How much does it really cost to live in Australia? Use this free Australia cost of living calculator to estimate your weekly, monthly and yearly costs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin or a regional town. Choose your household, housing and lifestyle, then change any number to match your life. It is completely free, with no email or sign-up needed.
Weekly costs (you can change any number)
Same choices in other cities (per week)
Estimates only. Rent: Domain Rental Report, September 2026 quarter (median asking rents); regional rent: PropTrack, September 2026 (all dwellings). A share-house room is estimated at about half of the city’s median unit rent. Groceries: Finder, 2026. Electricity: 2026–27 default offer bills (AER / Victorian Default Offer); Perth, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin and regional use an estimate. Internet, mobile, car, eating out, children and other costs are general estimates. The salary figure assumes one earner taxed at 2026–27 Australian resident rates.
Want to know what you will take home from your job? Try our free Australian pay calculator.
How the Calculator Works
- Rent is the biggest cost. We use the latest median asking rents for houses and units in each capital city. A room in a share house is estimated at about half of a one-unit rent.
- Groceries use Finder’s 2026 average weekly spend: $152 for a single person, $200 for a couple and $274 for a couple with children.
- Electricity uses 2026–27 default offer bills where available, for example $1,899 a year in Sydney (Ausgrid) and $1,591 in Victoria. Share-house tenants pay about a third.
- Transport uses official 2026 fares for a 5-day work commute, or a general estimate if you drive.
- Everything else (internet, phone, eating out, children and other costs) is a general estimate you can change.
Median Weekly Rents by City (September 2026)
| City | House | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $835 | $780 |
| Melbourne | $600 | $600 |
| Brisbane | $700 | $660 |
| Perth | $750 | $700 |
| Adelaide | $650 | $550 |
| Canberra | $700 | $580 |
| Hobart | $625 | $525 |
| Darwin | $800 | $650 |
Source: Domain Rental Report, September 2026 quarter. In regional areas, the median advertised rent was about $600 a week for all dwellings (PropTrack, September 2026).
Public Transport: Weekly Commuting Cost
| City | Key fare (adult, 2026) | About per week |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $50 weekly cap (Opal) | $30–$50 |
| Melbourne | $11.40 daily cap, Zones 1+2 (myki) | $57 |
| Brisbane | 50c flat fare (Translink) | $5 |
| Perth | $2.80 flat fare with SmartRider | $28 |
| Adelaide | 28-day pass $119.10 | $30 |
| Canberra | $3.41 peak fare (MyWay+) | $34 |
| Hobart | Free (Metro Tasmania, to mid-2027) | $0 |
| Darwin | Free (Darwin buses) | $0 |
Based on 10 trips a week (to work and back, 5 days). Fares come from each city’s official transport website and can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this calculator free?
Yes. It is completely free to use, with no email, account or sign-up needed.
Which capital city is the cheapest to rent in?
In the September 2026 quarter, Hobart had the lowest median unit rent ($525 a week), followed by Adelaide ($550). Sydney was the most expensive, with houses at $835 and units at $780 a week.
Which city has the cheapest public transport?
Buses in Hobart and Darwin are currently free, and Brisbane and South East Queensland have a 50 cent flat fare. Melbourne and Sydney are the most expensive for daily commuters.
How accurate are the results?
The results are estimates. Your real costs depend on your suburb, your habits and your household. Change any number in the calculator to make it fit your situation.
Related Guides
- Cost of Living in Australia
- Cost of Living in Sydney
- Cost of Living in Melbourne
- Cost of Living in Brisbane
- Cost of Living in Regional Australia
- Australian Pay Calculator