Plan your weekly budget and identify surplus or deficit across all expense categories.
Thinking about moving to a different city — or just trying to understand why your money doesn't seem to go as far as it used to? Cost of living differences between Australian cities are real and significant. Sydney and Melbourne consistently rank as the most expensive for housing, while cities like Adelaide, Hobart, and Darwin tend to be more affordable for accommodation.
This calculator helps you compare household budgets across different locations and life situations. It covers the main spending categories — housing, transport, groceries, utilities, and childcare — so you get a realistic picture rather than just a headline number.
Use it as a planning tool, not a budget template. Actual costs vary enormously based on suburb, lifestyle, household size, and personal spending patterns.
Sydney consistently tops the list for housing costs — both buying and renting. Melbourne is close behind. Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide are typically more affordable, though all major cities have seen significant cost increases since 2020.
Generally yes, particularly for housing. But regional living comes with trade-offs — fewer job opportunities in some fields, higher transport costs, and sometimes higher costs for goods that need to be freighted. The net saving depends heavily on your employment situation.
Australian childcare costs vary by centre, suburb, age of child, and how many days per week. As a rough guide, full-time (5 days) care for one child typically costs $100-$180 per day before the Child Care Subsidy. The CCS reduces this significantly for most families — check your eligibility at servicesaustralia.gov.au.
Housing — both rent and purchase prices — is by far the biggest differentiator between Australian cities. Groceries, utilities, and most services are broadly similar across major cities. If you're comparing cities, focus your analysis on housing and commuting costs.