AustraliaAustralia GuideMoneyCost of Living

Cost of Living

What is the cost of living in Australia

It’s difficult to calculate an average cost of living, as it depends on an individual’s circumstances and lifestyle.

Cost of Living


Manufactured goods tend to be expensive in Australia, particularly imported goods. Automobiles, clothes and other manufactured items, are generally more expensive than in Europe or North America. If you do a lot of traveling, transport costs are high owing to the large distances involved, although petrol is much cheaper than in Europe.

The price of food is similar to the US and around 25% less than most European countries. Approximately $400 should be sufficient to feed two adults for a month in most areas (excluding alcohol, caviar and fillet steak). The price of staple foods in Australia’s capital cities are listed in the monthly British newspaper Australian Outlook and a free Property Value Guide is published annually by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
The Housing section includes information regarding the average house prices in Australian cities, as well as the average renting prices.

Housing

As of April 2011, the average house prices in Australian capitals are as follows:

  • Canberra: $507,500
  • Sydney: $500,000
  • Melbourne: $474,000
  • Perth: $465,000
  • Darwin: $434,500
  • Brisbane: $434,000
  • Adelaide: $390,000
  • Hobart: $330,000

The overall average house price in Australia is $459,000.

Rental housing:

Apt. Type

AU$ *

 

Apt. Type

AU$ *

Apt. 1 bedroom furnished

260.00

 

Apt. 1 bedroom unfurnished

190.00

Apt. 2 bedroom furnished

300.00

 

Apt. 2 bedroom unfurnished

250.00

Apt. 3 bedroom furnished

350.00

 

Apt. 3 bedroom unfurnished

280.00

House 3 bedroom furnished

380.00

 

House 3 bedroom unfurnished

340.00

*Prices are per week

Food

The cost of food and groceries depends on your shopping preferences. However, the average cost is between AU$40 and AU$70 per individual, per week.
Some basic examples:

  • Milk (1 liter) - $2.00
  • Cheese (250g) - $7.49
  • Butter (250g) - $2.70
  • Sliced white bread (750g) - $2.69
  • Breakfast cereal, corn based (825g) - $6.20
  • Rice, long grain (1.5kg) - ) $4.95
  • Beef Roast Beef (500g) - $16.80
  • Chicken, frozen (1kg) - $6.50
  • Oranges (1kg) - $5.38
  • Potatoes (1kg) - $3.98
  • Tomatoes (1kg) - $4.03

Utilities (Household per year)

  • Council Rates (City of Joondalup, West Coast) = $1600
  • Water Rates = $884
  • Water Usage Charge = $416
  • Building Insurance ($392,000 cover) = $660
  • Contents Insurance ($106,000 cover) = $420
  • Electricity = $1,671
  • Gas = $731
  • Phone = $1290 ^
  • Broadband internet = $600
  • Foxtel Pay TV (Basic + Sport) = $840

Total of these housing costs:
$9,112 per year = $760 per month = $175 per week.
(The prices are estimated for an average Australian family - 2 children, 2 adults).

Car/travel

If you want to get a car in Australia you need to consider the cost of buying the car as well as the cost of maintaining it and purchasing petrol. The average weekly cost of having a car is $50 - $80. This includes petrol, compulsory car insurance, registration and maintenance.
For information on buying cars in Australia visit www.carsguide.com.au/ .

Public transport

The prices of public transport in Australia vary from one city to another. The best option is to estimate your journey costs by using a public transport route planner, such as the New South Wales transport information site .

Health Insurance

Premiums vary considerably according to the state or territory. The average cost of 100% hospital cover for a family is around $1,600 and the average cost of 100% ancillary cover is around $1,150. The average costs for a single person are $750 or $875 (depending on the level of cover) for hospital cover and $575 for ancillary cover. Premiums vary little between couples, families and single-parent families, who all pay around double the single premium. Premiums can usually be paid monthly, quarterly or annually, and a discount may be given for prompt or annual payment. Alternatively, you can pay on a weekly or fortnightly basis through deductions from your pay packet.

Clothing

The cost of clothing in Australia can vary. There are a number of quality variety stores such as K-Mart and Big W where you can find low cost clothing and shoes of all varieties. Department and specialty stores such as Myer and David Jones carry more expensive, high-end clothing labels.

Further reading

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Other comments

  • Reply Eve Novak, 09 July 2008

    When was this post last updated?

    We (family of 3) are considering a move to Northern QLD and have heard that we should expect to pay about $400 a week for housing so I'm skeptical about the numbers in this chart.
    When was it published?
    If it's been a while, can anyone direct me to current information?
    Many thanks!!!
    • 17 Jul 2008, 05:00 Greg Hill

      When was this post last updated?

      Good Question - Good information but without date not much use
    • 20 Jul 2008, 04:23 tom

      is out of reality

      check www.smh.com.au and then click domain section, here you can check "today" prices
      good luck
    • 21 Aug 2008, 07:30 Daniel

      no way

      This list would be correct for people on the poverty line living in the poorest of the suburbs. It looks way out date.
    • 16 Jan 2009, 11:00 Don

      Rentals

      The website realestate.com.au gives you up to date information for the country.

      I only have experience of Queensland (Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns). In Queensland there is a rental bond system of 4 weeks rent which is lodged with a Qld government agency. The latest information on leases etc can be found at the REIQ site at www.reiq.com.au

      References are essential for most estate agencies but if you contact them in advance from overseas you should be ready to move in when you arrive and have a found a place. There are many private landlords as well as real estate agencies who may dispense with the legalities but I would check out the regulated ones first.

      The market is regulated in favour of the landlord but it does give you what it says in the REIQ rental contract. There have been some recent changes to the law including the outlawing of 'auctioning' the rental contract to the highest bidder and an increase in the notice for not renewing the lease.

      Queensland towns are relatively small (except Brisbane which is vast) so the rural areas and trailer parks start quite close in to the city centre so have a drive around the areas before you start looking seriously and certainly before you sign a lease. Make a point of calling in at the local school at mid morning break for one source of information admin staff are nearly always ready to share their POV.

      There are certainly properties in Townsville and Cairns at less than $400 A$300-350 would get you an older 3 bed room high-set, small pool, and close to shops and transport.

      Generally the finish quality is not as high as the newer properties which will be more expensive.

      There has been an 'easing' lately so you can always ask for a reduction in the rent. You may not get it but if you have done your research you may be pleasantly surprised.

      Good Luck it is a lovely part of the world
    • 07 Dec 2009, 06:30 Rolf

      This article is rubbish

      The cost estimations for housing are only close to accurate if its in pounds - not aussie dollar.

      Australia is over-priced and over-rated anyway, much rather live in North America.
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  • Reply john, 19 July 2009

    so difficult to tell what the cost of living in australia is

    This article is great because out all the articles I see on cost of living in Australia, there is no mention to how opinionated and fluctuated the term cost of living is.

    There is a community of Australians talking about their living expenses at http://www.earthcosts.com/australia/ 

    this article compared to what others are saying at earthcosts.com gives you a good gist of what the actual 'living expenses' of Australia are.
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  • Reply Alexia, 26 June 2011

    Not sure on the clothes

    150 dollars seems like a fair bit.
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  • Reply Jessica, 25 July 2011

    No Way, not in 2011!

    I don't know exactly when this article was published, but before July 2008 judging by the first comment. This information is not even remotely correct in 2011. I don't know if it was correct then, but now I would say that besides Insurance and clothing, most things are between 50% and 100% more than what is quoted. I am a 27 year old Australian and have just moved back to Melbourne from Italy, and I am terrified at how expensive this country is compared with Europe.
    • 07 Feb 2012, 06:48 Paul

      Prices way short in 2012

      I agree that these costs are waaaaay out of date. My rental home costs $400 per week - asbestos 1950's house in poor condition Bayswater. I'm very lucky to have this!

      Other living costs are closer to 100 per cent or more and rising steadily and very rapidly in West Australia's two speed economy. Rich fly-in fly-out (FIFO)miners and the rest of the working class and impoverished.
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