Australia has an extreme internal cost-of-living divide — Sydney is consistently ranked among the top 10 most expensive cities in the world, while regional Queensland or South Australia can be dramatically more affordable on the same salary.
Monthly cost of living by city (single person, 2026)
| City | Room (shared house) | All-in monthly est. |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney (inner/eastern suburbs) | $1,800–$2,800 | $4,000–$6,500 |
| Sydney (western suburbs) | $1,300–$2,000 | $3,200–$5,000 |
| Melbourne (inner) | $1,500–$2,300 | $3,500–$5,500 |
| Melbourne (outer) | $1,100–$1,700 | $2,800–$4,200 |
| Brisbane | $1,000–$1,600 | $2,600–$4,000 |
| Perth | $950–$1,500 | $2,500–$3,800 |
| Adelaide | $850–$1,300 | $2,200–$3,500 |
| Regional / smaller cities | $600–$1,100 | $1,800–$3,000 |
Groceries: the Coles/Woolworths vs Aldi difference
Australia's supermarket duopoly (Coles and Woolworths) has long been criticised for high prices. Aldi offers 20-40% lower prices on comparable products. A single person spending $300/month at Coles might spend $190-220 at Aldi. Annual saving: $960-1,320 — just by switching where you buy groceries.
Transport: the car dependency problem
Outside inner Sydney and Melbourne, Australia is heavily car-dependent. The average cost of running a car in Australia (rego, insurance, fuel, maintenance) is $8,000-$15,000/year. In car-dependent suburbs, this is unavoidable. In inner-city areas with good PT, removing a car saves $700-$1,250/month.
The Brisbane/Perth opportunity
A remote worker earning a Sydney salary ($100,000) while living in Brisbane saves approximately $800-$1,500/month in rent compared to inner Sydney. Over 5 years, invested at 7% annually: $55,000-$105,000 in additional wealth. Brisbane's lifestyle (weather, liveability, transport) has improved dramatically, making this increasingly attractive.
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About the author
Enrique 'Kike' Faúndez is an Information Systems and Management Control Engineer from Universidad de Chile, with master’s degrees in Finance from Universidad de Chile and Industrial Engineering from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He has 15+ years of experience in regulated financial services across finance, operations, and digital product development. He founded CashControlly in Santiago, Chile, with the conviction that personal financial control should not be a privilege, but an accessible and well-designed tool.
- Master's in Finance, Universidad de Chile
- Master's in Industrial Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
- Information Systems and Management Control Engineer, Universidad de Chile
- AI and ITIL certifications
- 15+ years in regulated financial services
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