Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Gold Coast 

Indices DifferenceInfo
Cost of Living in Gold Coast is 5.4% higher than in Brisbane (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in Gold Coast is 4.9% higher than in Brisbane
Rent Prices in Gold Coast are 3.9% higher than in Brisbane
Restaurant Prices in Gold Coast are 13.0% higher than in Brisbane
Groceries Prices in Gold Coast are 1.3% higher than in Brisbane
Local Purchasing Power in Gold Coast is 9.5% lower than in Brisbane
Currency: Sticky Currency      Switch to metric measurement units
Restaurants
Brisbane Edit Gold Coast Edit Difference
Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant 25.00 A$ 28.75 A$      +15.0 %
Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) 105.00 A$ 150.00 A$      +42.9 %
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) 16.50 A$ 15.00 A$      -9.1 %
Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) 12.00 A$ 11.00 A$      -8.3 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 12.00 A$ 11.00 A$      -8.3 %
Cappuccino (Regular Size) 6.11 A$ 5.44 A$      -10.9 %
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) 4.18 A$ 4.06 A$      -2.9 %
Bottled Water (12 oz) 3.75 A$ 3.45 A$      -8.1 %
Markets
Brisbane Edit Gold Coast Edit
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) 2.37 A$ 2.27 A$      -4.3 %
Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) 3.38 A$ 3.64 A$      +7.8 %
White Rice (1 lb) 1.48 A$ 1.54 A$      +4.5 %
Eggs (12, Large Size) 7.05 A$ 7.02 A$      -0.5 %
Local Cheese (1 lb) 5.98 A$ 5.63 A$      -5.9 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 5.71 A$ 6.10 A$      +6.8 %
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) 9.64 A$ 9.55 A$      -1.0 %
Apples (1 lb) 2.56 A$ 2.52 A$      -1.7 %
Bananas (1 lb) 2.03 A$ 2.02 A$      -0.4 %
Oranges (1 lb) 2.06 A$ 2.21 A$      +7.5 %
Tomatoes (1 lb) 3.66 A$ 2.74 A$      -25.1 %
Potatoes (1 lb) 1.80 A$ 1.67 A$      -7.7 %
Onions (1 lb) 1.66 A$ 1.61 A$      -2.7 %
Lettuce (1 Head) 3.68 A$ 3.56 A$      -3.3 %
Bottled Water (50 oz) 2.61 A$ 3.36 A$      +28.4 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 20.00 A$ 20.00 A$      0.0 %
Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) 7.38 A$ 8.38 A$      +13.6 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 6.72 A$ 9.64 A$      +43.5 %
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) 50.00 A$ 52.00 A$      +4.0 %
Transportation
Brisbane Edit Gold Coast Edit
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) 0.50 A$ 3.98 A$      +695.0 %
Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) 30.00 A$ 80.00 A$      +166.7 %
Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) 4.00 A$ 3.10 A$      -22.5 %
Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) 4.22 A$ 3.69 A$      -12.6 %
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) 58.80 A$ 51.60 A$      -12.2 %
Gasoline (1 Liter) 1.96 A$ 1.80 A$      -8.5 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) 40,995.00 A$ 38,690.00 A$      -5.6 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) 36,783.16 A$ 47,782.46 A$      +29.9 %
Utilities (Monthly)
Brisbane Edit Gold Coast Edit
Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) 272.34 A$ 311.81 A$      +14.5 %
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) 39.23 A$ 48.59 A$      +23.9 %
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) 88.20 A$ 79.56 A$      -9.8 %
Sports And Leisure
Brisbane Edit Gold Coast Edit
Monthly Fitness Club Membership 85.63 A$ 58.75 A$      -31.4 %
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) 29.35 A$ 24.55 A$      -16.4 %
Cinema Ticket (International Release) 20.00 A$ 20.00 A$      0.0 %
Childcare
Brisbane Edit Gold Coast Edit
Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child 3,148.70 A$ 2,981.00 A$      -5.3 %
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child 18,040.80 A$ 17,006.40 A$      -5.7 %
Clothing And Shoes
Brisbane Edit Gold Coast Edit
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) 112.68 A$ 109.23 A$      -3.1 %
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) 70.20 A$ 77.84 A$      +10.9 %
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 164.41 A$ 148.22 A$      -9.8 %
Men's Leather Business Shoes 169.73 A$ 175.08 A$      +3.2 %
Rent Per Month
Brisbane Edit Gold Coast Edit
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 2,634.08 A$ 3,162.50 A$      +20.1 %
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 1,911.40 A$ 2,045.71 A$      +7.0 %
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 4,606.36 A$ 4,038.89 A$      -12.3 %
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 3,186.43 A$ 3,571.43 A$      +12.1 %
Buy Apartment Price
Brisbane Edit Gold Coast Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 1,052.87 A$ 1,005.20 A$      -4.5 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 706.30 A$ 652.17 A$      -7.7 %
Salaries And Financing
Brisbane Edit Gold Coast Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 6,047.14 A$ 5,738.36 A$      -5.1 %
Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) 5.90 5.73      -2.8 %
Last update: 12 April 20266 April 2026
Contributors in the past 12 months:16631