Cost of living in Brisbane

Use this Brisbane article to identify the questions and locations worth comparing for your household. This article was published on January 31, 2024. Prices, population figures, service frequencies and market comparisons below belong to that publication context; check current information before making a housing or moving commitment. No neighbourhood description guarantees the conditions at a particular property.

The Queensland capital of Brisbane is a brilliant city to live in.

It boasts a warm climate, plenty of sunshine across the year, strong employment opportunities and world-class beaches within easy reach.

It will also be the host city of the 2032 Olympic Games.

Brisbane – which is Australia’s third-biggest city – comes with an added bonus, too.

That is cheaper cost of living than Sydney and Melbourne.

If you’re considering a move to Brisbane, here are some things to consider.

Housing

While far from ‘cheap’, Brisbane housing prices are lower than that of Sydney and Melbourne – which is a key reason why the cost of living in the Queensland capital is lower.

For the December quarter of 2023, the median weekly rent paid for houses in Brisbane was $600 per week – compared to $730 in Sydney.

The median rent for a unit in Brisbane was $560 per week – compared to $680 in Sydney.

For those looking to buy a property, the savings are even greater.

Brisbane had a median house value of $888,628 – compared to Sydney’s $1,395,218 and Melbourne’s $942,750.

When it came to buying a unit, Brisbane had a median unit value of $568,595 – compared to Sydney’s $828,525 and Melbourne’s $608,181.

Food and Groceries

Food and grocery prices in Brisbane are comparable to other Australian states.

One study found that in 2023, Queensland households spent an average of $189 per week on groceries – marginally less than Victorian ($193 per week) and New South Wales ($190 per week) households.

Queensland grows a lot of fruit and vegetables, so fresh produce prices can be lower in Brisbane compared to other cities.

Utilities

Brisbane households enjoy some of the lowest utility bills in the country.

According to Canstar Blue research in December 2023, quarterly electricity bills in Queensland averaged $315 – the second-cheapest in the country.

Queensland also had the second-cheapest gas bills – at a quarterly average of $179 per household.

However, Queensland did have the highest average water bills, which came in at $235 per quarter.

Comparatively, average quarterly water bills in Victoria were $208 and in New South Wales they were $216.

Transport

While electricity and gas might come cheaper, petrol doesn’t in Brisbane.

In 2023, Brisbane recorded the highest average unleaded petrol price among all of Australia’s capital cities at 193.4 cents per litre.

Drivers in Perth paid just 183.9 cents per litre on average across the year, while Melbourne came in at 191.9 cents a litre and Sydney motorists forked out 190.7 cents a litre.

Public transport prices in Brisbane vary depending on how many zones are travelled and whether the travel is during peak times or off-peak.

In 2024, a single-trip off-peak fare for one zone cost $2.84.

Eating out and entertainment

Brisbane has some great options for going, at prices comparable to other Australian cities.

A meal at an affordable restaurant will generally cost between $20 and $30.

In 2023, the average price of a 0.5 litres of draught beer in Brisbane was $11.60.

Total cost of living in Brisbane

The cost of living in Brisbane will vary, depending on one’s individual circumstances.

However, Brisbane is considered to be a more affordable place to live than Sydney and Melbourne, with lower housing prices playing a big factor.

Looking to move to Brisbane?

If you are preparing for an interstate move to Brisbane, be sure to enlist the help of a trusted interstate removalist like us at Fragile Removals & Storage.

We have been providing top quality service at highly-competitive prices across Australia for more than 15 years.

To discuss all your moving needs, give us a call today on 1800 500 584.

Build your own Brisbane budget from the categories

Treat housing, groceries, utilities, transport and discretionary spending as separate lines. Replace an article's estimate with the amount that applies to your household rather than adding figures with different assumptions. Check whether a number is per person or per household and whether it is weekly, monthly or annual before comparing totals.

Housing is a property-specific decision. Compare the rent or purchase arrangement for the actual address and identify other costs you are responsible for. A city-wide average does not establish the cost of a particular dwelling, and a historical comparison between capitals does not establish which option is cheaper today.

For utilities, check the provider and plan available at the address and the household usage behind any estimate. Ask about connection timing and any account changes when moving. For travel, compare the route and frequency you expect to use rather than assuming every resident has the same commute or vehicle costs.

For groceries, eating out and entertainment, use your own recent spending as a starting point and adjust for the household and location. Keep optional spending separate from the essentials so the budget remains useful if circumstances change. This article does not predict future prices or guarantee a particular total.

Separate the moving budget from ongoing living costs

Request a removal quote for the inventory, addresses, dates and access. Identify packing, dismantling, storage and other services separately. A lower ongoing housing cost does not establish the cost of getting your belongings to the new property.

Use measuring furniture volume to understand the load and the detailed quote form to organise the information. If the dates do not align, include storage in the comparison rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Resolve differences before relying on a total

If the examples in this article differ from current quotations or your own spending, check their date, household size, billing period and included items. Keep the assumptions beside each number so another person can see what the budget represents. Do not select only the lowest examples from incompatible scenarios.

Revisit the budget when the address, household needs or moving date changes. Use the actual provider or property documents to settle a disputed amount. Keep the change-of-address checklist alongside the plan so bills and notices reach the right place during the transition.

For the transport stage, review Brisbane moving services and request a detailed quote. Use the moving advice index for the next preparation decision.

Are the Brisbane prices and comparisons current quotes?

No. The figures are historical examples from the dates and sources stated in the Brisbane article. They are not current provider quotations or a prediction of your household’s total. The article uses historical Queensland utility and Brisbane transport comparisons. Replace both with costs for your planned household and travel pattern before relying on the combined result. Update each line with the relevant property, service or current spending information. Check whether the amount is per person or household, which billing period it covers and what it excludes before adding it to the budget.

What should I check for a particular address?

For the Brisbane address you are considering, check the housing payment and other charges you will be responsible for, the utility arrangements available at the address, and the trips your household makes regularly. Confirm any essential school or service access directly. A city-wide average cannot capture the cost of a particular dwelling or commute. Keep the supporting quote or agreement beside each budget line and mark anything still estimated so the total remains understandable.

What should I give the removalist after choosing a property?

Give the removalist your origin and Brisbane addresses, the inventory, dates and property access details, including lifts, stairs, parking and loading times. Request packing, dismantling, reassembly and storage explicitly where needed. If the dates do not align, obtain the storage and redelivery costs before treating the move budget as complete. Keep the removal quote separate from ongoing living expenses and update it when the address, goods or service scope changes.

How do I build a household budget for Brisbane?

Start with housing, groceries, utilities, regular transport and discretionary spending as separate categories. Use your own household size and routines, then update the article’s examples with information relevant to the chosen Brisbane address. Convert all figures to one period before adding them: for example, an annualised weekly amount uses 52 weeks, while a monthly amount uses 12 months. Keep assumptions and exclusions beside each line and review estimates after the move when actual bills become available.

What should I include in the one-off moving budget?

Include the removal quote, packing materials or packing help, any agreed furniture work, cleaning, travel and temporary accommodation. Add storage and redelivery if the old and new property dates do not align. Check connection or account-change charges directly with providers where relevant. These costs are separate from the regular Brisbane living budget, so a lower ongoing housing payment does not establish how much cash the move itself requires. Keep confirmed amounts and estimates clearly distinguished.

Why might my total differ from the article’s examples?

Your planned Brisbane household size, property type, consumption, travel habits and the date of the information can all differ. Compare one category at a time and resolve billing-period differences before deciding that a quote is inconsistent with the article. Avoid combining the lowest examples from different households as though they describe one achievable scenario. Use current documents for the actual address to settle a disputed amount, and revise the budget when your plans change.