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 $641 per month in Western Sahara vs $2,181 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,013 per month in Western Sahara vs $3,218 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,384 per month in Western Sahara vs $4,254 in Australia, rent included.

The cost of living in Western Sahara is roughly 71% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Western Sahara sits 52% below the global median, while Australia is 64% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in Western Sahara ($641$641) than in Australia ($1,595$2,799), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.92 MAD 36.58
$15.97 A$22.66
-75.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.26 MAD 273
$79.0 A$112
-62.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 MAD 44.58
$9.68 A$13.74
-50.62%
Cappuccino
$1.60 MAD 14.89
$3.58 A$5.08
-55.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 MAD 4.89
$2.56 A$3.64
-79.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 MAD 2.93
$2.22 A$3.15
-86.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.51 MAD 32.76
$6.34 A$8.99
-44.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77 MAD 44.46
$6.95 A$9.86
-31.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 MAD 7.36
$1.56 A$2.22
-49.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 MAD 5.62
$2.53 A$3.59
-76.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 MAD 16.80
$2.00 A$2.83
-10.00%
Eggs
$1.37 MAD 12.76
$4.26 A$6.05
-67.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.54 MAD 108
$8.75 A$12.42
31.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.44 MAD 32.03
$8.23 A$11.68
-58.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 MAD 87.8
$14.15 A$20.08
-33.43%
Apples (1kg)
$1.52 MAD 14.14
$3.26 A$4.63
-53.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.14 MAD 10.61
$2.81 A$3.99
-59.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.68 MAD 6.34
$3.00 A$4.26
-77.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 MAD 5.25
$4.31 A$6.12
-87.01%
Potato (1kg)
$0.48 MAD 4.47
$2.55 A$3.62
-81.18%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 MAD 3.39
$2.16 A$3.07
-83.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 MAD 8.46
$2.22 A$3.15
-59.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 MAD 5.27
$1.53 A$2.17
-63.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$31.28 A$44.38
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.09 A$20.00
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$4.44 A$6.30
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 MAD 32.74
$4.90 A$6.96
-28.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MAD 5.58
$2.95 A$4.19
-79.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.75 MAD 110
$95.9 A$136
-87.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.76 MAD 7.10
$3.49 A$4.95
-78.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 MAD 5.99
$1.84 A$2.61
-65.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$37.26 A$52.9
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 MAD 11.93
$1.17 A$1.66
9.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.1K MAD 364.4K
$28.7K A$40.8K
36.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K MAD 246.1K
$22.5K A$31.9K
17.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.34 MAD 311
$173 A$246
-80.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$26.62 A$37.77
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.48 MAD 210
$53.1 A$75.3
-57.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.92 MAD 214
$46.82 A$66.4
-51.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.39 MAD 330
$16.38 A$23.25
116.06%
Cinema Ticket
$3.49 MAD 32.57
$13.56 A$19.24
-74.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$290 MAD 2,702
$1,571 A$2,229
-81.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,502 MAD 32.7K
$12.6K A$17.9K
-72.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.23 MAD 319
$72.1 A$102
-52.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.3 MAD 544
$51.6 A$73.2
12.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.5 MAD 713
$101 A$144
-24.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.6 MAD 760
$108 A$153
-24.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$350 MAD 3,261
$1,398 A$1,984
-74.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$177 MAD 1,649
$1,086 A$1,541
-83.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$702 MAD 6,545
$2,272 A$3,223
-69.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$289 MAD 2,697
$1,751 A$2,485
-83.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,955 A$11.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$5,978 A$8,483
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,053 A$5,751
-
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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Australia: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $349 in Western Sahara vs $1,230 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $349 in Laayoune and $1,557 in Canberra.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 252% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 166% more in Australia.

Public transport is 458% 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 243% 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 243% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $800 a realistic budget in Australia or in 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 to 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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