How much does it cost to live in Sydney? We've broken it down in the tables below.
Check out the tables below to get an updated look at the cost of everything from a McDonalds Big Mac Meal to how much you'd pay in rent for a flat. Some interesting costs we thought were worth highlighting:
- It costs roughly $10 to buy a Big Mac Meal
- You could spend upwards of $3,600 a month in rent
- A visit to the doctor could set you back almost $80
What else can I find on this page?
Food and Drinks
To get life insurance, you just have to give up two lunchtime takeaway meals per month.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic lunch item + drink in the CBD (central business district) | AU$16 |
| Fast food combo meal e.g. Big Mac Meal | AU$12 |
| 500g or 1lb. of chicken breast | AU$6 |
| 1 liter or 1qt. of full cream milk | AU$1.44 |
| 12 eggs | AU$6 |
| 1 kg or 2lb. of tomatoes | AU$5.06 |
| 500g of cheese (local) | AU$9 |
| 1 kg or 2lb. of apples | AU$4.23 |
| 1 kg or 2lb. of potatoes | AU$3.45 |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | AU$5.40 |
| 1 bottle of red wine (good quality) | AU$20 |
| 2 liters of Coca-Cola | AU$2.97 |
| A days worth of bread for 2 people | AU$2.63 |
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Pair of jeans e.g. Levis 501 or similar | AU$108 |
| A summer dress in a High Street Store e.g. Uniqlo, Zara, H&M | AU$85 |
| Pair of sport shoes e.g. Adidas, Nike, Puma, etc | AU$156 |
| Pair of leather shoes (Mens) | AU$142 |
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic pub dinner out for two | AU$55 |
| 2 movie tickets | AU$38 |
| 2 theater tickets (best seats available) | AU$215 |
| Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant (includes appetisers, main course, wine and dessert) | AU$115 |
| 1 cocktail drink at a downtown club | AU$18 |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | AU$4.41 |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | AU$9 |
| iPad Wi-Fi 128GB | AU$636 |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile phone chat | AU$0.54 |
| 1 month of gym membership (business district) | AU$82 |
| 1 package of cigarettes e.g. Marlboro | AU$31 |
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Monthly rent in an expensive area (85 square metres or 900 square feet) with furnished accommodation | AU$3,457 |
| Monthly rent in a normal priced area (85 square metres or 900 square feet) with furnished accommodation | AU$2,799 |
| Utilities for 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85 square metre flat | AU$245 |
| Monthly rent in an expensive area (45 square metres or 480 square feet) with furnished accommodation | AU$2,548 |
| Monthly rent in a normal area (45 square metres or 480 square feet) with furnished accommodation | AU$1,733 |
| Utilities for 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 45 square metre flat | AU$146 |
| Internet 8 Mbps (1 month of connection) | AU$60 |
| Flat screen TV (40 inches) | AU$645 |
| Microwave (800/900 Watts) e.g. Bosch, Panasonic, LG, Sharp, or equivalent brands | AU$252 |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | AU$11 |
| Cleaning (hourly) | AU$32 |
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Brand new (with no extras) Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 150 CV or an equivalent | AU$29,154 |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of petro (gas) | AU$1.50 |
| Monthly ticket public transport | AU$171 |
| Taxi trip on a business day (normal rate) 8 km or 5 miles | AU$29 |
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Cold medicine (6 days worth) e.g. Coldrex, Tylenol, Coldral, NyQuil, etc | |
| Antibiotics (12 doses) | AU$11 |
| Visit to a private doctor (15 minutes) | AU$16 |
| Box of 32 tampons e.g. Tampax, OB, Carefree etc | AU$70 |
| Deodorant e.g. roll-on (50ml or 1.5 oz.) | AU$7 |
| Hair shampoo (400 ml or 12 oz.) | AU$5.64 |
| Toilet paper (4 rolls) | AU$7 |
| Tube of toothpaste | AU$3.03 |
| Standard men's haircut in the expat are of the city | AU$4.40 |
| Type of insurance | Monthly cost | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Life insurance | $30* | Cost of life insurance guide |
| Car insurance | $76.51* | Cost of car insurance guide |
| Health insurance | $70.83* | Cost of health insurance guide |
*The monthly costs are an indicative guide. The actual cost will depend on your personal situation. Check out the guides for more information.
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