Cost of Living in Sydney
Australia
Comfortable budget (single)
$4,482/month
Range $2,831–$4,482/month
Last updated: 2026-03
Can you afford to live in Sydney?
Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).
Daily costs at a glance
Typical prices you'll pay in Sydney for everyday essentials.
Coffee
$6
flat white at cafe
Beer
$9
pint at pub
Lunch
$24
meal at inexpensive restaurant
Groceries
$560
single-person monthly groceries
Transport
$124
monthly pass
Gym
$59
monthly membership
Full cost breakdown
Colors show how each category compares to the global average of our 100 tracked cities.
| Category | USD/month | vs global |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $2,123–$3,303 | ↑ +34% |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $1,121–$1,769 | ↑ +34% |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $88–$171 | ↑ +34% |
| Internet & Mobile | $35–$59 | ↑ +34% |
| Groceries (monthly) | $448–$672 | ↑ +34% |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $59–$106 | ↑ +33% |
| Coffee | $5–$7 | ↑ +50% |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $112–$136 | ↑ +35% |
| Gym membership | $41–$77 | ↑ +34% |
| Cinema ticket | $17–$21 | ↑ +36% |
Housing market
Rent vs buy snapshot for Sydney — useful if you're comparing long-term relocation options.
Rent (1-bed center)
$2,123–$3,303/mo
Buy center (per m²)
$17,300
Buy outside (per m²)
$9,510
Price-to-rent ratio
24×
Avg mortgage rate
6.3%
💰 Mortgage estimate: a 60 m² apartment in Sydney center at ~$17,300/m² with a 25y loan at 6.3% would cost roughly $6,879/month — compare that to the rent range above.
Local salaries (monthly net, USD)
Typical take-home in Sydney. A green badge means the salary covers at least 2.5× the max rent for a 1-bed in the center.
| Role | Monthly net | Covers rent? |
|---|---|---|
| Average net salary | $4,300 | ❌ No |
| Software engineer (mid) | $5,450 | ❌ No |
| Marketing manager | $4,570 | ❌ No |
| Teacher (secondary) | $3,850 | ❌ No |
| Nurse (RN) | $3,800 | ❌ No |
Local insider tips
Practical ways to cut costs that actually work in Sydney.
Utilize the Opal card for seamless and cheaper travel across Sydney's extensive public transport network, including trains, buses, and ferries.
To save on groceries, shop at larger supermarkets like Woolworths or Coles, and explore local fresh produce markets such as Paddy's Markets for better value.
Consider living in vibrant, more affordable inner-west suburbs like Newtown or Marrickville for a strong community feel and excellent public transport links.
Budget scenarios
Single
$2,831–$4,482/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$3,303/mo
- Groceries: ~$672/mo
- Transport: ~$136/mo
Couple
$4,482–$6,841/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$3,303/mo
- Groceries: ~$672/mo
- Transport: ~$136/mo
Family
$6,487–$10,026/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$3,303/mo
- Groceries: ~$672/mo
- Transport: ~$136/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Sydney Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $2,654–$4,129/mo
Sydney Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $2,335–$3,633/mo
Sydney Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,698–$2,642/mo
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • Harbor
- • Beaches
- • Jobs
❌ Cons
- • Housing crisis
- • Distance
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Compare Sydney with another city
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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.