Cost of living in Wollongong

In Wollongong, Australia, a single person typically needs around $1532 per month including rent. A family of four may spend about $3545 monthly.

How expensive is Wollongong compared to other cities?

Compared to the European benchmark, Wollongong is 39% more expensive overall.

How does Wollongong compare to your city?

Wollongong is 9% cheaper than Columbus, without rent.

Rent in Wollongong is, on average, 33% lower than in Columbus.

What drives the cost of living in Wollongong?

Who is Wollongong a good fit for?

Wollongong tends to fit higher-income residents who can comfortably absorb housing costs. It can be challenging on a moderate budget, mainly due to rent and utilities.

FAQ

Why is Wollongong so expensive?

The high cost of living in Wollongong is primarily driven by rent and utilities, which significantly impact overall expenses.

Is food expensive in Wollongong?

Food costs in Wollongong are 6% higher than the European benchmark, making it relatively pricey.

Is public transport affordable in Wollongong?

Public transport is 63% higher than the European benchmark, contributing to the overall expense of living in the city.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
1532 $
Without Rent
619 $
Rent & Utilities
912 $
Food
396 $
Transport
99 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
4156 $
GDP per Capita
64,712 $
Freedom Index
8.52
Lifespan
83 years
Speak English
93%
Population
262.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 8.45 $
Dinner 26.8 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 8.95 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 4.78 $
Capuccino 2.94 $
Coke, 330ml 2.9 $

Compare Wollongong with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.09 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 1.55 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.53 $
Eggs, 12 pack 4.4 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 9.18 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 7.35 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 15.2 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.65 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.62 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.41 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.66 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.11 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 1.98 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 0.74 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.29 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 13 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.87 $
Cigarette pack 14.9 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 2.65 $
Monthly Pass 52.5 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 1.1 $
Taxi, 8 km 26.2 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 45.3 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 5.71 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 3.93 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 2.44 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2.28 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 87 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 134 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 38.4 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 716 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,032 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,069 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 1,533 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 4,538 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 3,634 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 4,156 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.29%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 31.3 $
Cinema, 1 seat 11 $
Haircut 16.1 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 113 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 79.8 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 1,65 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 15,540 $

Compare Wollongong with other top cities

Australia
Wollongong vs Melbourne (Melbourne is 56% more expensive) Wollongong vs Sydney (Sydney is 83% more expensive) Wollongong vs Brisbane (Brisbane is 63% more expensive) Wollongong vs Perth (Perth is 53% more expensive) Wollongong vs Adelaide (Adelaide is 47% more expensive) Wollongong vs Gold Coast (Gold Coast is 50% more expensive) Wollongong vs Canberra (Canberra is 56% more expensive) Wollongong vs Sunshine Coast (Sunshine Coast is 13% more expensive) Wollongong vs Wollongong (Wollongong has similar costs) Wollongong vs Ipswich (Ipswich is 23% more expensive)
New Zealand
Wollongong vs Auckland (Auckland is 44% more expensive) Wollongong vs Christchurch (Christchurch is 29% more expensive) Wollongong vs Manukau (Manukau is 27% more expensive) Wollongong vs Wellington (Wellington is 46% more expensive) Wollongong vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 9% more expensive) Wollongong vs Tauranga (Tauranga is 17% more expensive) Wollongong vs Dunedin (Dunedin is 5% less expensive) Wollongong vs Lower Hutt (Lower Hutt is 22% more expensive) Wollongong vs Palmerston North (Palmerston North is 14% less expensive) Wollongong vs Napier (Napier is 8% less expensive)
Marshall Islands
Wollongong vs Majuro (Majuro is 1% less expensive) Wollongong vs Djarrit (Djarrit is 1% less expensive)
Solomon Islands
Wollongong vs Honiara (Honiara is 5% less expensive) Wollongong vs Auki (Auki is 4% less expensive)
Palau
Wollongong vs Melekeok (Melekeok is 24% less expensive) Wollongong vs Ngerulmud (Ngerulmud is 24% less expensive)
Tonga
Wollongong vs Nukualofa (Nukualofa is 37% less expensive) Wollongong vs Mua (Mua is 37% less expensive)
Fiji
Wollongong vs Suva (Suva is 40% less expensive) Wollongong vs Nasinu (Nasinu is 41% less expensive) Wollongong vs Nadi (Nadi is 41% less expensive) Wollongong vs Lautoka (Lautoka is 61% less expensive)
Samoa
Wollongong vs Manase (Manase is 57% less expensive) Wollongong vs Apia (Apia is 57% less expensive)
Nauru
Wollongong vs Yaren (Yaren is 59% less expensive)
Tuvalu
Wollongong vs Funafuti (Funafuti is 61% less expensive) Wollongong vs Vaiaku (Vaiaku is 61% less expensive)
Papua New Guinea
Wollongong vs Port Moresby (Port Moresby is 64% less expensive) Wollongong vs Lae (Lae is 65% less expensive)
Kiribati
Wollongong vs South Tarawa (South Tarawa is 66% less expensive) Wollongong vs London (London is 66% less expensive)