If you’ve been thinking about moving to Australia for a while, I beg you probably have been wondering about the cost of living here. I’ve had conversations with friends who’ve asked me questions like, “Is it expensive to live in Australia? How much do you earn? How much do you need to be comfortable? So today, I am happy to share our budget as a couple living in the lovely city of Adelaide, along with some helpful facts and figures on living expenses in Australia. This way, you can plan and make the best decision for yourself before making the big move!
The Australian Bureau of Statistics data reveal that the median employee earnings are $1,250 per week or $5,000 per month, and the median hourly earnings are $37 per hour. While Expatistan shows the average monthly expenses for one person was $3,405 or $40,859 annually. However, keep in mind that your situation might differ depending on the industry you work in, the type of contract you have, and where you’re located in the country, which we will talk about today.
How much does the average employee earnings in Australia?
Earnings totally vary depending on factors like the industry, hours, location and even, unfortunately gender. I’ve found that it’s not quite the same as in Asian countries, or at least where I’m originally from. Surprisingly, working in a big city like Sydney doesn’t always mean higher wages compared to a job in a regional area.
For example, I once worked as a casual crew for hospitality recruitment in Cairns, earning $30 per hour on weekdays. Meanwhile, a similar role in Sydney paid me $26 per hour. My theory is that in larger cities, employers have more labour resources and face stiffer competition. So, paying minimum wages would be their way of cutting costs, but there could be other reasons too.
Let’s look at some data on the average weekly and monthly earnings across Australia. Although the employees normally get paid fortnightly here, having these numbers handy on a weekly and monthly basis will make it simpler to work out the cost of living later on.
| Weekly (average) | Monthly (average) | |
| Men full-time | $1,600 | $6,400 |
| Women full-time | $1,442 | $5,768 |
| Men part-time | $550 | $2,200 |
| Women part-time | $650 | $2600 |
| Hourly (average) | ||
| Men | $38.80 | |
| Women | $35.70 |
As I mentioned earlier, how much you’d earn depends on the industry you work in. And based on data from August 2022, the industries that have the highest average weekly earnings are;
- Mining ($2,497, around $9,988 monthly)
- Electricity, gas, water and waste services ($1,855, around $7,420 monthly)
- Financial and insurance services ($1,700, around $6,800 monthly)
- Professional, scientific and technical services ($1,692, around $6,768 monthly)
Meanwhile, the industries with the lowest average weekly earnings are;
- Accommodation and food services ($600, around $2,400 monthly)
- Retail trade ($800, around $3,200 monthly)
- Arts and recreation services ($1000, around $4,000 monthly)
And you can find median earnings in other industries listed below;
| Industry | Weekly (average) | Monthly (average) |
| Public Administration and Safety | $1,620 | $6,480 |
| Information Media and Telecommunications | $1,600 | $6,400 |
| Construction | $1,380 | $5,520 |
| Transport, Postal and Warehousing | $1,355 | $5,420 |
| Manufacturing | $ 1,300 | $5,200 |
| Wholesale Trade | $1,300 | $5,200 |
| Education and Training | $1,299 | $5,196 |
| Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services | $1,201 | $4,804 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $1,150 | $4,600 |
| Other Services | $1,145 | $4,580 |
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | $1,100 | $4,400 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $1,050 | $4,200 |
Is Australia expensive to live in?
According to Numbeo’s annual report on the cost of living index across the world for 2023, Australia ranks as the 13th most expensive country.
But you know what? After living here for 4 years, I would say there’s a pretty reasonable balance between what you earn and what you spend. Of course, if you’re big on partying or have a taste for luxury, your experience might be another story.
To give you a better idea, let me share our budget as a gay couple living in a 2 bedrooms apartment in the city of Adelaide. We enjoy eating out 2-3 times a week and doing our grocery shopping 1-2 times a week.
| Expenses | Weekly |
| Mortgage | $465 |
| Strata and Council rate (only for property owners) | $85 |
| Water bills | $15 |
| Electricity bills | $24 |
| Internet | $15 |
| Mobile plan | $20 |
| Petrol | $50 |
| Groceries | $120 |
| Eat out | $200 |
| Alcohol | $50 |
| Fitness club | $20 |
| Streaming subscriptions | $10 |
| Insurance | $40 |
| Total | $1,114 |
As you can see, the biggest expenses come from housing, housing, utility bills, groceries, and eating out. So if you can find ways to save on these, you’ll be great on your budget and able to save much more.
Let’s have a look at some numbers to give you an idea of the cost of living in Australia.
Housing
| Monthly (average) | |
| 1 bedroom apartment in the city centre | $1,733.08 |
| Outside city centre | $1,349.31 |
| 3 bedroom apartment in the city centre | $2,899.41 |
| Outside city centre | $2,014.76 |
| Dorm room in Hostel | $520 |
Utilities
| Electricity, heating, water, and Garbage for an 85 m2 Apartment (quarterly) | $216.50 |
| Internet | $76.88 |
| Mobile phone data | $42 |
Transport
| One way ticket | $4.5 |
| Monthly pass | $150 |
| Car | $30,000 |
Groceries
| Milk 1L | $1.68 |
| White bread | $2.84 |
| Eggs | $4.8 |
| White rice | $2.7 |
| Chicken breasts 1 kg | $10.95 |
| Beef round 1 kg | $18.53 |
| Local cheese 1 kg | $11.15 |
| Potatoes 1 kg | $3.27 |
| Lettuce 1 head | $2.7 |
| Tomatoes 1 kg | $5.3 |
| Apples 1 kg | $4.46 |
| Oranges 1 head | $3.76 |
| Bananas 1 kg | $3.59 |
Eat out
| Inexpensive restaurant 2 meals | $40 |
| Mid-range restaurant 3-course meal for 2 people | $100 |
| Cappuccino regular | $4.58 |
Alcohol
| Domestic beer at the restaurant | $8.00 |
| Domestic beer | $5.48 |
| Imported beer at the restaurant | $20 |
| Imported beer | $6.03 |
| Bottle of wine at the restaurant | $38 |
| Bottle of wine | $15 |
Leisure
| Pair of jeans | $99.37 |
| Nike shoes | $144.29 |
| Men’s leather shoes | $144.29 |
| Dress from a chain store | $59.82 |
| Cinema | $18 |
| Fitness club | $66.39 |
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Australia?
Figuring out how much money you need to live comfortably in Australia can be a bit tricky, as it really depends on your personal preferences. For example, I enjoy living in a cosy city like Adelaide, where I have easy access to entertainment and shopping without feeling overwhelmed by crowds or feeling too isolated. I love eating out, don’t always rely on discounted groceries, take 3-4 domestic trips a year and manage to save about 40 – 60% of our income. That’s my idea of a comfy life.
Now, let’s take a look at some stats on average monthly household expenses from Expatistan to give you a better idea of what to expect.
Average monthly expenses among all households totalled $5,577, or $66,928 annually.
Average monthly expenses for one person totalled $3,405, or $40,859 annually.
Average monthly expenses for a family of 2: $5,782, or $69,382 annually.
Average monthly expenses for a family of 3: $6,597, or $79,163 annually.
Average monthly expenses for a family of 4: $7,749, or $92,989 annually.
Average monthly expenses for a family of 5 or more: $7,400, or $88,797 annually.
Where is the cheapest to live in Australia?
I think when you are looking for a place to move to in Australia, Sydney might be one on your list. However, it’s also the priciest city in the country. So, it’s essential to weigh other factors like education, social life, food, transportation, and healthcare before making a decision.
I used to live in Cairns. And as a single backpacker in a sharehouse who didn’t eat out often. I found it quite affordable, spending around $300-400 per week or $1,600. But when thinking about settling down long term, it’s important to consider your goals and preferences. When I moved to Adelaide, besides now that we live as a couple, the living costs increased a bit. But I gained access to the course I wanted to study, enjoyed cooler weather, and experienced a city vibe that Cairns doesn’t have.
Have a look at the ranking of main Australian cities according to their cost of living. Budget Direct has compiled this list from highest to lowest, along with average income and expenses.
Before I came to Australia, I thought it would be expensive to live here. But over the years, I’ve found it to be quite affordable. You don’t have to work super hard to live comfortably. Even if you only earn minimum wage, you can still chase your dreams. Australia is pretty awesome like that!