Cost of Living Comparison Between Adelaide and Sydney 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Sydney is 9.8% higher than in Adelaide (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Sydney is 25.1% higher than in Adelaide | |
| Rent Prices in Sydney are 64.3% higher than in Adelaide | |
| Restaurant Prices in Sydney are 1.2% lower than in Adelaide | |
| Groceries Prices in Sydney are 4.0% higher than in Adelaide | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Sydney is 5.6% lower than in Adelaide | |
Restaurants | Adelaide Edit |
Sydney Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 25.00 A$ | 27.17 A$ | +8.7 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 134.50 A$ | 120.00 A$ | -10.8 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 15.00 A$ | 15.80 A$ | +5.3 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 10.50 A$ | 10.77 A$ | +2.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 12.00 A$ | 11.50 A$ | -4.2 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 5.53 A$ | 5.49 A$ | -0.7 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.80 A$ | 3.95 A$ | +3.9 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 3.41 A$ | 3.13 A$ | -8.2 % |
Markets | Adelaide Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 2.71 A$ | 2.74 A$ | +0.8 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 3.77 A$ | 3.55 A$ | -6.0 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 1.45 A$ | 1.52 A$ | +4.4 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 7.53 A$ | 8.15 A$ | +8.2 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 6.62 A$ | 7.73 A$ | +16.8 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 5.61 A$ | 6.05 A$ | +7.9 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 10.26 A$ | 9.87 A$ | -3.8 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.01 A$ | 2.18 A$ | +8.2 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 1.81 A$ | 1.94 A$ | +7.3 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.06 A$ | 2.03 A$ | -1.5 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 2.93 A$ | 3.32 A$ | +13.2 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.88 A$ | 1.74 A$ | -7.3 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.48 A$ | 1.57 A$ | +6.3 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 3.52 A$ | 3.28 A$ | -7.0 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.46 A$ | 1.87 A$ | -24.1 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 20.00 A$ | 20.00 A$ | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 6.77 A$ | 6.83 A$ | +0.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 8.20 A$ | 7.51 A$ | -8.4 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 47.50 A$ | 52.00 A$ | +9.5 % |
Transportation | Adelaide Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 4.40 A$ | 5.00 A$ | +13.6 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 117.25 A$ | 217.39 A$ | +85.4 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 5.00 A$ | 6.00 A$ | +20.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 3.95 A$ | 4.02 A$ | +1.8 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 58.40 A$ | 60.00 A$ | +2.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 1.74 A$ | 1.83 A$ | +4.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 40,000.00 A$ | 44,423.00 A$ | +11.1 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 36,152.33 A$ | 35,949.22 A$ | -0.6 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Adelaide Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 289.30 A$ | 304.42 A$ | +5.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 38.78 A$ | 35.41 A$ | -8.7 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 81.48 A$ | 79.91 A$ | -1.9 % |
Sports And Leisure | Adelaide Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 55.83 A$ | 98.95 A$ | +77.2 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 15.45 A$ | 32.86 A$ | +112.6 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 22.00 A$ | 22.00 A$ | 0.0 % |
Childcare | Adelaide Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 2,190.38 A$ | 3,088.96 A$ | +41.0 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 17,596.67 A$ | 29,818.18 A$ | +69.5 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Adelaide Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 106.31 A$ | 111.32 A$ | +4.7 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 81.12 A$ | 95.40 A$ | +17.6 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 164.74 A$ | 154.00 A$ | -6.5 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 160.80 A$ | 190.87 A$ | +18.7 % |
Rent Per Month | Adelaide Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,358.89 A$ | 3,308.64 A$ | +40.3 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 2,012.29 A$ | 2,278.61 A$ | +13.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 3,126.67 A$ | 6,817.20 A$ | +118.0 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 2,509.22 A$ | 4,038.60 A$ | +61.0 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Adelaide Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 1,132.25 A$ | 1,716.70 A$ | +51.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 758.04 A$ | 1,030.00 A$ | +35.9 % |
Salaries And Financing | Adelaide Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 5,078.46 A$ | 5,994.37 A$ | +18.0 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.30 | 6.13 | -2.7 % |
| Last update: | 4 December 2025 | 5 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 155 | 303 |
Moving to Adelaide? Explore:
Moving to Sydney? Explore:
Cities near Adelaide: | Cost of Living in Murray Bridge | 48.49 miles |
| Cost of Living in Nuriootpa | 48.77 miles |
| Cost of Living in Victor Harbor | 52.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Meningie | 92.56 miles |
| Cost of Living in Wallaroo | 98.31 miles |
| Cost of Living in Port Pirie | 139.57 miles |
| Cost of Living in Berri | 148.52 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bordertown | 168.99 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kingston South East | 183.23 miles |
| Cost of Living in Port Augusta | 191.76 miles |
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 |