Canberra, Australia, Australia — cost of living
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Canberra, Australia

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Country
Australia
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Relocation
Canberra, Australia

About Canberra, Australia

Costs exclude rent
Single / month
$792
A$1,199.76
Family of 4 / mo
$2,040
A$3,090.28
Avg salary (after tax)
$5,865
A$8,887.05

Canberra is the capital city of Australia and the largest population centre in the Australian Capital Territory. Canberra was established following the federation of the Australian colonies to serve as the seat of government for the new nation, and was a compromise between Melbourne and Sydney, Australia’s two largest cities. Today, Canberra is Australia's largest inland city, and the eighth-largest Australian city by population. The city occupies most of the northern quadrant of the Australian Capital Territory, and its urban sprawl borders the state of New South Wales to the northwest, northeast and southeast. The Brindabellas are located south and west of the city, and form the northern part of the Australian Alps, the country's highest mountain range. As of June 2025, Canberra's estimated population was 484,630.

Data aggregated from public cost-of-living sources. See About for methodology.Wikipedia · Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)· Updated May 22, 2026

Cost breakdown by category

Cost breakdown

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Fashion

  • Midrange Nike Running ShoesUSD $159.95
  • Summer Dress from Chain Stores (e.g., Zara, H&M)USD $66.12
  • Classic Jeans (e.g., Levi's 501)USD $114.4
  • Men's Dress ShoesUSD $162.41

Financial

  • Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed)USD $1.32
  • Average Monthly Salary After TaxUSD $8,887

Food - Beverages

  • CappuccinoUSD $6.34
  • Local Draft Beer (Pint)USD $12.53
  • Imported Beer (Small Bottle)USD $13.2
  • Soft Drinks (350 ml Bottle)USD $4.28
  • Bottled Water (350 ml)USD $3.35

Food - Dining

  • Casual Dining ExperienceUSD $29.03
  • Upscale Dinner for TwoUSD $131.91
  • Fast Food ComboUSD $17.15

Food - Grocery

  • Chicken Fillets (1 kg)USD $14.79
  • Beef Round (1 kg)USD $25.58
  • Apples (1 kg)USD $5.91
  • Bananas (1 kg)USD $4.54
  • Oranges (1 kg)USD $5.46
  • Tomatoes (1 kg)USD $8.71
  • Potatoes (1 kg)USD $4.17
  • Onions (1 kg)USD $3.21
  • Lettuce (1 Head)USD $4.45
  • Bottled Water (1.5L)USD $2.73
  • Midrange Bottle of WineUSD $23.08
  • Marlboro (20-Pack)USD $46.18
  • White Rice (1 kg)USD $3.67
  • Dozen EggsUSD $6.99
  • Local Cheese (1 kg)USD $17.49
  • Fresh White Bread (1 kg)USD $7.87
  • Milk (1 litre)USD $3.09

Housing

  • Average Rent of 3-Bedroom Apartment in City CenterUSD $4,419
  • Average Rent of 3-Bedroom Apartment Outside City CenterUSD $3,203
  • Average Cost per Square Foot for Apartments in City CenterUSD $774.99
  • Average Cost per Square Foot for Apartments Outside City CenterUSD $543.83
  • Average Rent of 1-Bedroom Apartment in City CenterUSD $2,442
  • Average Rent of 1-Bedroom Apartment Outside City CenterUSD $2,181

Leisure

  • Monthly Fee for Fitness Club Membership (1 Adult)USD $85.49
  • Monthly Fee for Private Kindergarten (1 Child)USD $2,572
  • Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend)USD $25.45
  • Cinema Ticket (International Release)USD $23.74
  • Yearly Cost for International Primary School (1 Child)USD $23,481

Transportation

  • 1 Hour Taxi WaitUSD $68.6
  • Average Price of a New Sedan CarUSD $35,768
  • One-Way Local Transport FareUSD $4.11
  • Average Rate to Start a Taxi RideUSD $6.91
  • Average Monthly Cost of Public Transport PassUSD $90.45
  • Average Taxi Fare for 1 kmUSD $4.58
  • Average Price of a New Compact Hatchback CarUSD $37,597

Utilities (Monthly)

  • Internet Service (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited)USD $97.83
  • Average Monthly Cost for Essential Utilities in a 915 sq. ft. ApartmentUSD $225.01

Costs reflect a typical lifestyle in each place, excluding rent unless stated. Numbers are a starting point — always cross-check before big decisions.

  • Single / Family of 4 toggle. Family ≈ 2.7× single when no verified figure exists.
  • Estimated values use a ~ prefix and an "Estimated" label.
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How we calculate these numbers

When local data is missing (e.g. salary for a smaller city), we estimate from peer cities in the same country using a median ratio.

Full methodology, assumptions, and formulas live on our About page.