What is the cost of living in Australia? Our in-depth guide

Australia is a top destination for many expats. Its natural wonders are second to none and
several of its cities are frequently rated the world's most desirable destinations. When you’re moving to the country, It's easy to see it through rose-coloured glasses. However, Australia can be an expensive place to live. In fact, the cost of living may be higher than you expect.

Sure, most Australian cities are cheaper than big cities like London, New York, and Paris, but the country’s remoteness makes the cost of living high. Because it is an island nation, many goods must be imported from overseas. High residential property prices also affect the living costs in Australia.

This definitive guide breaks down the cost of living in Australia to ensure you know exactly what you're getting into long before you move.

The Australian currency

Australians use the Australian dollar, whose symbol is AUD or A$. The currency is also used in Australia’s external territories like Cocos Islands, Christmas Island, and Norfolk Island. It is the official currency of 3 independent Pacific Island states: Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Nauru.

This is the estimated value of the Australian dollar, compared to some major currencies:

• $1,000 = A$1,368

• £1,000 = A$1,823

• €1,000 = A$1,620

• C$1,000 = A$1,047

• INR1,000 = A$18

*Rates taken on November 24, 2020 at 7:00 pm IST on Xe.com

Xe’s free Currency Converter allows you to quickly get the mid-market rate of how much your country’s money will be in Australian dollars.

When moving to Australia, it’s crucial to consider the exchange rate because how much you have in Australian dollars will determine where you’ll live and what you can afford. Most banks charge a tidy sum to convert money from another currency to Australian dollars. The higher the fee charged, the less money you’ll get.

Use Xe and avoid high currency conversion fees

If you have a job waiting for you in Australia and you’ll be earning an income in your home currency, it is important to be aware of currency conversion fees. Most banks add a markup to the exchange rate to make more profit. Some banks will tell you that they don’t charge conversion fees, but in reality, they make money on the exchange rate.

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What is the cost of living in Australia vs. the UK, the U.S., and New Zealand?

Living in Australia comes at a price, a high one. The country is home to 2 of the world’s most expensive cities: Sydney and Melbourne. However, a recent survey by Mercer showed that Australian cities have become less expensive to live in, so now could be the best time to move.

Here’s a breakdown of the living costs in Australia compared to other big cities.

The cost of living in Australia (USD)

• Average monthly disposable salary - $24,569

• Basic utilities - $193

• Rent per month for a 3 bedroom apartment - $2,778

• Clothing and shoe prices - $130

• Transport: new car - $24,569

The cost of living in the UK (USD)

• Average monthly disposable salary - $2,961

• Basic utilities - $246

• Rent per month for a 3 bedroom apartment - $2,011

• Clothing and shoe prices - $96

• Transport: new car - $26,605

The cost of living in the US (USD)

• Average monthly disposable salary - $20,000

• Basic utilities - $162

• Rent per month for a 3 bedroom apartment - $1,686

• Clothing and shoe prices - $76

• Transport: new car - $20,000

The cost of living in New Zealand (USD)

• Average monthly disposable salary - $2,693

• Basic utilities - $155

• Rent per month for a 3 bedroom apartment - $1,927

• Clothing and shoe prices - $129

• Transport: new car - $27,172

Average figures on November 24, 2020.

How much does it cost to live in Australia’s biggest cities?

When many expats move to Australia, they are usually drawn to the 5 largest cities: Sydney, Brisbane , Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide. While these cities have a high standard of living, they are also the most expensive to live in.

Australia's biggest cities all have a great reputation when it comes to quality of life. Melbourne has a lot of cultural activities, Sydney ranks high in job opportunities for expats, while Perth is known for its laid-back attitude.

On average, this is how much it costs to live in Australia’s largest cities.

Living in Sydney

• Monthly mortgage payment (price per square meter in city center) - A$13,414

• Monthly rent (1 bedroom apartment in city center) - A$2,582

• Groceries (monthly) - A$400

• Utilities (monthly) - A$262

• Gym membership (monthly) - A$77

• Child care (monthly) - A$2,407

• Transportation pass (monthly) - A$217

• Eating out (meal for 2 at mid-range restaurant) - A$100

• Adult cinema ticket - A$20

Living in Melbourne

• Monthly mortgage payment (price per square meter in city center) - A$9,790

• Monthly rent (1 bedroom apartment in city center) - A$1,833

• Groceries (monthly) - A$250

• Utilities (monthly) - A$277

• Gym membership (monthly) - A$66

• Child care (monthly) - A$2,300

• Transportation pass (monthly) - A$159

• Eating out (meal for 2 at mid-range restaurant) - A$80

• Adult cinema ticket - A$20

Living in Brisbane

• Monthly mortgage payment (price per square meter in city center) - A$6,987

• Monthly rent (1 bedroom apartment in city center) - A$1,664

• Groceries (monthly) - A$A320

• Utilities (monthly) - A$283

• Gym membership (monthly) - A$61

• Child care (monthly) - A$1,807

• Transportation pass (monthly) - A$159

• Eating out (meal for 2 at mid-range restaurant) - A$100

• Adult cinema ticket - A$16

Living in Perth

• Monthly mortgage payment (price per square meter in city center) - A$6,991

• Monthly rent (1 bedroom apartment in city center) - A$1,459

• Groceries (monthly) - A$315

• Utilities (monthly) - A$293

• Gym membership (monthly) - A$63

• Child care (monthly) - A$1,734

• Transportation pass (monthly) - A$170

• Eating out (meal for 2 at mid-range restaurant) - A$92

• Adult cinema ticket - A$18

Living in Adelaide

• Monthly mortgage payment (price per square meter in city center) - A$4,793

• Monthly rent (1 bedroom apartment in city center) - A$1,360

• Groceries (monthly) - A$440

• Utilities (monthly) - A$281

• Gym membership (monthly) - $58

• Child care (monthly) - A$1,187

• Transportation pass (monthly) - A$101

• Eating out (meal for 2 at mid-range restaurant) - A$80

• Adult cinema ticket - A$15

Average figures on November 24, 2020

How much income do you need to live comfortably in Australia?

Over the last few years, the property prices in Australia have gone up significantly. However, they have not been matched by wage increases. What does this mean? If you’re moving to Australia to work, you’ll need to make a good amount of money to live comfortably.

Life isn't cheap, but if you live in some Australian cities, you'll pay a lot less. For example, if you decide to live in Sydney, you’ll need to earn at least A$6,000 a month to live comfortably. But if you live in Hobart, one of Australia’s cheapest cities, you can get by on A$3,000 a month. How comfortable you are will be determined by the size of your family, where you decide to live, and if you live in a rental or your own home.

What affects the cost of living in Australia?

1. Housing

Housing in Australia is ridiculously expensive. However, this can be mitigated depending on where you choose to live. Convenience and location are largely responsible for high property prices, with large cities such as Sydney being more expensive than smaller cities like Adelaide. If you decide to live away from the city center and commute, you will spend less money on rent.

The main reason real estate is so expensive is because of the fractional-reserve banking system. More money is available for lending, so more people are able to afford homes. More demand for homes makes prices go up.

2. Healthcare

Many expats who move to Australia for work don’t stay there permanently and therefore don't qualify for Medicare, the Nation's universal health insurance scheme. Medicare is fully financed by individual tax deductions and offers free comprehensive hospital care to permanent residents. Doctors consultations are also highly subsidized.

Private healthcare costs can be expensive, but there's no way for temporary residents to avoid these fees. In fact, you may even be required by the Australian authorities to have private health insurance before you’re granted a visa. The average cost for health insurance for an individual is around A$2,000 a year.

3. Education

The Australian public school system is reputable and your kids will get a world-class education. However, if you hold a temporary residence visa, you will have to pay tuition to enroll your kids in the state system. If you decide to enroll your child in a private school or an international school, you will have to pay tuition. In most cases, it will be expensive.

Australia also has faith-based schools which lie somewhere between the private system and the public system. The tuition for these institutions is usually higher than for public schools but lower than for private schools. Some faith-based schools may even be cheaper than public schools.

Here’s a rough estimate of education costs for secondary schools per year.

• Government school: A$4,455

• Catholic school: $12,599

• Private school: A$22,450

4. Utility bills

Most Australians report that their power and gas bills have significantly increased and affected their cost of living. In the first quarter of 2019, electricity prices in many of Australia's cities rose to record highs. Rising coal and gas costs, the increased cost of hydro power (due to the drought), and the record heatwave were largely to blame. Over the last 5 years, water bills have also increased significantly.

This is how much you can expect to spend on utility bills each month:

• Gas bill: A$200

• Electricity bill: A$120

• Water bill: A$60

• Internet bill: A$70

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