Cost of living comparison
Brisbane is 6.3% more expensive than Cairns.
- Restaurants
-
pay 6.0% less in Brisbane
- Groceries
-
pay 4.9% less in Brisbane
- Transportation
-
pay 14.1% more in Brisbane
- Housing
-
pay 24.7% more in Brisbane
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 8.8% more in Brisbane
- Clothing
-
pay 1.2% more in Brisbane
The cost of housing, transportation, entertainment and sports, and clothing in Brisbane are more expensive than in Cairns. Expenses including restaurants and groceries are lower in Brisbane.
If you lived in Brisbane instead of Cairns, you would:
pay 6.0% less for restaurants
|
Cairns
|
Brisbane
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.49
A$25.63
|
$14.83
A$24.54
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.89
A$16.36
|
$9.89
A$16.36
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.97
A$4.91
|
$2.71
A$4.48
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.47
A$4.09
|
$2.35
A$3.88
|
|
pay 4.9% less for groceries
|
Cairns
|
Brisbane
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.49
A$4.12
|
$2.32
A$3.85
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.06
A$6.73
|
$4.31
A$7.14
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.49
A$10.73
|
$6.12
A$10.13
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.04
A$6.68
|
$4.30
A$7.12
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.27
A$7.07
|
$3.83
A$6.34
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.38
A$2.29
|
$1.40
A$2.32
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.04
A$1.72
|
$1.25
A$2.07
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.25
A$2.06
|
$1.16
A$1.92
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$3.31
A$5.48
|
$1.76
A$2.91
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.04
A$1.73
|
$1.04
A$1.72
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.05
A$1.73
|
$0.92
A$1.53
|
|
pay 14.1% more for transportation
|
Cairns
|
Brisbane
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.29
A$7.10
|
$4.96
A$8.20
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$65.90
A$109.06
|
$112.69
A$186.49
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$23,066.04
A$38,169.85
|
$28,334.99
A$46,888.94
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$32.95
A$54.53
|
$15.55
A$25.74
|
|
pay 24.7% more for housing
|
Cairns
|
Brisbane
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$60.14
A$99.51
|
$53.86
A$89.12
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,090.69
A$1,804.89
|
$1,627.54
A$2,693.26
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$943.73
A$1,561.69
|
$1,349.97
A$2,233.93
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$117.59
A$194.59
|
$137.72
A$227.90
|
|
pay (unknown) more for childcare
|
Cairns
|
Brisbane
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | ?? |
$1,662.55
A$2,751.20
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | ?? |
$8,828.46
A$14,609.41
|
pay 8.8% more for entertainment and sports
|
Cairns
|
Brisbane
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.59
A$10.91
|
$7.91
A$13.09
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.12
A$6.82
|
$3.69
A$6.10
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$29.66
A$49.08
|
$26.36
A$43.62
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$38.66
A$63.98
|
$52.94
A$87.60
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.18
A$21.81
|
$13.18
A$21.81
|
|
pay 1.2% more for clothing
|
Cairns
|
Brisbane
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$67.88
A$112.33
|
$73.99
A$122.44
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$62.61
A$103.60
|
$43.31
A$71.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$72.27
A$119.60
|
$102.88
A$170.25
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$120.82
A$199.94
|
$101.67
A$168.24
|
|
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