City in New South Wales, Australia
Cost of living in Sydney
How much a month costs in Sydney
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $3,820–5,210 (A$5,500–7,500).
Prices in Sydney
Typical 2026 ranges in AUD, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | AUD | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | A$2,800–4,200 | $1,950–2,920 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | A$2,000–2,900 | $1,390–2,020 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | A$40–75 | $28–52 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | A$200–350 | $139–243 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | A$15–25 | $10.4–17.4 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | A$30–50 | $21–35 |
| Cappuccino | A$4–6 | $2.8–4.2 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | A$9–14 | $6.3–9.7 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | A$3–6 | $2.1–4.2 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | A$18–32 | $13–22 |
| Work and life | ||
| Coworking day pass | A$40–70 | $28–49 |
| Gym membership (month) | A$60–110 | $42–76 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | A$30–50 | $21–35 |
Value for money: 8/100
A value score of 8/100 means Sydney gives more quality of life per dollar than 7% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 82/100. It's the 25th most affordable of 28 places we cover in Australia.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Australia
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Cairns | $2,640–3,610 | 27/100 |
| Adelaide | $2,640–3,610 | 28/100 |
| Whitsundays | $2,640–3,610 | 29/100 |
| K'gari | $2,640–3,610 | 30/100 |
| Launceston | $2,780–3,750 | 29/100 |
| Hobart | $2,780–3,820 | 27/100 |
| Magnetic Island | $2,780–3,820 | 32/100 |
| Great Ocean Road | $2,920–4,030 | 23/100 |
| Blue Mountains | $2,990–4,170 | 24/100 |
| Gold Coast | $3,060–4,170 | 20/100 |
| Perth | $3,060–4,310 | 18/100 |
| Brisbane | $3,130–4,310 | 18/100 |
| Newcastle | $3,130–4,310 | 16/100 |
| Melbourne | $3,340–4,520 | 13/100 |
| Byron Bay | $3,340–4,520 | 15/100 |
| Darwin | $3,340–4,520 | 13/100 |
| Sunshine Coast | $3,340–4,520 | 19/100 |
| Fremantle | $3,340–4,520 | 15/100 |
| Canberra | $3,340–4,520 | 16/100 |
| Margaret River | $3,340–4,520 | 18/100 |
| Alice Springs | $3,340–4,520 | 9/100 |
| Port Douglas | $3,480–4,730 | 15/100 |
| Noosa | $3,480–4,870 | 15/100 |
| Broome | $3,610–4,870 | 9/100 |
| Sydney | $3,820–5,210 | 8/100 |
| Uluru | $3,820–5,560 | 6/100 |
| Manly | $4,030–5,420 | 7/100 |
| Bondi Beach | $4,170–5,560 | 6/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Sydney
Similar safety, lower cost, in Oceania.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Rotorua | New Zealand | $1,960–2,690 |
| Taupo | New Zealand | $1,960–2,690 |
| Bay of Islands | New Zealand | $2,020–2,810 |
| Christchurch | New Zealand | $2,130–2,810 |
| Wellington | New Zealand | $2,360–3,090 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Sydney?
About $2,220–2,920 on a lean budget, $3,820–5,210 for a comfortable month and $6,950–10,430 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Sydney?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs A$2,800–4,200 ($1,950–2,920) a month in the center and A$2,000–2,900 ($1,390–2,020) outside it.
How much does food cost in Sydney?
A local meal is A$15–25 ($10.4–17.4); a mid-range restaurant is A$30–50 ($21–35) per person.
Is Australia expensive?
Prices in Australia are about 90% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Sydney
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Transport for NSW
- Sydney Airport
- Destination NSW (Sydney)
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.