Are you searching for cost of living in Australia vs USA? The overall cost of living in USA is about 7.4% higher than that in Australia. The average monthly cost of living in Australia for a single person is approximately $2,923, and $5,226 for a family of four (just for the necessities). While in the USA, the average monthly living expenses for a single person are $3,189, and the average cost for a family of four is $7,095.
Whether you plan to study abroad or immigrate, it is necessary to understand how much you will spend when living in Australia vs USA. Don’t feel lost. After reading this comprehensive guide, you will get a complete picture of Australia vs America cost of living.
Where to live in Auatralia vs United States?
The USA is the 4th largest country in the world, while Australia is the 6th. Therefore, life will be different in different regions. With such a vast territory, living expenses vary region by region. So living expenditures are. Your living expenses should depend on which city you live in. Here are some of most expensive cities to live in the US and Australia for your reference.
Most expensive cities to live in Australia:
Most expensive cities to live in the US:
Cost of living America vs Australia: accommodation
Accommodation is the first thing you must face when moving to a new place. Rent or buy? What is the price difference between the city center and the suburbs? What else do you need to spend on accommodation in addition to rent? Please read on if you don’t know the answers.
Monthly rent
| Items | Australia | the USA |
|---|---|---|
| Rent per month: apartment (1 bedroom) outside of centre | $1,154.41 | $1,488.49 |
| Rent per month: apartment (1 bedroom) in city centre | $1,461.84 | $1,797.44 |
| Rent per month: apartment (3 bedrooms) outside of centre | $1,718.84 | $2,477.11 |
| Rent per month: apartment (3 bedrooms) in city centre | $2,353.15 | $3,055.20 |
Buying a house
| Items | Australia | the USA |
|---|---|---|
| Buy partment price: price for square meter to buy apartment outside the centre | $5,247.61 | $3,599.89 |
| Buy partment price: price for square meter to buy apartment in city centre | $7,156.44 | $4,547.66 |
Monthly utilities
| Items | Australia | the USA |
|---|---|---|
| Basic for 85m² apartment (electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage) | $197.74 | $207.95 |
| Internet (60 mbps or more, unlimited data, cable/ADSL) | $53.47 | $71.02 |
| Mobile phone monthly plan with calls and 10 GB+ data) | $27.49 | $54.27 |
What other expenses do you need to spend on accommodation? It must be utility bills. So, how much do you need to spend on this in Australia compared to US?
The table above clearly shows that utility bills are more expensive in the United States than in Australia. While Australia’s utility bills have risen, it is still obviously lower than those in the US. An important reason is that Australia is rich in energy resources and has a relatively small population.
So how to reduce these expenses? Please check uhomes.com! We provide plenty of properties covering bills. It is convenient and economical for you to choose accommodation under the guidance of our consultants. Don’t wait and click here!
Cost of living America vs Australia: transportation
| Items | Australia | the USA |
|---|---|---|
| One-way ticket (local transport) | $3.26 | $2.50 |
| Monthly pass (regular price) | $109.42 | $70.00 |
| Taxi start (normal tariff) | $3.91 | $3.50 |
| Taxi 1 hour waiting (normal tariff) | $39.08 | $30.00 |
| Taxi 1km (normal tariff) | $1.76 | $1.74 |
| Gasoline (1 litre) | $1.23 | $0.96 |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6L 97kW Comfort (or equivalent new car) | $22,390.67 | $26,168.83 |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4L 90kW Trendline (or equivalent new car) | $28,933.73 | $33,680.68 |
Transportation is another major cost. As seen from the table, you need to spend more money on public transport in Australia than in America. Therefore, if you are an American moving to Australia, it is recommended to drive by yourself. You can also choose accommodation close to your workplace or school to reduce the commute time. If you don’t know how to find the proper accommodation in Australia, please contact uhomes.com. We have a professional team that can help you until you live in your dream home.
Cost of living America vs Australia: food & groceries
| Items | Australia | the USA |
|---|---|---|
| Apples (1kg) | $3.15 | $5.29 |
| Banana (1kg) | $2.65 | $1.68 |
| Beef round (1kg) (or equivalent back leg red meat) | $14.25 | $16.01 |
| Bottle of wine (mid-range) | $13.03 | $15.00 |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | $8.39 | $12.06 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 litre bottle) | $4.78 | $1.82 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | $4.01 | $3.68 |
| Imported beer (0.33 litre bottle) | $5.45 | $3.52 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | $2.26 | $2.18 |
| Loaf of fresh white bread (500g) | $2.44 | $3.58 |
| Local cheese (1kg) | $9.66 | $12.85 |
| Milk (regular) (1 litre) | $1.52 | $1.05 |
| Onion (1kg) | $2.11 | $3.06 |
| Oranges (1kg) | $2.92 | $4.51 |
| Potato (1kg) | $2.99 | $2.99 |
| Rice (white) (1kg) | $2.09 | $4.56 |
| Tomato (1kg) | $4.34 | $4.92 |
| Water (1.5 litre bottle) | $1.60 | $2.19 |
| Total | $87.64 | $100.95 |
Food is the foundation of people’s life. Food and groceries’ expenses are a crucial part of Australia cost of living vs US. When it comes to food and groceries in Australia compared to US, American people usually spend more. But many meat products cost more in Australia. The United States is the world’s largest agricultural producer, with advanced technology and high production efficiency. This has helped to lower crop prices in the US. At the same time, the United States is the world’s largest producer of beef and the second largest producer of poultry. With such a developed livestock industry, meat is cheaper in the United States than in Australia. Although Australia’s livestock industry is also developed, much of it is used to produce wool products rather than food.
Cost of living America vs Australia: healthcare
| Items | Australia | the USA |
|---|---|---|
| Average health spending per capita | $9,365 | $13,493 |
Australia offers a much better and cheaper health system. In Australia, the healthcare system is divided into two levels: public and private. Approximately 57% of Australians would choose to have private health cover. Because it can make up for places that the public cannot cover, such as optometry and dentists. The Australian government will also subsidize the cost of private insurance for each family, so people can pay less for better services.
The American healthcare system is more imperfect. Of the 35 OECD countries, only three do not have UHC (Universal Health Coverage), and America is one of them. Therefore, many Americans choose to settle in Australia for a better medical experience.
Cost of living America vs Australia: education
Childcare
| Items | Australia | the USA |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool (or kindergarten), full day, private, monthly for 1 child | $1,583.45 | $1,383.99 |
| International primary school, yearly for 1 child | $12,512.82 | $22,695.35 |
How much does it cost to spend on childcare in Australia vs United States? As you can see from the table above, preschool costs are about the same in America and Australia, but parents in the United States spend more on elementary school.
This may be because American parents place a high value on education, especially elite education. Thus, even though there are many public schools in the United States, parents still opt to pay a lot of money to send their children to private schools, which are costly.
Higher education
| Items | Australia | the USA |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $13,675-30,769 | $26,820 |
| Postgraduate | $15,045-34,192 | $30,000-40,000 |
The United States and Australia are both famous destinations for international students. They have many top universities, such as Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Yale University in the United States, as well as University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, University of New South Wales in Australia. These universities are also highly ranked in the world.
As seen from the table, higher education in the United States is slightly more expensive than that in Australia. This may be due to the fact that most of America’s leading universities are private and less subsidized by the government. But there are many advantages that studying at these universities can bring. You’ll have access to world-class teachers and academics, meet highly intelligent people from all over the world, and get an impressive degree to facilitate your job search.
If you really want to broaden your horizons while saving money, check uhomes.com! We provide various properties with lower prices and high quality. So don’t worry about cost of living in Australia vs USA. Go for your dreams!
Cost of living America vs Australia: leisure and activities
| Items | Australia | the USA |
|---|---|---|
| Cinema, international release, 1 seat | $13.84 | $14.00 |
| Fitness club, monthly fee for 1 adult | $49.56 | $46.58 |
| Tennis court rent (1 hour on weekend) | $16.92 | $21.57 |
In Australia and US, you will spend about the same amount of money on leisure and activities. The United States and Australia are both popular immigrant countries, so they both have diverse cultures. Their facilities, friendly immigration policies, and good social welfare have attracted many talents from all over the world. Because of history, they show great similarities in culture as well. Therefore, if you prefer moving to Australia from the United States, you can adapt quickly.
Overall cost of living in Australia vs USA
When comparing cost of living in Australia vs USA, the average monthly cost of living in Australia for a single person is approximately $2,923, or $5,226 for a family of four, just for the necessities. In the USA, the average monthly living expenses for a single person are $3,189, and for a family of four is $7,095. The overall cost of living in USA is about 7.4% higher than that in Australia.
You can also save money by renting a less expensive apartment near your workplace or school. If the rent can cover utility bills, it will be best. If you don’t know how to find such suitable properties, check out uhomes.com. Our website has a large number of good listings. Whether you want to stay in an ensuite or 1b1b, we can find the right property at a good price and location for you. Don’t wait any longer to explore more!
FAQ
The overall cost of living in America is about 7.4% higher than that in Australia.
The average monthly cost of living in Australia for a single person is approximately $2,923, or $5,226 per month for a family of four, just for the necessities. While in the USA, the average monthly living expenses for a single person are $3,189, and the average cost for a family of four is $7,095 per month.
In general, living in Australia is better than living in the United States. Because the overall expenditure in Australia is lower than in the United States, and some social welfare, such as the medical system, is better than in the United States.
As the largest developed country in the southern hemisphere, Australia is also relatively expensive to live in. But comparing living in Australia vs USA, the cost of living in Australia is not that high. And its social welfare is very good, so that you can enjoy many quality services.
The workplace environment in Australia is more friendly and less stressful, and you can have a better work-life balance. However, in the United States, you have more opportunities to contact the world’s cutting-edge companies and elites, and you can also have more opportunities in some emerging industries, such as new energy, artificial intelligence, finance and so on.
| Items | Australia | the USA |
|---|---|---|
| Average monthly net salary (after tax) | $3,645.89 | $4,443.04 |
