Cost of Living
What is the cost of living in Australia
It’s difficult to calculate an average cost of living, as it depends on an individual’s circumstances and lifestyle.
Manufactured goods tend to be expensive in Australia, particularly imported goods, including automobiles, clothes and other manufactured items, which are generally more expensive than in Europe or North America. If you do a lot of travelling, transport costs are high owing to the large distances involved, although petrol is much cheaper than in Europe.
The price of food is similar to the US and around 25 per cent less than most European countries. Approximately $400 should be sufficient to feed two adults for a month in most areas (excluding alcohol, caviar and fillet steak). The prices of staple foods in Australia’s capital cities are listed in the monthly British newspaper Australian Outlook and a free Property Value Guide is published annually by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
The approximate minimum monthly major expenses for an average person or family in an average town or suburb are shown in the table below (the figures in brackets refer to the notes below). When calculating your cost of living, deduct the appropriate percentage for income tax and other deductions from your gross salary.
MONTHLY COSTS (A$)
| ITEM | Single | Couple | Family of Four |
| Housing (1) | 700 | 1000 | 1500 |
| Food | 350 | 450 | 700 |
| Utilities (2) | 150 | 200 | 250 |
| Leisure (3) | 150 | 200 | 350 |
| Car/travel (4) | 200 | 250 | 350 |
| Insurance (5) | 75 | 150 | 150 |
| Clothing | 150 | 250 | 400 |
| Rates | 50 | 75 | 100 |
| TOTAL | 1,825 | 2,575 | 3,800 |
1. Rental or mortgage on a modern apartment or semi-detached house in an ‘average’ small town or outer city suburb. The cost for a single person is for a bedsitter or sharing accommodation. Other costs are for a two (couple) and three-bedroom property (family). They don’t include subsidised housing.
2. Includes electricity, gas, telephone and water, plus heating bills.
3. Includes all entertainment, holiday and sports expenses, plus newspapers and magazines (which could of course be much higher than the figure given).
4. Includes running costs for an average family car, plus petrol, road tax, servicing and third party insurance, but not depreciation or credit costs.
5. Includes all ‘voluntary’ insurance, except for comprehensive car insurance and expensive private health insurance.
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Also in this section
- Australian Banks: Where to manage your finances
- Accounts: How to open a bank account in Australia
- Cards: Cash, debit, credit and charge cards, ATMs
- Cost of Living: What is the cost of living in Australia
- Income tax: An introduction to Australia´s income tax
- Income tax allowances & rebates: How can I pay less?
- Taxable Income: What part of my income is taxable?
- Income Tax Rates: Residents and Non-residents tax rates
- Income tax collection: PAYG, PAYG Installments, PPS
- Income tax for self-employed: The advantages of being self-employed
Comments from other users
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When was this post last updated?
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When was this post last updated?
Good Question - Good information but without date not much use
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is out of reality
check www.smh.com.au and then click domain section, here you can check "today" prices
good luck
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no way
This list would be correct for people on the poverty line living in the poorest of the suburbs. It looks way out date.
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Rentals
The website realestate.com.au gives you up to date information for the country.
I only have experience of Queensland (Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns). In Queensland there is a rental bond system of 4 weeks rent which is lodged with a Qld government agency. The latest information on leases etc can be found at the REIQ site at www.reiq.com.au
References are essential for most estate agencies but if you contact them in advance from overseas you should be ready to move in when you arrive and have a found a place. There are many private landlords as well as real estate agencies who may dispense with the legalities but I would check out the regulated ones first.
The market is regulated in favour of the landlord but it does give you what it says in the REIQ rental contract. There have been some recent changes to the law including the outlawing of 'auctioning' the rental contract to the highest bidder and an increase in the notice for not renewing the lease.
Queensland towns are relatively small (except Brisbane which is vast) so the rural areas and trailer parks start quite close in to the city centre so have a drive around the areas before you start looking seriously and certainly before you sign a lease. Make a point of calling in at the local school at mid morning break for one source of information admin staff are nearly always ready to share their POV.
There are certainly properties in Townsville and Cairns at less than $400 A$300-350 would get you an older 3 bed room high-set, small pool, and close to shops and transport.
Generally the finish quality is not as high as the newer properties which will be more expensive.
There has been an 'easing' lately so you can always ask for a reduction in the rent. You may not get it but if you have done your research you may be pleasantly surprised.
Good Luck it is a lovely part of the world
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This article is rubbish
The cost estimations for housing are only close to accurate if its in pounds - not aussie dollar.
Australia is over-priced and over-rated anyway, much rather live in North America.
Thank you. Your comment will be published once it has been approved by the moderators. -
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so difficult to tell what the cost of living in australia is
This article is great because out all the articles I see on cost of living in Australia, there is no mention to how opinionated and fluctuated the term cost of living is.
There is a community of Australians talking about their living expenses at http://www.earthcosts.com/australia/
this article compared to what others are saying at earthcosts.com gives you a good gist of what the actual 'living expenses' of Australia are.Thank you. Your comment will be published once it has been approved by the moderators. -
Not sure on the clothes
150 dollars seems like a fair bit.Thank you. Your comment will be published once it has been approved by the moderators. -
No Way, not in 2011!
I don't know exactly when this article was published, but before July 2008 judging by the first comment. This information is not even remotely correct in 2011. I don't know if it was correct then, but now I would say that besides Insurance and clothing, most things are between 50% and 100% more than what is quoted. I am a 27 year old Australian and have just moved back to Melbourne from Italy, and I am terrified at how expensive this country is compared with Europe.Thank you. Your comment will be published once it has been approved by the moderators.
When was it published?
If it's been a while, can anyone direct me to current information?
Many thanks!!!