Cost of living in Darwin

Darwin, Australia is Very expensive overall. Monthly costs are about $1756 for one person and $3679 for a family of four, including rent.

How expensive is Darwin compared to other cities?

Overall living costs in Darwin are 59% more expensive than the European benchmark.

How does Darwin compare to your city?

Darwin is 53% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in Darwin is, on average, 59% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Darwin?

Who is Darwin a good fit for?

Darwin is a better match for people who prioritize lifestyle benefits and can afford the premium driven by rent & utilities and food. For most moderate-income households, housing costs are the main barrier.

FAQ

Why is Darwin so expensive?

The high cost of living in Darwin is primarily driven by elevated rent and utility expenses. This makes it challenging for many to find affordable housing options.

Is food expensive in Darwin?

Yes, food costs are 29% higher than the European benchmark, making grocery shopping and dining out more costly.

Is public transport affordable in Darwin?

Public transport is relatively affordable, being 10% lower than the European benchmark. This can help mitigate some living costs for residents.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
1756 $
Without Rent
671 $
Rent & Utilities
1085 $
Food
479 $
Transport
55 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
3409 $
GDP per Capita
64,712 $
Freedom Index
8.52
Lifespan
83 years
Speak English
93%
Population
140.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 9.06 $
Dinner 39.8 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 9.02 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 5.96 $
Capuccino 3.71 $
Coke, 330ml 4.1 $

Compare Darwin with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.09 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 1.85 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.84 $
Eggs, 12 pack 4.69 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 11.2 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 8.36 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 8.95 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.1 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.03 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.9 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.23 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.55 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.36 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.7 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.58 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 14 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 3.61 $
Cigarette pack 25 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 2.41 $
Monthly Pass 59.8 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 1.14 $
Taxi, 8 km 14 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 52 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 8.11 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 5.68 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 2.36 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2.73 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 149 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 227 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 42.3 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 845 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,018 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,087 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 1,514 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 4,943 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 3,89 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 3,409 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.34%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 42.1 $
Cinema, 1 seat 13.6 $
Haircut 16.8 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 99.1 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 98.3 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 1,65 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 8,242 $

Compare Darwin with other top cities

Australia
Darwin vs Melbourne (Melbourne is 37% more expensive) Darwin vs Sydney (Sydney is 60% more expensive) Darwin vs Brisbane (Brisbane is 42% more expensive) Darwin vs Perth (Perth is 34% more expensive) Darwin vs Adelaide (Adelaide is 28% more expensive) Darwin vs Gold Coast (Gold Coast is 31% more expensive) Darwin vs Canberra (Canberra is 36% more expensive) Darwin vs Sunshine Coast (Sunshine Coast is 1% less expensive) Darwin vs Wollongong (Wollongong is 13% less expensive) Darwin vs Ipswich (Ipswich is 7% more expensive)
New Zealand
Darwin vs Auckland (Auckland is 26% more expensive) Darwin vs Christchurch (Christchurch is 13% more expensive) Darwin vs Manukau (Manukau is 10% more expensive) Darwin vs Wellington (Wellington is 27% more expensive) Darwin vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 5% less expensive) Darwin vs Tauranga (Tauranga is 2% more expensive) Darwin vs Dunedin (Dunedin is 17% less expensive) Darwin vs Lower Hutt (Lower Hutt is 6% more expensive) Darwin vs Palmerston North (Palmerston North is 25% less expensive) Darwin vs Napier (Napier is 20% less expensive)
Marshall Islands
Darwin vs Majuro (Majuro is 13% less expensive) Darwin vs Djarrit (Djarrit is 13% less expensive)
Solomon Islands
Darwin vs Honiara (Honiara is 17% less expensive) Darwin vs Auki (Auki is 17% less expensive)
Palau
Darwin vs Melekeok (Melekeok is 33% less expensive) Darwin vs Ngerulmud (Ngerulmud is 33% less expensive)
Tonga
Darwin vs Nukualofa (Nukualofa is 45% less expensive) Darwin vs Mua (Mua is 45% less expensive)
Fiji
Darwin vs Suva (Suva is 48% less expensive) Darwin vs Nasinu (Nasinu is 49% less expensive) Darwin vs Nadi (Nadi is 49% less expensive) Darwin vs Lautoka (Lautoka is 66% less expensive)
Samoa
Darwin vs Manase (Manase is 62% less expensive) Darwin vs Apia (Apia is 62% less expensive)
Nauru
Darwin vs Yaren (Yaren is 64% less expensive)
Tuvalu
Darwin vs Funafuti (Funafuti is 66% less expensive) Darwin vs Vaiaku (Vaiaku is 66% less expensive)
Papua New Guinea
Darwin vs Port Moresby (Port Moresby is 68% less expensive) Darwin vs Lae (Lae is 69% less expensive)
Kiribati
Darwin vs South Tarawa (South Tarawa is 70% less expensive) Darwin vs London (London is 70% less expensive)