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

Sydney, Australia

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Country
Australia
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Relocation
Sydney, Australia

About Sydney, Australia

Costs exclude rent
Single / month
$941
A$1,426.14
Family of 4 / mo
$2,424
A$3,673.38
Avg salary (after tax)
$5,762
A$8,731.04

Sydney is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about 80 kilometres (50 mi) from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Blue Mountains in the west, and about 80 kilometres (50 mi) from Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and the Hawkesbury River in the north and north-west, to the Royal National Park and Macarthur in the south and south-west. Greater Sydney consists of 658 suburbs, spread across 33 local government areas. Residents of the city are colloquially known as "Sydneysiders". The estimated population in June 2025 was 5,638,830, which is about 66% of the state's population. The city's nicknames include the Emerald City and the Harbour City.

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

  • Men's Dress ShoesUSD $236.78
  • Midrange Nike Running ShoesUSD $200.51
  • Summer Dress from Chain Stores (e.g., Zara, H&M)USD $97.02
  • Classic Jeans (e.g., Levi's 501)USD $149.75

Financial

  • Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed)USD $1.32
  • Average Monthly Salary After TaxUSD $8,731

Food - Beverages

  • Local Draft Beer (Pint)USD $10.55
  • Imported Beer (Small Bottle)USD $11.87
  • CappuccinoUSD $5.91
  • Soft Drinks (350 ml Bottle)USD $4.49
  • Bottled Water (350 ml)USD $3.92

Food - Dining

  • Casual Dining ExperienceUSD $26.37
  • Upscale Dinner for TwoUSD $131.91
  • Fast Food ComboUSD $18.46

Food - Grocery

  • Dozen EggsUSD $6.55
  • Local Cheese (1 kg)USD $16.04
  • Chicken Fillets (1 kg)USD $15.12
  • Beef Round (1 kg)USD $25.16
  • Bananas (1 kg)USD $4.58
  • Oranges (1 kg)USD $4.87
  • Tomatoes (1 kg)USD $8.75
  • Potatoes (1 kg)USD $4.12
  • Onions (1 kg)USD $3.42
  • Lettuce (1 Head)USD $3.71
  • Bottled Water (1.5L)USD $2.92
  • Midrange Bottle of WineUSD $21.11
  • Marlboro (20-Pack)USD $52.77
  • Milk (1 litre)USD $2.6
  • Fresh White Bread (1 kg)USD $8.87
  • White Rice (1 kg)USD $3.58
  • Apples (1 kg)USD $5.54

Housing

  • Average Rent of 3-Bedroom Apartment in City CenterUSD $6,374
  • Average Rent of 3-Bedroom Apartment Outside City CenterUSD $4,194
  • Average Cost per Square Foot for Apartments in City CenterUSD $2,261
  • Average Cost per Square Foot for Apartments Outside City CenterUSD $1,251
  • Average Rent of 1-Bedroom Apartment Outside City CenterUSD $2,306
  • Average Rent of 1-Bedroom Apartment in City CenterUSD $3,243

Leisure

  • Monthly Fee for Fitness Club Membership (1 Adult)USD $110.1
  • Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend)USD $30.33
  • Cinema Ticket (International Release)USD $29.03
  • Monthly Fee for Private Kindergarten (1 Child)USD $3,144
  • Yearly Cost for International Primary School (1 Child)USD $28,013

Transportation

  • 1 Hour Taxi WaitUSD $78.88
  • Average Price of a New Sedan CarUSD $37,809
  • Average Taxi Fare for 1 kmUSD $5.95
  • Average Monthly Cost of Public Transport PassUSD $286.77
  • One-Way Local Transport FareUSD $6.57
  • Average Rate to Start a Taxi RideUSD $5.95
  • Average Price of a New Compact Hatchback CarUSD $42,214

Utilities (Monthly)

  • Average Monthly Cost for Essential Utilities in a 915 sq. ft. ApartmentUSD $229.91
  • Internet Service (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited)USD $96.58

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.
  • Spot something off? Hit Report — corrections reach consensus automatically.
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.