Cost of Living

Sydney, Australia

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

CheapestNew York = 100
50/ 10050% cheaper than New York
+2% rent since Jul 2026
$5,100/mo
Median Income
79/100
Safety
32.5%
Income Tax
humid subtropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

Housing
85/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,143/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$1,508/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$4,986/month
Food & Groceries
65/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.8/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$3.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$2.5/kg
Transportation
60/100
Monthly Transit Pass$140/month
One-Way Ticket$3.3/trip
Taxi (1 km)$2/km
Utilities
60/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$222/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$65/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$45/month
Healthcare
75/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$100/visit
Dentist Visit$150/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$25/course
Education
70/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$2,086/month
International Primary School (yearly)$25,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$1,200/course
Entertainment
65/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$18/ticket
Theater Ticket$55/ticket
Museum Entry$20/ticket
Clothing
70/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$95/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$60/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$120/pair
Personal Care
65/100
Haircut (Men)$35/cut
Haircut (Women)$65/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$8/bottle
Dining Out
70/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$22/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$85/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$12/meal
Childcare
75/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$1,800/month
Babysitter (per hour)$22/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$28/pack
Fitness & Sports
65/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$60/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$30/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$12/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

84 Mbps
Internet Speed
$600
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
high
English Level
large
Nomad Community
70/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Surry Hills, Barangaroo, Bondi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sydney cheap to live in?

Sydney has a cost of living index of 50/100, where New York = 100. It is 50% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,800–$2,520 per month.

How much does rent cost in Sydney?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Sydney costs approximately $2,143/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $1,508/month.

Is Sydney good for digital nomads?

Sydney has a large digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 84 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $600/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Sydney?

The median net monthly salary in Sydney is approximately $5,100 USD. The income tax rate is around 32.5%.

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

Sydney (cost index 50) is 50% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,250/month by moving from New York to Sydney.

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