vs $2,630 in Brisbane, rent included.

  • Wagga Wagga $1,906
  • Brisbane $2,630

A couple spends around $2,885 per month in Wagga Wagga vs $3,801 in Brisbane, rent included.

  • Wagga Wagga $2,885
  • Brisbane $3,801

A family of three spends $3,865 per month in Wagga Wagga vs $4,972 in Brisbane, rent included.

  • Wagga Wagga $3,865
  • Brisbane $4,972

Wagga Wagga is about 28% cheaper than Brisbane, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Wagga Wagga and Brisbane sit above the global median – Wagga Wagga by 40%, Brisbane by 93%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wagga Wagga
Brisbane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.65 A$19.48
$17.61 A$25.13
-22.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.4 A$129
$80.0 A$114
12.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 A$14.73
$11.43 A$16.31
-9.71%
Cappuccino
$4.02 A$5.74
$4.51 A$6.44
-10.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 A$4.46
$2.95 A$4.22
5.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 A$3.58
$2.39 A$3.42
5.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.64 A$12.33
$8.61 A$12.29
0.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.01 A$14.28
$8.36 A$11.93
19.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wagga Wagga
Brisbane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 A$2.13
$1.62 A$2.31
-8.02%
White Bread (500g)
$3.21 A$4.59
$2.65 A$3.78
21.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.60 A$3.72
$2.32 A$3.32
12.07%
Eggs
$5.32 A$7.59
$4.94 A$7.05
7.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.97 A$18.51
$9.08 A$12.96
42.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.90 A$14.14
$9.12 A$13.02
8.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.47 A$22.08
$14.34 A$20.46
7.88%
Apples (1kg)
$4.02 A$5.74
$4.14 A$5.91
-2.90%
Banana (1kg)
$3.13 A$4.47
$3.07 A$4.38
1.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.46 A$4.94
$3.05 A$4.35
13.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.20 A$7.42
$4.89 A$6.97
6.34%
Potato (1kg)
$3.09 A$4.42
$2.81 A$4.01
9.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 A$3.88
$2.48 A$3.54
9.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 A$3.51
$2.41 A$3.44
2.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 A$2.00
$1.19 A$1.70
17.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$45.05 A$64.3
$38.54 A$55.0
16.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.91 A$19.85
$12.65 A$18.05
9.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.65 A$6.64
$5.22 A$7.44
-10.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46 A$7.79
$4.87 A$6.95
12.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Wagga Wagga
Brisbane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.18 A$4.54
$0.34 A$0.48
835.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$20.97 A$29.93
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.14 A$5.91
$3.05 A$4.35
35.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 A$2.24
$1.89 A$2.70
-16.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.56 A$60.7
$40.76 A$58.2
4.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 A$1.87
$1.45 A$2.07
-9.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K A$40.5K
$29.7K A$42.4K
-4.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K A$38.3K
$25.6K A$36.5K
4.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wagga Wagga
Brisbane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 A$265
$158 A$225
17.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.04 A$38.59
$26.05 A$37.19
3.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3 A$80.3
$61.1 A$87.3
-7.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wagga Wagga
Brisbane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.02 A$39.99
$61.2 A$87.3
-54.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.36 A$31.91
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.87 A$22.65
$13.95 A$19.91
13.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wagga Wagga
Brisbane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,202 A$3,143
$2,044 A$2,918
7.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.5K A$29.3K
$12.9K A$18.4K
58.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wagga Wagga
Brisbane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.3 A$110
$82.4 A$118
-6.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.3 A$80.4
$43.63 A$62.3
29.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 A$155
$113 A$162
-4.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 A$187
$111 A$158
18.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wagga Wagga
Brisbane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$907 A$1,294
$1,944 A$2,774
-53.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$714 A$1,019
$1,431 A$2,043
-50.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 A$2,179
$3,484 A$4,973
-56.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,128 A$1,610
$2,240 A$3,198
-49.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,463 A$4,942
$9,322 A$13.3K
-62.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,408 A$3,436
$7,003 A$9,996
-65.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wagga Wagga
Brisbane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,144 A$5,915
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.95
5.81
2.41%

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

Last update for Wagga Wagga: October 27, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Wagga Wagga
$714
Brisbane
$1.4K 101% $717
Groceries & Markets
Wagga Wagga
$396
Brisbane
$362 8.6% $34
Eating Out
Wagga Wagga
$274
Brisbane
$310 13.2% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wagga Wagga
$269
Brisbane
$245 9% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Wagga Wagga
$168
Brisbane
$158 6.2% $10
Sport & Entertainment
Wagga Wagga
$60
Brisbane
$89 49% $29
Getting Around
Wagga Wagga
$25 *
Brisbane
$35 40.9% $10

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $907 in Wagga Wagga versus $1,944 in Brisbane. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90 in Wagga Wagga versus $80 in Brisbane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $396 vs $362 – making Brisbane the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Wagga Wagga
🇦🇺 Brisbane
🕒 Local time
06:12 6:12 AM
05:12 5:12 AM
1 h behind Wagga Wagga
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
49,686
2,287,896
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.701 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 AUD (1 AUD = 0.628 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Wagga Wagga Brisbane 1,010 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Wagga Wagga
  • Brisbane

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Wagga Wagga vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Wagga Wagga or Brisbane?
Brisbane costs about 38% more than Wagga Wagga, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Wagga Wagga and in Brisbane?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,859 per month in Wagga Wagga and $3,945 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Wagga Wagga or Brisbane?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Wagga Wagga, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $907 there versus $1,944 in Brisbane.
How much does it cost to live in Wagga Wagga compared to Brisbane?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,906 in Wagga Wagga and $2,630 in Brisbane. That makes Wagga Wagga about 28% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Wagga Wagga and in Brisbane?
Kindergarten costs $2,202 per month in Wagga Wagga and $2,044 in Brisbane. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Wagga Wagga or Brisbane?
It depends on your priorities. Brisbane has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,906 in Wagga Wagga to $2,630 in Brisbane. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Wagga Wagga compared to Brisbane?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Wagga Wagga vs other spots: cost of living compared

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