✦ Cost of living
Sydney
Sydney, Australia
US = 100
In plain terms: Sydney is about 28% pricier than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $2,200/month.
▤ Category breakdown
Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
- Housing162+62%
- Food & groceries115+15%
- Transport105+5%
- Utilities110+10%
- Healthcare95−5%
- Goods & services120+20%
Is Sydney expensive?
Yes, moderately. Sydney indexes at 128 against a US average of 100 — roughly 28% above it. That is above average without being in the top bracket, and which neighbourhood you rent in decides most of the gap.
Of the 87 cities we track, Sydney ranks #5 by overall cost — 82 of them are cheaper.
What a month in Sydney costs
One person
$3,720/mo
A one-bedroom outside the centre, modest everyday spending.
Couple
$5,220/mo
A one-bedroom in the centre, two adults sharing the bills.
Family of four
$9,280/mo
A three-bedroom in the centre, two adults and two children.
| Monthly line | One person | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,650 | $2,200 | $4,200 |
| Food & groceries | $530 | $770 | $1,290 |
| Transport | $630 | $920 | $1,550 |
| Utilities | $220 | $330 | $550 |
| Healthcare | $270 | $390 | $660 |
| Goods & services | $420 | $610 | $1,030 |
| Total per month | $3,720 | $5,220 | $9,280 |
Estimates, not quotes. Rent comes from this city's own figures; every other line is a US-average household basket (shaped by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) scaled by this city's category index. Your own total moves with the neighbourhood, your habits and whether you run a car. How we calculate these figures →
Good to know before you move to Sydney
Beaches, sunshine and a high quality of life — for a price, with housing among the least affordable in the developed world.
- Currency
- Australian dollar ($ 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
About
“The Harbour City”
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
- Coordinates
- -33.87, 151.21
- Emergency
- 000
What things cost
Housing
Taxes
45%
Income tax
progressive
10%
VAT / sales
30%
Corporate
$3,900
Avg net salary
per month
Plus 2% Medicare levy.
Visas & residency
Points-tested skilled migration; employer-sponsored visas.
✈ ETA/eVisitor for short visits from many countries.
Citizenship after ~4 yrs.
Quality of life
Quality of life
74/100
Safety
74/100
Healthcare
85/100
Pollution
30/100
Internet
90 Mbps
Jan avg
+23 °C
Jul avg
+13 °C
Sunny days
236/yr
Walkability
78/100
Public transit
80/100
Family-friendly
76/100
Living there
- English spoken
- Native
- Expat community
- Large
- Coworking spaces
- 90
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
Popular areas
Relocation & documents
Where to look
Updated: · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · Economy: World Bank Open Data (GDP per capita, life expectancy, inflation) · Minimum wage (EU + Türkiye): Eurostat earn_mw_cur, 2026-S2 · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
Can you live in Sydney without a car?
79/100
Car-free score
78/100
Walkability
80/100
Public transport
Yes — Sydney scores 79/100 on our car-free score, so commuting, errands and nights out all work on foot or by public transport. Most residents here can skip car ownership entirely, and the savings go straight into the rest of the budget.
Transport in Sydney indexes at 105 against a US average of 100 — about 5% more expensive than a typical US city. That line covers fares, fuel and running a vehicle, so it is the one that moves most when you drop the car.
Sydney ranks #37 of 87 cities we track for walkability. See the most walkable cities →
The car-free score is our own composite: 60% walkability, 40% public transport, both on a 0–100 scale. Like the rest of our quality-of-life figures, they are calibrated estimates, not official statistics.
Cost of living in Sydney — in your currency
- 1-bed rent, city centre$2,200
- 1-bed rent, outside centre$1,650
- Inexpensive meal$18
- Monthly transit pass$130
- Utilities (monthly)$150
Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).
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? Frequently asked questions
Is Sydney, AU expensive to live in?
Sydney, AU's cost-of-living index is 128 (US average = 100) — about 28% more expensive than a typical US city — and it ranks #5 of the 87 cities we track. On our estimates one person needs around $3,720 a month and a family of four around $9,280, rent included.
How much does it cost to live in Sydney, AU?
Sydney, AU's cost-of-living index is 128 (US average = 100) — about 28% more expensive than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $2,200 per month.
What are the average living costs in Sydney, AU?
Living costs in Sydney, AU are about 28% more expensive than the US average — its cost-of-living index is 128 (US = 100). Monthly living expenses scale with that, and housing is the biggest line: a one-bedroom in the centre runs around $2,200. See the category breakdown above for where the money goes.
What is the average rent in Sydney, AU?
A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $2,200 per month, and around $1,650 outside the centre.
What taxes would I pay in Australia?
Australia has a top income-tax rate of 45% and a VAT or sales tax of 10%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.
What is the weather like in Sydney, AU?
Sydney, AU averages around +23 °C in January and +13 °C in July, with roughly 236 sunny days a year.
Is Sydney, AU safe?
Sydney, AU scores 74 out of 100 on our safety index, where higher means safer.
Can you live in Sydney, AU without a car?
Sydney, AU scores 79/100 on our car-free score — 78/100 for walkability and 80/100 for public transport. The higher the score, the more of daily life you can cover on foot or by transit instead of paying to run a car.
❖ Compare Sydney with…
★ Ranked in
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.