Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Newcastle 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Newcastle is 4.8% lower than in Sydney (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Newcastle is 17.7% lower than in Sydney | |
| Rent Prices in Newcastle are 39.5% lower than in Sydney | |
| Restaurant Prices in Newcastle are 9.2% higher than in Sydney | |
| Groceries Prices in Newcastle are 8.4% lower than in Sydney | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Newcastle is 11.1% lower than in Sydney | |
Restaurants | Sydney Edit |
Newcastle Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 26.47 A$ | 30.00 A$ | +13.3 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 125.72 A$ | 150.00 A$ | +19.3 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 15.20 A$ | 14.00 A$ | -7.9 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 10.78 A$ | 11.50 A$ | +6.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 12.00 A$ | 10.00 A$ | -16.7 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 5.43 A$ | 5.44 A$ | +0.2 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.99 A$ | 4.57 A$ | +14.4 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 3.08 A$ | 2.92 A$ | -5.2 % |
Markets | Sydney Edit |
Newcastle Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 2.70 A$ | 2.07 A$ | -23.3 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 3.60 A$ | 3.44 A$ | -4.4 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 1.56 A$ | 1.29 A$ | -17.6 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 8.31 A$ | 6.70 A$ | -19.4 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 7.31 A$ | 6.74 A$ | -7.8 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 6.02 A$ | 5.61 A$ | -6.7 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 10.02 A$ | 10.24 A$ | +2.2 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.22 A$ | 2.27 A$ | +2.0 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 1.94 A$ | 1.89 A$ | -2.2 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.08 A$ | 1.93 A$ | -7.5 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 3.19 A$ | 2.88 A$ | -9.7 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.73 A$ | 1.91 A$ | +10.0 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.62 A$ | 1.54 A$ | -4.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 3.29 A$ | 3.50 A$ | +6.4 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 1.94 A$ | 2.02 A$ | +4.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 20.00 A$ | 15.00 A$ | -25.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 7.12 A$ | 6.34 A$ | -11.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 7.88 A$ | 4.80 A$ | -39.1 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 52.00 A$ | 45.00 A$ | -13.5 % |
Transportation | Sydney Edit |
Newcastle Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 5.00 A$ | 4.00 A$ | -20.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 217.39 A$ | 217.39 A$ | 0.0 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 6.00 A$ | 3.50 A$ | -41.7 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 6.04 A$ | 3.69 A$ | -38.9 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 80.00 A$ | 58.20 A$ | -27.3 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 1.90 A$ | 1.73 A$ | -8.8 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 44,423.00 A$ | 44,423.00 A$ | 0.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 35,454.30 A$ | 38,333.33 A$ | +8.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Sydney Edit |
Newcastle Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 307.74 A$ | 317.50 A$ | +3.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 38.12 A$ | 40.83 A$ | +7.1 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 80.09 A$ | 82.33 A$ | +2.8 % |
Sports And Leisure | Sydney Edit |
Newcastle Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 100.38 A$ | 63.25 A$ | -37.0 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 31.90 A$ | 24.67 A$ | -22.7 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 22.00 A$ | 18.50 A$ | -15.9 % |
Childcare | Sydney Edit |
Newcastle Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 3,159.50 A$ | 1,400.00 A$ | -55.7 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 29,269.79 A$ | 14,700.00 A$ | -49.8 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Sydney Edit |
Newcastle Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 111.62 A$ | 116.00 A$ | +3.9 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 95.40 A$ | 67.00 A$ | -29.8 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 155.77 A$ | 158.33 A$ | +1.6 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 190.65 A$ | 167.50 A$ | -12.1 % |
Rent Per Month | Sydney Edit |
Newcastle Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 3,409.72 A$ | 2,240.00 A$ | -34.3 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 2,319.01 A$ | 1,704.17 A$ | -26.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 6,850.38 A$ | 3,583.25 A$ | -47.7 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 4,225.58 A$ | 2,636.00 A$ | -37.6 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Sydney Edit |
Newcastle Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 1,716.70 A$ | 1,780.63 A$ | +3.7 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 1,006.92 A$ | 774.19 A$ | -23.1 % |
Salaries And Financing | Sydney Edit |
Newcastle Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 6,109.08 A$ | 4,469.94 A$ | -26.8 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.22 | 6.75 | +8.4 % |
| Last update: | 14 November 2025 | 8 November 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 335 | 19 |
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Cities near Sydney: | Cost of Living in Gosford | 46.31 miles |
| Cost of Living in Wollongong | 51.90 miles |
| Cost of Living in Canberra | 178.59 miles |
| Cost of Living in Queanbeyan | 178.95 miles |
| Cost of Living in Forster | 188.67 miles |
Cities near Newcastle: | Cost of Living in Gosford | 56.30 miles |
| Cost of Living in Muswellbrook | 79.29 miles |
| Cost of Living in Parramatta | 95.78 miles |
| Cost of Living in Sydney | 98.89 miles |
| Cost of Living in Forster | 102.17 miles |
| Cost of Living in Wollongong | 145.11 miles |
| Cost of Living in Port Macquarie | 152.13 miles |
| Cost of Living in Mount Victoria | 158.38 miles |
| Cost of Living in Dubbo | 238.27 miles |
| Cost of Living in Coffs Harbour | 242.86 miles |