Cost of living comparison
Cairns is 24.8% cheaper than Brisbane.
If you lived in Cairns instead of Brisbane, you would:
pay 12.1% less for restaurants
Brisbane
|
Cairns
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.68
A$25.22
|
$15.68
A$23.71
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.01
A$15.13
|
$10.01
A$15.13
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.89
A$4.37
|
$2.17
A$3.28
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.38
A$3.60
|
$2.25
A$3.40
|
|
pay 1.7% more for groceries
Brisbane
|
Cairns
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.44
A$3.69
|
$2.40
A$3.63
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.18
A$7.83
|
$5.23
A$7.90
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.87
A$8.87
|
$4.63
A$7.00
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.71
A$5.61
|
$3.85
A$5.83
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.82
A$5.78
|
$3.78
A$5.72
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.46
A$2.20
|
$1.48
A$2.23
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.16
A$1.76
|
$1.09
A$1.65
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.55
A$2.35
|
$1.21
A$1.83
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.11
A$3.18
|
$3.71
A$5.61
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.08
A$1.63
|
$1.04
A$1.57
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.95
A$1.43
|
$0.88
A$1.33
|
|
pay 16.0% less for transportation
Brisbane
|
Cairns
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.35
A$8.09
|
$4.83
A$7.31
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$139.24
A$210.53
|
$100.08
A$151.32
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$24,352.80
A$36,820.21
|
?? | |
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.59
A$23.56
|
$14.00
A$21.16
|
|
pay 40.4% less for housing
Brisbane
|
Cairns
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$60.21
A$91.03
|
$51.37
A$77.68
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,623.70
A$2,454.95
|
$845.12
A$1,277.78
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,391.31
A$2,103.59
|
$571.57
A$864.18
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$161.51
A$244.19
|
$96.94
A$146.57
|
|
pay 48.2% less for childcare
Brisbane
|
Cairns
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,838.51
A$2,779.73
|
$1,334.40
A$2,017.55
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,398.31
A$15,721.73
|
$3,235.92
A$4,892.55
|
|
pay 10.0% less for entertainment and sports
Brisbane
|
Cairns
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.34
A$11.10
|
$6.00
A$9.08
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.58
A$5.41
|
$3.50
A$5.30
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$26.69
A$40.35
|
$30.02
A$45.39
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$51.35
A$77.64
|
$34.69
A$52.46
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.34
A$20.18
|
$13.34
A$20.18
|
|
pay 48.6% less for clothing
Brisbane
|
Cairns
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$96.99
A$146.64
|
$50.04
A$75.66
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$61.03
A$92.27
|
$35.86
A$54.22
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$143.78
A$217.39
|
$78.40
A$118.53
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$136.71
A$206.69
|
$55.60
A$84.06
|
|
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