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 $642 per month in Western Sahara vs $2,184 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,014 per month in Western Sahara vs $3,217 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,385 per month in Western Sahara vs $4,249 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 52% 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 ($642$642) than Australia ($1,584$2,827), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Western Sahara.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.75 MAD 34.70
$16.24 A$22.57
-76.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.66 MAD 265
$77.1 A$107
-62.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.51 MAD 41.74
$9.81 A$13.64
-54.03%
Cappuccino
$1.67 MAD 15.47
$3.58 A$4.97
-53.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 MAD 4.79
$2.57 A$3.57
-79.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 MAD 3.15
$2.18 A$3.03
-84.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.52 MAD 32.58
$6.63 A$9.22
-46.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 MAD 43.27
$7.12 A$9.90
-34.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 MAD 7.63
$1.50 A$2.09
-45.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 MAD 5.22
$2.53 A$3.51
-77.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 MAD 17.32
$2.07 A$2.88
-9.66%
Eggs
$1.37 MAD 12.67
$4.29 A$5.96
-68.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.60 MAD 107
$8.65 A$12.02
34.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 MAD 31.61
$8.34 A$11.60
-58.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.11 MAD 84.3
$13.90 A$19.33
-34.46%
Apples (1kg)
$1.49 MAD 13.74
$3.30 A$4.58
-54.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 MAD 10.95
$2.77 A$3.85
-57.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.72 MAD 6.63
$2.95 A$4.10
-75.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 MAD 5.53
$4.19 A$5.83
-85.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.44 MAD 4.12
$2.42 A$3.36
-81.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 MAD 3.39
$2.10 A$2.92
-82.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 MAD 9.02
$2.26 A$3.14
-56.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 MAD 5.25
$1.50 A$2.09
-62.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$31.58 A$43.90
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.29 A$19.86
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$4.59 A$6.38
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 MAD 32.74
$4.82 A$6.70
-26.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MAD 5.15
$3.02 A$4.19
-81.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 MAD 106
$98.3 A$137
-88.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 MAD 6.74
$3.48 A$4.84
-79.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 MAD 6.47
$1.75 A$2.43
-60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$37.97 A$52.8
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 MAD 11.52
$1.21 A$1.68
3.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.1K MAD 370.9K
$29.0K A$40.4K
38.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K MAD 247.5K
$22.6K A$31.4K
18.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.35 MAD 308
$177 A$247
-81.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$26.85 A$37.32
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.51 MAD 208
$52.4 A$72.9
-57.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.04 MAD 213
$47.57 A$66.1
-51.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.33 MAD 327
$16.46 A$22.88
114.64%
Cinema Ticket
$3.57 MAD 33.03
$13.73 A$19.09
-74.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$290 MAD 2,682
$1,593 A$2,215
-81.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,486 MAD 32.2K
$12.7K A$17.7K
-72.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.85 MAD 322
$72.0 A$100
-51.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.6 MAD 542
$51.3 A$71.3
14.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 MAD 693
$103 A$143
-27.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.7 MAD 755
$108 A$151
-24.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$348 MAD 3,217
$1,401 A$1,947
-75.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$172 MAD 1,595
$1,080 A$1,501
-84.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 MAD 6,354
$2,340 A$3,253
-70.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$289 MAD 2,672
$1,756 A$2,441
-83.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,733 A$10.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$5,563 A$7,733
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Western Sahara
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,000 A$5,560
-
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Australia: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $354 in Western Sahara vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $354 in Laayoune and $1,529 in Canberra.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 248% 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 244% 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 244% 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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