Cost of Living Comparison Between Western Sahara and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between Western Sahara and Australia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $627 per month in Western Sahara vs $2,184 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,026 per month in Western Sahara vs $3,219 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,425 per month in Western Sahara vs $4,253 in Australia, rent included.

Western Sahara is roughly 71% cheaper than Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Western Sahara sits 53% below the global median, while Australia is 63% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Western Sahara has a wider regional cost range ($627$627) than Australia ($1,592$2,842), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Western Sahara.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.77 MAD 34.86
$16.44 A$23.23
-77.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.37 MAD 272
$78.1 A$110
-62.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.73 MAD 43.79
$9.94 A$14.05
-52.41%
Cappuccino
$1.68 MAD 15.56
$3.60 A$5.08
-53.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 MAD 4.83
$2.68 A$3.78
-80.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 MAD 3.15
$2.14 A$3.02
-84.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.44 MAD 31.85
$6.53 A$9.23
-47.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 MAD 42.23
$7.05 A$9.96
-35.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 MAD 7.60
$1.58 A$2.23
-48.10%
White Bread (500g)
$0.55 MAD 5.12
$2.53 A$3.57
-78.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 MAD 17.30
$2.07 A$2.93
-9.66%
Eggs
$1.37 MAD 12.71
$4.30 A$6.08
-68.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.45 MAD 106
$9.03 A$12.76
26.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.45 MAD 31.92
$8.55 A$12.08
-59.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.32 MAD 86.2
$13.96 A$19.72
-33.24%
Apples (1kg)
$1.54 MAD 14.25
$3.18 A$4.49
-51.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 MAD 10.88
$2.84 A$4.01
-58.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.70 MAD 6.49
$2.95 A$4.17
-76.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 MAD 5.56
$4.43 A$6.26
-86.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.44 MAD 4.06
$2.46 A$3.47
-82.11%
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 MAD 3.38
$2.17 A$3.07
-82.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 MAD 8.83
$2.29 A$3.24
-58.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 MAD 5.48
$1.57 A$2.22
-62.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$30.87 A$43.61
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.06 A$19.86
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$4.55 A$6.43
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 MAD 31.45
$4.81 A$6.80
-29.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MAD 5.51
$2.87 A$4.05
-79.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.37 MAD 105
$95.8 A$135
-88.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.76 MAD 7.02
$3.65 A$5.15
-79.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 MAD 5.92
$1.76 A$2.49
-63.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$38.27 A$54.1
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 MAD 11.81
$1.15 A$1.63
11.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K MAD 367.2K
$28.4K A$40.1K
39.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K MAD 246.9K
$23.0K A$32.5K
16.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.15 MAD 307
$178 A$251
-81.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$26.46 A$37.38
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.71 MAD 210
$54.1 A$76.4
-58.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.56 MAD 218
$46.64 A$65.9
-49.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.52 MAD 319
$16.54 A$23.37
108.71%
Cinema Ticket
$3.54 MAD 32.70
$13.65 A$19.28
-74.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$284 MAD 2,631
$1,575 A$2,225
-81.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,410 MAD 31.5K
$12.7K A$17.9K
-73.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.12 MAD 316
$71.5 A$101
-52.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.1 MAD 538
$50.8 A$71.8
14.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.7 MAD 700
$100 A$142
-24.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.8 MAD 739
$108 A$153
-26.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$349 MAD 3,226
$1,384 A$1,955
-74.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$171 MAD 1,582
$1,105 A$1,562
-84.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$696 MAD 6,443
$2,298 A$3,246
-69.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$289 MAD 2,677
$1,728 A$2,441
-83.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,610 A$10.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$5,504 A$7,776
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,002 A$5,654
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
6.35
-

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

Last update for Western Sahara: June 9, 2026

Last update for Australia: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $347 in Western Sahara vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $347 in Laayoune and $1,568 in Canberra.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 255% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 166% more in Australia.

Public transport is 509% more expensive in Australia.

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
Western Sahara vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Western Sahara?
Western Sahara is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 254% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Western Sahara, contributing to the overall 254% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $800 a realistic budget in Australia or Western Sahara?
$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Western Sahara, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or Western Sahara?
Western Sahara is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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