Cost of Living Comparison Calculator — Australia 2026-27
Compare the real cost of living between major Australian cities. Model equivalent salary, rent pressure, commuting differences, and one-off moving costs across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra.
Thinking of moving? Compare what your salary is really worth.
| Sydney | 100 |
|---|---|
| Melbourne | 88 |
| Sydney · Housing | $24,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Sydney · Food | $15,000.00 |
| Sydney · Transport | $9,000.00 |
| Sydney · Other | $27,000.00 |
| Melbourne · Housing | $19,680.00 |
| Melbourne · Food | $14,250.00 |
| Melbourne · Transport | $8,460.00 |
| Melbourne · Other | $23,760.00 |
Australia Cost of Living Notes
The equivalent salary formula
The equivalent salary is calculated as: Equivalent = Income × (City B index ÷ City A index). If you earn $100,000 in Sydney (index 100) and want to compare to Brisbane (index 82), the equivalent is $100,000 × 82/100 = $82,000.
This means you only need to earn $82,000 in Brisbane to maintain the same purchasing power — because everything costs 18% less on average.
Spending weights used
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Housing (rent/mortgage) | 32% of spending |
| Food & groceries | 20% |
| Transport | 12% |
| Utilities & other (healthcare, entertainment, clothing) | 36% |
Weights are based on ABS Household Expenditure Survey (most recent available), adjusted for post-COVID housing cost changes. Switch to Detailed mode to see estimated annual spending by category.
Australian city cost indexes 2026-27Cost index for every major Australian city — relative to Sydney = 100
| City | Overall index |
|---|---|
| Sydney (NSW) | 100 — reference city |
| Canberra (ACT) | 92 — 8% cheaper than Sydney |
| Darwin (NT) | 95 — 5% cheaper overall; high utilities |
| Melbourne (VIC) | 88 — 12% cheaper than Sydney |
| Perth (WA) | 87 — 13% cheaper; high transport costs |
| Wollongong (NSW) | 85 — 15% cheaper; commutable to Sydney |
| Gold Coast (QLD) | 84 — 16% cheaper; growing fast |
| Brisbane (QLD) | 82 — 18% cheaper than Sydney |
| Geelong (VIC) | 80 — 20% cheaper; commutable to Melbourne |
| Hobart (TAS) | 80 — 20% cheaper overall |
| Newcastle (NSW) | 79 — 21% cheaper; strong job market |
| Adelaide (SA) | 78 — 22% cheaper; most affordable capital |
Note: These are composite averages. Costs vary significantly by suburb and lifestyle. Housing has risen faster than other categories since 2022 — particularly in Perth and Adelaide. Use Numbeo or ABS CPI for up-to-date suburb-level data.
Median rents and house prices across Australian cities 2026-27
Median weekly rents (all dwellings, 2026-27 est.)
| City | Est. weekly rent |
|---|---|
| Sydney | ~$650–750/wk |
| Darwin | ~$580–620/wk |
| Canberra | ~$560–610/wk |
| Melbourne | ~$520–580/wk |
| Perth | ~$510–570/wk |
| Brisbane | ~$490–540/wk |
| Gold Coast | ~$480–520/wk |
| Hobart | ~$460–500/wk |
| Adelaide | ~$440–490/wk |
| Newcastle / Wollongong | ~$450–510/wk |
Rents have increased significantly across all cities since 2022. Perth and Brisbane have seen the fastest rent growth. Always check current listings on realestate.com.au or domain.com.au for the specific suburb you are considering.
How to use this comparison for salary negotiation and relocation planning
Salary negotiation when relocating
When moving from a higher-cost city to a lower-cost city, some employers offer a reduced salary on the basis of lower living costs. Know your number: the equivalent salary from this calculator is your minimum floor. Accepting less than the equivalent means your standard of living drops — you are not just paying for lower costs, you are taking a genuine real-terms pay cut.
When moving to a higher-cost city
Moving from Brisbane to Sydney requires approximately a 22% salary increase to maintain the same lifestyle. If the new employer offers less than the equivalent, you need to factor in the lifestyle trade-off explicitly — and model how long it would take to recover the real-terms gap through career progression.
Adjusting for your personal spending pattern
If you spend more than average on housing (e.g. living alone, not sharing), the housing component matters more. If you have a car loan but use public transport in a new city, transport costs drop. Use Standard mode to see the component breakdown and adjust the index manually for your own lifestyle.
What to check before relocating
- Current rental listings in the suburbs you are considering (not city averages)
- Commute cost and time from affordable suburbs to your workplace
- Whether your industry pays a city-specific market rate (check Seek salary data)
- One-off moving costs: removalist, bond, overlapping rent, time off work
- Any state-based tax differences (e.g. stamp duty, payroll tax if self-employed)
Frequently asked Frequently asked questions
How much more expensive is Sydney than Melbourne?
Sydney is approximately 12–15% more expensive than Melbourne overall, primarily driven by housing. Sydney median rents are around 20–25% higher. Food and transport are comparable. A $100,000 Melbourne salary equates to roughly $113,000 in Sydney purchasing power.
Is Brisbane cheaper than Sydney?
Yes — Brisbane is approximately 18–22% cheaper than Sydney on a composite basis. Housing is the biggest difference. A $100,000 Sydney salary equates to approximately $82,000 in Brisbane. However, Brisbane rents have risen significantly since 2021 and the gap is narrowing.
Is Perth expensive compared to the east coast?
Perth is comparable to Melbourne overall (index ~87 vs 88) but has higher transport costs due to car dependency and higher fuel prices. Housing is slightly below Melbourne. Some sectors (mining, resources) pay significant Perth or WA market premiums on top of the base salary.
What is the cheapest major Australian city to live in?
Adelaide is consistently the most affordable Australian capital city, with a cost index approximately 22% below Sydney. It has relatively affordable housing, low transport costs, and similar food prices to other capitals. Hobart is comparable. Both cities have seen strong population and price growth since 2020.
How do I use this for a city not in the list?
Select “Custom city” in the dropdown and enter your own index number. Set Sydney = 100 as the reference. For data, use Numbeo (numbeo.com), ABS Consumer Price Index, or CBRE’s annual cost-of-living reports. Regional cities such as Cairns, Ballarat, Bendigo, and Townsville typically have indexes in the 65–75 range.
Where these figures come from
Cost-of-living and inflation figures on this page are drawn from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (CPI), the Reserve Bank of Australia (inflation target and monetary policy), and the Fair Work Commission (minimum wage).
- Consumer Price Index (CPI) — ABS — Consumer Price Index.
- Household expenditure & income — ABS — Household Expenditure Survey.
- RBA inflation target — RBA — Inflation.
- National minimum wage — Fair Work Ombudsman — Minimum wages.
- Fuel & energy price data — Australian Institute of Petroleum / AER.
Last checked: July 2026. Rates and thresholds are reviewed against the source of record each November, when annual adjustments for the following tax year are published.
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| Inputs | Equivalent income in destination city | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney against Melbourne on 120,000 | 88,000 | the same salary buys a different life two cities apart |
The sources behind this calculator
- American Association of Feline Practitioners — Feline Life Stage Guidelines — the six feline life stages the cat-age page uses
- Wang et al. 2020, Cell Systems — Quantitative translation of dog-to-human aging by conserved remodeling of the DNA methylome — the 16·ln(age)+31 epigenetic formula on the dog-age page
- Fair Work Ombudsman — sets hospitality award wages — why tipping is optional in Australia
Last checked: September 2026. Where a page states a convention (a tipping custom, a pet life stage), the page names the body it follows.