What is the average rent in Sydney?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Sydney city centre costs approximately AUD 3,635 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to AUD 2,505 (saving 31%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around AUD 7,142.

Is Sydney affordable to live in?

Sydney is very expensive by global standards. Groceries are average, restaurants are average, and local purchasing power is weak. Workers in Australia earning AUD 80,860 gross take home approximately AUD 5,399 per month after tax.

🇦🇺 Australia · 2026

Cost of Living in Sydney

Q: How expensive is Sydney compared to the rest of Australia?

Sydney ranks #33 out of 577 cities globally. It is 17.9% more expensive than the Australia average, based on 8 cities. The rent index is 56.4 and local purchasing power is 111.3.

17.9% above the Australia average

Ranked #33 of 577 cities · More expensive than 94.3% of cities worldwide

+17.9%

Cost of Living

+40.3%

Rent

+2.8%

Groceries

-16.9%

Purchasing Power

Compared to Australia average · See Australia ranking →

Rent Prices in Sydney

Apartment	City Centre	Outside Centre	You Save
1-Bedroom	AUD 3,635/mo ≈ $2,526	AUD 2,505/mo ≈ $1,740	31%
3-Bedroom	AUD 7,142/mo ≈ $4,963	AUD 4,364/mo ≈ $3,032	39%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in Sydney

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	AUD 5.02	2 sources
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	AUD 6.37	2 sources
Bread (500g)	AUD 3.05	2 sources
Local cheese (1kg)	AUD 20.27	2 sources
Chicken (1kg)	AUD 13.86	2 sources
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	AUD 46.50	2 sources
Eggs (12)	AUD 9.06	2 sources
Milk (1L)	AUD 2.42	2 sources
Potatoes (1kg)	AUD 4.00	2 sources
Tomatoes (1kg)	AUD 6.40	2 sources
Water (1.5L)	AUD 1.75	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	AUD 24.00	2 sources

Apples (1kg)

AUD 5.02

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

AUD 6.37

Bread (500g)

AUD 3.05

Local cheese (1kg)

AUD 20.27

Chicken (1kg)

AUD 13.86

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

AUD 46.50

Eggs (12)

AUD 9.06

Milk (1L)

AUD 2.42

Potatoes (1kg)

AUD 4.00

Tomatoes (1kg)

AUD 6.40

Water (1.5L)

AUD 1.75

Wine (mid-range)

AUD 24.00

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	AUD 10.50	2 sources
Cappuccino	AUD 5.50	2 sources
McMeal	AUD 16.00	2 sources
Cheap meal	AUD 25.50	2 sources
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	AUD 181.14	2 sources

Draft beer (0.5L)

AUD 10.50

Cappuccino

AUD 5.50

McMeal

AUD 16.00

Cheap meal

AUD 25.50

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

AUD 181.14

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	AUD 187.78	2 sources
Jeans (Levi's 501)	AUD 116.46	2 sources
Sport shoes (Nike)	AUD 160.50	2 sources
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	AUD 85.05	2 sources

Business shoes (leather)

AUD 187.78

Jeans (Levi's 501)

AUD 116.46

Sport shoes (Nike)

AUD 160.50

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

AUD 85.05

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	AUD 25.25	2 sources
Gym membership	AUD 94.81	2 sources

Cinema ticket

AUD 25.25

Gym membership

AUD 94.81

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	AUD 1.93	2 sources
Taxi start	AUD 5.40	1 source
Monthly pass	AUD 192.70	2 sources

Gasoline (1L)

AUD 1.93

Taxi start

AUD 5.40

Monthly pass

AUD 192.70

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	AUD 278.34	2 sources

Basic utilities (85m²)

AUD 278.34

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★★ High Confidence

Sydney has a cost of living index of 65.8 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 4 of 4 data sources.

65.8

Index

Sources

7.9

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

70.7

Expatistan

66.0

LivingCost

62.8

ShouldIMove price index

63.8

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

Eurostat Validation (EU27 = 100) Gov. Data

Eurostat

126.5

Based on 110 country PLI x 1.15 city factor

View all 577 cities | Data last updated: 2026-03-18

Cost Indices

Cost of Living

+17.9% Expensive

Rent

+40.3% Very expensive

Groceries

+2.8% Average

Restaurants

+1.7% Average

Purchasing Power

-16.9% Weak

Living in Sydney: What to Expect

Sydney is very expensive by global standards (ranked #33 of 577 cities). It is 17.9% more expensive than the Australia average, based on 8 cities.

Groceries are average and dining out is average. The best value is restaurants and the priciest is rent.

Workers in Australia earning AUD 80,860 gross take home AUD 5,399/month after tax (19.9% effective rate). See full Australia tax calculator →

Cost of Living in Sydney

Rent Prices in Sydney

Prices of Goods & Services in Sydney

Groceries

Restaurants

Clothing & Shoes

Leisure

Transportation

Utilities

Multi-Source Comparison

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Cost Indices

Living in Sydney: What to Expect

How Does Sydney Compare?

Planning a Move to Sydney?