Australia
Australia's harbor city, defined by its iconic Opera House and bridge. Offers stunning beaches, a multicultural food scene, and an outdoorsy, sun-loving lifestyle.
#29 of 250
95% above average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 2 797
Based on NYC = 100 index
Sydney is the 29. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 2 797 for one adult.
Most of that goes on housing, which runs 63% above the median city and adds $ 655 a month: 1br apartment (city center) $ 1 584, 1br apartment (outside center) $ 1 810. It is also pricier than usual for utilities, restaurants.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
45 prices on this page come from live scrapers (13 sources, observed September 28, 2026 to October 13, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in Sydney, Australia. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/sydney. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (City Center) | 1,583.75 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Rentola |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 1,810.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Rentola |
| 3BR Apartment (city-wide) | 2,994.16 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Rentola |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 10.44 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Pork (1kg) | 16.67 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Beef (1kg) | 22.27 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Fish Fillet (1kg) | 9.05 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Deli Meat / Ham (1kg) | 24.37 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Milk (1 liter) | 2.12 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Cheese (1kg) | 14.76 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Butter (200g) | 3.53 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Eggs (12) | 4.59 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Bread (500g) | 2.29 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Bread Roll (1pc) | 3.41 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Pasta (500g) | 2.05 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Rice (1kg) | 2.99 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Oats (500g) | 0.81 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 2.55 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 8.35 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Carrots (1kg) | 4.87 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Onions (1kg) | 7.91 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Garlic (1kg) | 27.84 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 2.78 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Apples (1kg) | 6.95 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Banana (1kg) | 4.17 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Lentils (1kg) | 2.96 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Sunflower Oil (1L) | 3.59 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Flour (1kg) | 6.27 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Sugar (1kg) | 1.88 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Coffee (250g) | 12.53 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Water (1.5 liter) | 1.04 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Orange Juice (1L) | 2.23 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| One-way Ticket | 3.01 / trip | 1 | 2026-10-13 | City Transit Fares (browser) |
| Taxi Start | 3.60 / trip | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Official Taxi Tariffs |
| Taxi 1km | 1.82 / km | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Official Taxi Tariffs |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 1.69 / liter | 1 | 2026-10-13 | National fuel price sources |
| Mobile Plan (10GB+) | 21.08 / month | 1 | 2026-09-28 | Anglo Telecom Operators |
| Internet (60 Mbps+) | 66.13 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Telecom Operators |
| Cinema Ticket | 19.14 / ticket | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Cinema Ticket Prices |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | 22.28 / hour | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Tennis Court Hire Prices (Asia-Pacific) |
| Cold Medicine (6 days) | 3.48 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Global Local Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies (API) |
| Jeans (Levis or Similar) | 45.44 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Uniqlo, H&M |
| Summer Dress (Chain Store) | 38.02 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Uniqlo, H&M |
| Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas) | 181.00 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Asia-Pacific & ME Local Fashion Stores |
| Business Shoes (Leather) | 180.30 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Asia-Pacific & ME Local Fashion Stores |
Cities where the money splits the same way
Australia
Similar share of Housing & Restaurants
Australia
Similar share of Housing & Basic Grocery Basket
Australia
Similar share of Housing & Basic Grocery Basket
Australia
Similar share of Restaurants & Utilities
Monthly average costs by category
$ 1 697
per month
$ 239
per month
$ 335
per month
$ 76
per month
$ 261
per month
$ 125
per month
$ 21
per month
$ 44
per month