Cost of Living in Sydney - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Sydney
Address: Sydney, AU

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,108 (excluding rent), and $2,768 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,706 (excluding rent), and $5,529 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.32 A$22.68

$11.10 A$15.43

$32.63 A$45.36

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.7 A$109

$52.4 A$72.9

$125 A$173

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 A$13.74

$9.22 A$12.82

$11.86 A$16.48

Cappuccino

$3.41 A$4.73

$2.64 A$3.66

$5.27 A$7.33

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 A$3.48

$1.96 A$2.72

$3.27 A$4.54

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 A$2.68

$1.29 A$1.79

$3.09 A$4.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.46 A$8.97

$4.52 A$6.28

$9.05 A$12.58

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 A$9.98

$5.22 A$7.26

$9.80 A$13.62

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 A$2.28

$0.97 A$1.34

$2.44 A$3.39

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 A$3.74

$1.66 A$2.31

$3.83 A$5.33

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 A$3.17

$1.29 A$1.79

$3.86 A$5.37

Eggs

$5.08 A$7.06

$3.30 A$4.58

$6.33 A$8.79

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.88 A$12.35

$4.59 A$6.38

$16.40 A$22.79

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.31 A$11.56

$4.50 A$6.26

$11.59 A$16.11

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.94 A$19.37

$8.05 A$11.19

$25.76 A$35.81

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 A$4.68

$2.34 A$3.25

$4.00 A$5.56

Banana (1kg)

$2.73 A$3.80

$1.97 A$2.74

$4.59 A$6.38

Oranges (1kg)

$3.08 A$4.28

$1.62 A$2.25

$4.52 A$6.28

Tomato (1kg)

$4.47 A$6.22

$2.65 A$3.68

$7.15 A$9.94

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 A$3.40

$1.60 A$2.22

$3.19 A$4.44

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 A$3.18

$1.59 A$2.21

$3.17 A$4.40

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 A$3.00

$1.42 A$1.97

$2.90 A$4.03

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 A$1.81

$0.53 A$0.74

$2.66 A$3.70

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.33 A$44.93

$29.09 A$40.44

$38.79 A$53.9

Wine (Bottle)

$14.11 A$19.61

$7.05 A$9.80

$21.16 A$29.41

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.79 A$6.65

$2.24 A$3.11

$7.86 A$10.92

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 A$7.26

$2.54 A$3.53

$9.53 A$13.24

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.29 A$4.58

$2.37 A$3.30

$5.77 A$8.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$139 A$193

$128 A$178

$149 A$207

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 A$5.39

$3.23 A$4.49

$6.46 A$8.98

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.00 A$4.17

$1.80 A$2.50

$5.05 A$7.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$52.0 A$72.3

$38.99 A$54.2

$65.0 A$90.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 A$1.73

$1.08 A$1.50

$1.46 A$2.03

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.8K A$40.1K

$25.9K A$36.1K

$29.2K A$40.6K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K A$31.3K

$19.5K A$27.2K

$25.3K A$35.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$202 A$281

$121 A$168

$392 A$545

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$24.11 A$33.51

$13.10 A$18.21

$49.13 A$68.3

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.1 A$72.4

$41.80 A$58.1

$64.3 A$89.4

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.3 A$83.9

$32.37 A$45.00

$90.6 A$126

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.09 A$29.31

$13.07 A$18.17

$32.67 A$45.42

Cinema Ticket

$15.90 A$22.10

$12.59 A$17.50

$19.87 A$27.62

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,072 A$2,880

$1,555 A$2,162

$3,240 A$4,504

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K A$25.6K

$7,735 A$10.8K

$29.0K A$40.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.9 A$101

$44.74 A$62.2

$95.9 A$133

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.4 A$79.8

$22.43 A$31.17

$96.1 A$134

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 A$150

$79.1 A$110

$132 A$183

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 A$180

$64.0 A$89.0

$224 A$311

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,145 A$2,982

$1,814 A$2,521

$2,706 A$3,762

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 A$2,086

$1,185 A$1,648

$1,976 A$2,746

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,487 A$6,237

$3,310 A$4,601

$6,620 A$9,201

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,640 A$3,670

$1,942 A$2,699

$3,883 A$5,398

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.3K A$17.0K

$8,413 A$11.7K

$21.0K A$29.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,935 A$11.0K

$5,722 A$7,954

$10.7K A$14.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,123 A$5,732

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.34

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

Last update: April 13, 2026

Sydney Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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Cost of Living in Sydney - Frequently Asked Questions

Compared with many popular expat hubs, Sydney sits on the higher end of the spectrum, especially for housing and dining out, but it delivers a strong value in safety, services, and scenery. You can still get great value with thoughtful planning: choosing a neighborhood a bit farther from the harbor, sharing housing, and cooking at home can soften the overall price tag without sacrificing convenience. Public amenities, outdoor spaces, and a robust job market translate into reliable daily life for remote work and travel. For a quick snapshot, the article Cost of Living in Sydney, Australia outlines the big-picture dynamics and where flexibility pays off. Tip: aim for a balanced week that alternates free outdoor activities with occasional paid experiences.

Daily life in Sydney balances modern comfort with efficient services and a lively food scene. For housing, you can consider a mix of apartments and co-living in inner suburbs or more affordable pockets farther from the CBD; long commutes aren't guaranteed but travel time varies by transit and traffic. Food options range from farmers markets and casual cafes to groceries with international staples. For getting around, a transit card, ferries, and cycling are practical; most destinations are reachable without a car if you pick a well-connected area. Sydney, Australia living cost awareness helps you anchor your search and set a realistic pace for tasks like errands and coworking. Tip: start with a week-long trial stay to test neighborhoods.

Quality of life in Sydney comes from balancing outdoor access, your work flexibility, and social moments. Build a simple budgeting framework centered on essentials, flexible spending for dining and entertainment, and a buffer for seasonal perks like weekend markets or harbor events. Seasonality influences costs and crowds, with milder shoulder seasons offering quieter neighborhoods and better deals. To find a long-term fit, test different areas – cozy inner hubs for nighttime options, breezy bayside suburbs for daylight walks, and practical transit routes to work or coworking spaces. Tip: set a monthly review to adjust housing, transport, and groceries as your plans evolve.