The cost of living in Australia
Rent is the biggest cost in Australia, and it’s quoted by the week, not the month. Here’s what a typical household spends, using 2026 figures.
In 30 seconds
- Median asking rents run from about A$520 a week (Hobart units) to A$850 (Sydney houses)
- Electricity, internet and phones together add roughly A$300–400 a month for most households
- If you’re on a temporary visa, you usually can’t get help with childcare costs and may need to pay for private health cover
Rent by city
Australians quote rent per week. To get a monthly figure, multiply by 52 and divide by 12 (about 4.33 weeks). These are median asking rents for advertised homes, from Domain’s June 2026 report (market data, not an official figure).
| City | House a week | Unit (flat) a week |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | A$850 (about £447) | A$780 (about £411) |
| Darwin | A$760 (about £400) | A$650 (about £342) |
| Perth | A$750 (about £395) | A$700 (about £368) |
| Canberra | A$710 (about £374) | A$580 (about £305) |
| Brisbane | A$700 (about £368) | A$660 (about £347) |
| Adelaide | A$650 (about £342) | A$550 (about £289) |
| Hobart | A$625 (about £329) | A$520 (about £274) |
| Melbourne | A$600 (about £316) | A$600 (about £316) |
A median is the middle price, so inner suburbs and family homes near popular schools cost more. You also pay a bond (deposit) up front. See Choosing a city and Renting: bond, leases and bills.
Bills
In most rentals you pay your own electricity, gas and internet. The Australian Energy Regulator sets a maximum “default” electricity price in some states. It is a useful benchmark; many deals are cheaper.
| Bill | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity, Sydney (Ausgrid area) | A$1,899 a year, about A$158 a month | 2026–27 default offer for a typical home |
| Electricity, south-east Queensland | A$1,988 a year | 2026–27 default offer |
| Electricity, South Australia | A$2,334 a year | 2026–27 default offer |
| NBN home internet | A$86 a month on average | NBN is the national broadband network |
| Mobile phone | A$47 a month on average | About A$30 prepaid; more with a handset |
Victoria and Western Australia set electricity prices differently, so check local offers. Gas and water costs vary a lot by home and state.
Food
| Household | Average weekly grocery spend |
|---|---|
| Single person | A$152 |
| Couple | A$200 |
| Single parent with children | A$229 |
| Couple with children | A$274 |
These are averages from a March 2026 Finder survey. See Food shopping.
Getting around
| City | Public transport (adult) |
|---|---|
| Sydney (Opal card) | Capped at A$50 a week. Fares frozen at 2025 prices for 12 months from July 2026 |
| Melbourne (myki card) | A$2.85 for 2 hours, capped at A$5.70 a day (A$4 at weekends and on public holidays) |
| Brisbane and south-east Queensland | A flat 50 cents a trip on all Translink services |
| Perth (SmartRider card) | A$2.16 for short trips (under 3.2km), A$3.15 to go anywhere for 3 hours, capped at A$7 a day. Cheaper with automatic top-up |
Many people outside the city centres rely on a car. See Driving in Australia.
Childcare and health cover
- Childcare centres charge by the day. The government Child Care Subsidy only goes to citizens, permanent residents and a few temporary visa types. On most work visas you pay the full fee. Ask centres for their daily rate
- Many temporary visas require you to hold private health cover as a visa condition (check yours). See Healthcare and Medicare
- State school fees may apply to children on temporary visas in some states. See Schools
A sample monthly budget in Sydney
This adds up the figures above. It leaves out childcare, health cover, school costs, a car, eating out and holidays.
| Monthly cost | Single (unit) | Couple (unit) | Family of 4 (house) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | A$3,380 | A$3,380 | A$3,683 |
| Groceries | A$659 | A$867 | A$1,187 |
| Electricity | A$158 | A$158 | A$158 |
| Internet | A$86 | A$86 | A$86 |
| Mobiles | A$47 | A$94 | A$94 |
| Transport (at the Opal cap) | A$217 | A$433 | A$433 |
| Total | A$4,547 (about £2,390) | A$5,018 (about £2,640) | A$5,641 (about £2,970) |
Using the median rents in the table above, renting in Brisbane, Adelaide or Melbourne instead would cut the total by about A$500–1,100 a month. Try your own numbers in the cost of living calculator.
What to do next
- Pick two or three cities and compare rents
- Use the cost of living calculator with your own numbers
- Check whether your visa lets you get Child Care Subsidy
Cost of living calculatorOpen →
- Domain: Rental Report, June 2026 quarter (market data)
- Australian Energy Regulator: Default Market Offer 2026–27 information kit
- Time Out Sydney: Opal fares to stay at 2025 prices for 12 months (July 2026, secondary)
- Transport Victoria: Metropolitan train, tram and bus fares
- Translink (Queensland): Fares and zones
- Transperth: Fares
- Finder: Average grocery bill in Australia 2026 (Consumer Sentiment Tracker, March 2026)
- Canstar: Average internet bill per month (2026)
- Canstar: Average mobile phone bill per month (June 2026)
- Services Australia: Residence rules for Child Care Subsidy