Cost of Living in Sydney

Australia · Oceania · Currency: AUD

74.5
COLI Index
#18
of 113 Cities
18.4%
Total Deductions
$2,200
1BR Rent/mo

About Sydney

Sydney has a cost of living index of 74.5, making it a high cost city compared to New York (baseline = 100). It ranks #18 out of 113 cities tracked globally.

The local currency is AUD. A salary of $75,000 USD in New York would need to be approximately A$79,395 in Sydney to maintain the same purchasing power.

The approximate effective income tax rate in Australia is 18% for a mid-range earner. Including social security and other mandatory deductions, the total deduction rate is approximately 18.4%.

Monthly Cost Breakdown in Sydney

Estimated monthly expense allocation for a mid-range earner living in Sydney. Housing costs are based on average one-bedroom rent in the city center ($2,200/month), with other categories adjusted for the local cost of living index.

Housing
45%
Food & Groceries
15%
Transportation
8%
Utilities
6%
Healthcare
4%
Other & Savings
22%

Estimates based on a mid-range salary adjusted for Sydney's COLI of 74.5 and Australia's total deduction rate of 18.4%. Individual expenses will vary.

Tax & Deductions Breakdown in Sydney

Estimated annual deductions for a mid-range salary of A$79,395 in Sydney. This shows all mandatory payroll deductions as a local employee.

Income Tax
18%
Total Deductions: 18.4%
Est. Take-Home: A$64,788/yr

Rates shown are for a local employee. Expat rates may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.

Salary Ranges by Job Title in Sydney (2026)

Estimated annual salaries in Sydney (AUD) adjusted for cost of living. These figures represent local purchasing-power-adjusted ranges based on global baseline data.

Job Title Entry Level Mid Level Senior Level
Doctor (General) A$84,688 A$190,547 A$370,508
Surgeon A$127,031 A$296,407 A$529,298
Dentist A$74,102 A$169,375 A$317,579
Pharmacist A$63,516 A$132,324 A$211,719
Nurse A$31,758 A$61,399 A$105,860
Psychologist A$47,637 A$89,981 A$158,789
Software Engineer A$47,637 A$89,981 A$190,547
DevOps Engineer A$52,930 A$100,567 A$185,254
Data Scientist A$52,930 A$100,567 A$179,961
Mechanical Engineer A$42,344 A$82,570 A$148,203
Civil Engineer A$40,227 A$76,219 A$142,910
Electrical Engineer A$44,461 A$84,688 A$153,496
Architect A$40,227 A$76,219 A$137,617
UX Designer A$42,344 A$79,395 A$148,203
Product Manager A$58,223 A$105,860 A$201,133
Project Manager A$47,637 A$84,688 A$158,789
Financial Analyst A$44,461 A$82,570 A$153,496
Accountant A$37,051 A$65,633 A$116,446
Business Analyst A$44,461 A$79,395 A$148,203
Consultant A$47,637 A$95,274 A$190,547
Investment Banker A$84,688 A$158,789 A$370,508
Actuary A$63,516 A$116,446 A$211,719
Lawyer A$52,930 A$105,860 A$232,891
Paralegal A$31,758 A$55,047 A$89,981
Marketing Manager A$40,227 A$76,219 A$142,910
Sales Manager A$42,344 A$84,688 A$169,375
Graphic Designer A$31,758 A$58,223 A$105,860
Content Writer A$26,465 A$52,930 A$95,274
HR Manager A$40,227 A$74,102 A$137,617
Operations Manager A$47,637 A$86,805 A$158,789
CEO / Executive A$105,860 A$232,891 A$529,298
Teacher A$26,465 A$50,813 A$89,981
Professor A$52,930 A$100,567 A$190,547
Research Scientist A$47,637 A$89,981 A$164,082
Pilot A$52,930 A$127,031 A$264,649
Chef A$26,465 A$52,930 A$105,860
Journalist A$26,465 A$55,047 A$100,567

Salary ranges are estimates adjusted by Sydney's COLI (74.5) relative to the New York baseline (100). Actual salaries depend on experience, company, and industry.

How Much Do You Need to Earn in Sydney?

Understanding your take-home pay is critical when evaluating a move to Sydney. With total deductions of approximately 18.4% (income tax + social security) in Australia and average one-bedroom rent of $2,200/month, here is what a mid-range salary looks like:

A$79,395
Gross Annual (Mid-Range)
A$5,399
Monthly Take-Home

After taxes, a mid-range earner in Sydney takes home approximately A$5,399 per month. With housing consuming roughly 45% of after-tax income, careful budgeting is essential in this high cost city. Your purchasing power in Sydney is 134% of what it would be in New York for the same nominal salary.

Neighborhoods in Sydney

24 neighborhoods tracked with cost multipliers relative to the city average. This neighborhood-level data helps you understand exactly how costs vary within Sydney.

NeighborhoodMultipliervs City Avg
Double Bay 1.30x +30%
Mosman 1.28x +28%
CBD 1.25x +25%
Bondi 1.22x +22%
Pyrmont 1.18x +18%
Surry Hills 1.15x +15%
Paddington 1.15x +15%
Darlinghurst 1.12x +12%
Coogee 1.12x +12%
Kirribilli 1.12x +12%
Manly 1.10x +10%
Balmain 1.10x +10%
Glebe 1.08x +8%
Newtown 1.05x +5%
Neutral Bay 1.05x +5%
Redfern 1.02x +2%
Chatswood 0.95x -5%
Lane Cove 0.92x -8%
Marrickville 0.90x -10%
Cronulla 0.90x -10%
Parramatta 0.82x -18%
Ryde 0.82x -18%
Hornsby 0.78x -22%
Bankstown 0.72x -28%

Salary Comparison: Sydney vs Other Cities

To maintain the same standard of living as $75,000 USD in Sydney, here's what you'd need in other cities:

City COLI Equivalent Salary Difference
New York 100 $100,671 +26%
London 87.5 £66,331 +15%
Singapore 87.7 S$115,015 +15%
Dubai 72.4 AED 264,047 -3%
Berlin 51.2 €43,703 -31%
Tokyo 77.3 ¥12,054,881 +4%
Toronto 62.3 C$84,915 -16%
Bangkok 37.2 ฿1,160,629 -50%

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living index for Sydney?

The cost of living index (COLI) for Sydney is 74.5, which ranks #18 out of 113 cities globally. New York is the baseline at 100.

How much salary do I need in Sydney to match $75,000 in New York?

To maintain the same purchasing power as $75,000 USD in New York, you would need approximately A$79,395 in Sydney.

What is the average rent in Sydney?

The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center of Sydney is approximately $2,200 USD.

What are the total payroll deductions in Australia?

The approximate effective income tax rate for a mid-range earner in Australia is approximately 18%. Including social security and other mandatory contributions, total deductions are approximately 18.4%.

What are the cheapest neighborhoods in Sydney?

The most affordable neighborhoods include Ryde, Hornsby, Bankstown.

What are the most expensive areas in Sydney?

The most expensive neighborhoods are Double Bay, Mosman, CBD.

Data Sources & Methodology

Our cost of living index (COLI) uses New York City as the baseline (COLI = 100). Indices are derived from multiple sources including Numbeo, Expatistan, and national statistics agencies. Exchange rates are sourced from the European Central Bank.

Tax rates represent approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages data and do not constitute tax advice. Neighborhood cost multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data. Salary ranges are modeled by adjusting global baseline figures by each city's COLI.

Last updated: 2026-04-02. Data is refreshed periodically and may not reflect very recent changes. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.

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