Cost of Living

Brisbane, Australia

Live cost-of-living data for Brisbane — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
36/ 10064% cheaper than New York
$5,480/mo
Median Income
78/100
Safety
32%
Income Tax
subtropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
68/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,145/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$935/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,845/month
Food & Groceries
58/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.42/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$2.85/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.95/kg
Transportation
48/100
Monthly Transit Pass$42/month
One-Way Ticket$0.36/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.42/km
Utilities
52/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$165/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$52/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$38/month
Healthcare
72/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$65/visit
Dentist Visit$85/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
62/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$425/month
International Primary School (yearly)$10,500/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$350/course
Entertainment
58/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$14.25/ticket
Theater Ticket$65/ticket
Museum Entry$14/ticket
Clothing
62/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$75/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$48/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$105/pair
Personal Care
52/100
Haircut (Men)$28/cut
Haircut (Women)$52/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$6.5/bottle
Dining Out
60/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$16.25/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$68.5/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$10.5/meal
Childcare
65/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$900/month
Babysitter (per hour)$18/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$22/pack
Fitness & Sports
55/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$55/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$22/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$9/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

95 Mbps
Internet Speed
$350
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
high
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
72/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: South Bank, Fortitude Valley, West End

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brisbane cheap to live in?

Brisbane has a cost of living index of 36/100, where New York = 100. It is 64% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,300–$1,820 per month.

How much does rent cost in Brisbane?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Brisbane costs approximately $1,145/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $935/month.

Is Brisbane good for digital nomads?

Brisbane has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 95 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $350/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Brisbane?

The median net monthly salary in Brisbane is approximately $5,480 USD. The income tax rate is around 32%.

How does Brisbane compare to New York for cost of living?

Brisbane (cost index 36) is 64% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,600/month by moving from New York to Brisbane.

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