How Much Does It Cost to Live In Brisbane?
People interested in living in Brisbane have plenty of unanswered questions and doubts and are constantly looking for correct information about the living costs and earnings there, as well as the fact whether the salary can cover all the expenses which are known to be pretty high.
Brisbane is extremely attractive city due to its blue sea, sandy beaches and enjoyable weather.
But, moving there requires more than just pleasure.
Higher costs and prices demand a lot of effort, work and earnings so that you can enjoy the life there.
Australia : Cost of Living by City
Cost of Living in Australia
RESTAURANTS
By settling in Brisbane, you will be able to enjoy the gorgeous restaurants and cafes offering delicious food and drinks.
But, in order to be able to afford this, you will have to get a pretty high wage.
The food in an inexpensive restaurant can reach up to $15 for one person only.
MARKETS
Brisbane is considered somewhat less sophisticated than Sydney, and people here tend to cook their own food and buy groceries at the local markets more frequently.
The prices of the basic foodstuff are thus lower here.
Bread is quite expensive, while milk and cheese have reasonable prices.
TRANSPORTATION
Once settled in Brisbane, you will either have to use your own car or public transportation for commuting, and it includes taxis, buses, boats and catamarans.
Individual one way ticket is not too expensive, but the monthly pass is, in comparison with other countries.
The price of gasoline is more than affordable, in relation to the average salary.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Brisbane is the city where you have to think not only about how to pay the rent, but how to find money for basic utilities, which are quite expensive.
You will need more than $200 per month for power, heating, water and the Internet.
The only less expensive utility are mobile phone calls.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Unlike Adelaide, where tennis court rent is quite inexpensive, the price for one hour of tennis practice in Brisbane costs $14.
Gyms can be found everywhere and their monthly fee is not too high, regarding the fact that most people here tend to exercise outdoors, due to the perfect weather conditions.
CLOTHING & SHOES
As in whole Australia, the clothing prices are pretty high in Brisbane and people here devote the least money for it.
You cannot find a pair of running shoes under $90 and the designer clothing items are even more expensive.
Leather business shoes are almost the same price as the running ones.
RENT PER MONTH
Considering the fact that Brisbane is an enormous city with a lot of citizens, traffic and pollution, it is always advisable to live away from the city center where you will have to pay much lower price for the same kind of apartment.
While the rent for a one bedroom apartment right in the city center can cost about $1200 per month, the same apartment out of the city will cost only $880.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Brisbane
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $14.24 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $5.70 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.86 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $0.91 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.41 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.73 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $2.71 |
| Monthly Pass | $108.38 |
| Gasoline | $1.08 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $114.61 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.22 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $53.85 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $41.85 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $14.00 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $11.40 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $64.28 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $40.18 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $94.84 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1241.77 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $889.46 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $2089.24 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Brisbane?
Due to the fact that the price of the rent takes the most of monthly salary, the data shows that even 32% of it goes for the apartment.
As it is already mentioned, people here tend to prepare food at home, so much money also goes for food stuff at the markets.
Transportation and restaurants are on the third place, according to the most important expenses.
Again, as in the whole Australia, people in Brisbane do not pay much attention to their clothing, and spend only 2% of their wages on clothes and shoes.
Average Costs Breakdown
Brisbane: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Brisbane is definitely considered as a wonderful place to live and work.
As compared to Sydney and Melbourne, the cost of living is quite cheaper in Brisbane, but the workers are paid slightly less there.
When it comes to an average monthly net salary, it is extremely higher than in many European countries, thus affecting numerous people to come and live there.
Considering the average salary, it can be said that those who earn wages in Australia can afford all the above mentioned expenses, even though they are quite high.
Brisbane Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Brisbane Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Brisbane
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Adelaide | 72.92 |
| Canberra | 69.88 |
| Darwin | 72.47 |
| Gold Coast | 64.53 |
| Hobart | 69.1 |
| Melbourne | 74.53 |
| Newcastle | 71.42 |
| Perth | 75.09 |
| Sydney | 79.93 |
