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Miami vs Sydney

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

Miami, FL vs Sydney, AU at a glance — Sydney, AU is 14% more expensive than Miami, FL overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $2,200/mo versus $2,600/mo. Top income tax: 45% vs 37%.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Sydney, AU, you'd need

$85,500 / year

Sydney, AU is 14% more expensive overall

Category breakdown (Sydney, AU vs Miami, FL)

  • Housing+17%
  • Food & groceries+16%
  • Transport+2%
  • Utilities+15%
  • Healthcare-1%
  • Goods & services+17%

◎ How Miami, FL and Sydney, AU compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Miami, FLSydney, AU

Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

▤ Full comparison

Miami, FLSydney, AU
Cost of living
Overall cost index112128
Housing138162
Food99115
Transport103105
Utilities96110
Healthcare9695
Goods & services103120
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$2,600/mo$2,200/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$1,900/mo$1,650/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$5,000/mo$4,200/mo
Buy price / m² centre$7,000$12,000
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$893$784
Inexpensive meal$20$18
Monthly transit pass$112$130
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)37%45%
VAT / sales tax0%10%
Social security (employee)7.7%—
Corporate tax21%30%
Capital gains20%—
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$4,300/mo$3,900/mo
Minimum wage$1,257/mo✓$2,600/mo
GDP per capita$90,027✓$65,130✓
Inflation (annual)—2.9%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaNoNo
English proficiencyNativeNative
Coworking spaces7090
Time zoneUTC-5UTC+10
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)5974
Safety index4574
Healthcare index7685
Pollution index4530
Internet speed200 Mbps90 Mbps
Walkability6078
Public transport5080
Family-friendly5876
Tap waterSafe to drinkSafe to drink
Health insurance$470/mo—
Life expectancy79 yr✓83 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighHigh
Climate
January avg+20 °C+23 °C
July avg+29 °C+13 °C
Sunny days / year248236
Rainfall / year1,570 mm1,210 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1 h3 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: United States vs Australia. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

✓ = official statistics (US DOL (federal), World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

Cost of living: Miami vs Sydney — in your currency

MiamiSydney
1-bed rent, city centre$2,600$2,200
1-bed rent, outside centre$1,900$1,650
Inexpensive meal$20$18
Monthly transit pass$112$130
Utilities (monthly)$180$150

Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).

Good to know before you move to Miami

No state income tax, beaches and a booming Latin-American business scene — humid, and rents have soared.

Currency
US dollar ($ USD)
Languages
English
Time zone
UTC-5
Internet
200 Mbps
English
Native language
Safety
45/100
Climate
❄ 20°C · ☀ 29°C · 248 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
A/B · 120V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Brickell · Wynwood · Coconut Grove

Good to know before you move to Sydney

Beaches, sunshine and a high quality of life — for a price, with housing among the least affordable in the developed world.

Currency
Australian dollar ($ AUD)
Languages
English
Time zone
UTC+10
Internet
90 Mbps
English
Native language
Safety
74/100
Climate
❄ 23°C · ☀ 13°C · 236 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
I · 230V
Driving
Left-hand side
Popular areas
Surry Hills · Bondi · Newtown

? Frequently asked questions

Moving from Miami to Sydney: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Miami to Sydney, your cost of living will be roughly 14% more expensive. Sydney’s cost-of-living index is 128 versus 112 for Miami (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Miami cheaper than Sydney?

Sydney is about 14% more expensive than Miami overall — its cost-of-living index is 128 versus 112 for Miami.

Which is more expensive, Miami or Sydney?

Sydney is more expensive than Miami. Its cost-of-living index is 128 vs 112 (US = 100) — about 14% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Miami or Sydney?

Rent is cheaper in Sydney — about $2,200/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $2,600 in Miami.

How much do you need to earn in Sydney to live like in Miami?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Miami is worth about $85,500 in Sydney. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Miami or Sydney?

United States has the lower top income-tax rate — 37% versus 45% in Australia.

◷ More comparisons from Miami

How we calculate these figures →

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.