How expensive is Canberra compared to the rest of Australia?

Canberra ranks #146 out of 577 cities globally. It is 10.4% cheaper than the Australia average, based on 8 cities. The rent index is 37.9 and local purchasing power is 138.3.

What is the average rent in Canberra?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Canberra city centre costs approximately AUD 2,497 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to AUD 2,117 (saving 15%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around AUD 4,412.

Is Canberra affordable to live in?

Canberra is expensive by global standards. Groceries are average, restaurants are average, and local purchasing power is average. Workers in Australia earning AUD 81,435 gross take home approximately AUD 5,431 per month after tax.

🇦🇺 Australia · 2026

Lebenshaltungskosten in Canberra

10.4% unter dem Australia-Durchschnitt

Platz #146 von 577 Städten · Teurer als 74.7% der Städte weltweit

-10.4%

Lebenshaltungskosten

-5.7%

Miete

+5.0%

Lebensmittel

+3.3%

Kaufkraft

Vergleich zum Australia-Durchschnitt · Australia-Ranking ansehen →

Mietpreise in Canberra

Wohnung	Stadtzentrum	Außerhalb des Zentrums	Du sparst
1-Zimmer	AUD 2,497/mo ≈ $1,735	AUD 2,117/mo ≈ $1,471	15%
3-Zimmer	AUD 4,412/mo ≈ $3,066	AUD 2,831/mo ≈ $1,967	36%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in Canberra

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	AUD 5.16	2 sources
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	AUD 6.52	2 sources
Bread (500g)	AUD 3.26	2 sources
Local cheese (1kg)	AUD 18.02	2 sources
Chicken (1kg)	AUD 13.84	2 sources
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	AUD 44.50	2 sources
Eggs (12)	AUD 7.06	2 sources
Milk (1L)	AUD 1.89	2 sources
Potatoes (1kg)	AUD 3.72	2 sources
Tomatoes (1kg)	AUD 5.87	2 sources
Water (1.5L)	AUD 1.82	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	AUD 23.20	2 sources

Apples (1kg)

AUD 5.16

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

AUD 6.52

Bread (500g)

AUD 3.26

Local cheese (1kg)

AUD 18.02

Chicken (1kg)

AUD 13.84

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

AUD 44.50

Eggs (12)

AUD 7.06

Milk (1L)

AUD 1.89

Potatoes (1kg)

AUD 3.72

Tomatoes (1kg)

AUD 5.87

Water (1.5L)

AUD 1.82

Wine (mid-range)

AUD 23.20

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	AUD 10.75	2 sources
Cappuccino	AUD 5.07	2 sources
McMeal	AUD 14.50	2 sources
Cheap meal	AUD 24.00	2 sources
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	AUD 105.00	2 sources

Draft beer (0.5L)

AUD 10.75

Cappuccino

AUD 5.07

McMeal

AUD 14.50

Cheap meal

AUD 24.00

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

AUD 105.00

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	AUD 163.44	2 sources
Jeans (Levi's 501)	AUD 111.67	2 sources
Sport shoes (Nike)	AUD 166.16	2 sources
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	AUD 79.90	2 sources

Business shoes (leather)

AUD 163.44

Jeans (Levi's 501)

AUD 111.67

Sport shoes (Nike)

AUD 166.16

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

AUD 79.90

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	AUD 19.25	2 sources
Gym membership	AUD 86.50	2 sources

Cinema ticket

AUD 19.25

Gym membership

AUD 86.50

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	AUD 1.90	2 sources
Taxi start	AUD 5.80	1 source
Monthly pass	AUD 119.90	2 sources

Gasoline (1L)

AUD 1.90

Taxi start

AUD 5.80

Monthly pass

AUD 119.90

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	AUD 265.53	2 sources

Basic utilities (85m²)

AUD 265.53

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

Multi-Source Comparison

★★ Medium Confidence

Canberra has a cost of living index of 50.0 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 2 of 3 data sources. Numbeo is left out because it sits more than 15% away from the others.

50.0

Index

Sources

4.0

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

60.4

left out

Expatistan

52.0

LivingCost

48.0

ShouldIMove price index

No data

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

View all 577 cities

Kostenindizes

Lebenshaltungskosten

-10.4% Affordable

Miete

-5.7% Average

Lebensmittel

+5.0% Average

Restaurants

0.0% Average

Kaufkraft

+3.3% Average

Leben in Canberra: Was dich erwartet

Canberra ist expensive nach globalen Maßstäben (Platz #146 von 577 Städten). 10.4% günstiger als der Australia-Durchschnitt, basierend auf 8 Städten.

Lebensmittel sind average, während Essen gehen average ist. Rent bietet das beste Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis, während Groceries am teuersten ist.

Die lokale Kaufkraft ist stark: Einwohner können sich mehr Waren und Dienstleistungen leisten als in den meisten Städten.

Arbeitnehmer in Australia mit AUD 81,435 brutto erhalten AUD 5,431/Monat netto nach Steuern (20%% effektiver Steuersatz). Vollständigen Steuerrechner für Australia anzeigen →

Lebenshaltungskosten in Canberra

Mietpreise in Canberra

Prices of Goods & Services in Canberra

Groceries

Restaurants

Clothing & Shoes

Leisure

Transportation

Utilities

Multi-Source Comparison

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Kostenindizes

Leben in Canberra: Was dich erwartet

Wie schneidet Canberra ab?

Planst du einen Umzug nach Canberra?