Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026
Yes, Sydney is 7% cheaper than Washington DC based on our cost of living index. Sydney has a COLI of 74.5, while Washington DC has a COLI of 79.8. 7% cheaper
Overall, Sydney is approximately 7% cheaper than Washington DC based on our cost of living index. Sydney has a COLI of 74.5 (ranked #18 of 182 cities), while Washington DC has a COLI of 79.8 (ranked #12).
When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Sydney averages $2,200/month compared to $2,400/month in Washington DC. That makes Sydney approximately 8% cheaper for rent alone.
Sydney has lower total deductions (18.4%) compared to Washington DC (29.9%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Sydney. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.
Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.
Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.
If you earn A$106,570 in Sydney, you would need approximately $80,336 in Washington DC to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 7% more due to higher cost of living.
Estimated mid-level annual salaries in local currency, adjusted for each city's cost of living:
| Job Title | Sydney (AUD) | Washington DC (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | A$190,547 | $143,640 |
| Software Engineer | A$89,981 | $67,830 |
| Product Manager | A$105,860 | $79,800 |
| Lawyer | A$105,860 | $79,800 |
| Data Scientist | A$100,567 | $75,810 |
| Marketing Manager | A$76,219 | $57,456 |
| Teacher | A$50,813 | $38,304 |
| Nurse | A$61,399 | $46,284 |
Salary estimates are adjusted by each city's COLI relative to the New York baseline. Actual salaries vary by company, experience, and industry.
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Double Bay | 1.30x (+30%) |
| Mosman | 1.28x (+28%) |
| CBD | 1.25x (+25%) |
| Bondi | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Pyrmont | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Georgetown | 1.30x (+30%) |
| Foggy Bottom | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Dupont Circle | 1.20x (+20%) |
| Logan Circle | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Chevy Chase (DC) | 1.18x (+18%) |
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Open Salary ConverterWashington DC is more expensive overall. Sydney has a COLI of 74.5 while Washington DC has a COLI of 79.8, making Sydney approximately 7% cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living as A$106,570 in Sydney, you would need approximately $80,336 in Washington DC.
Average one-bedroom rent in Sydney is $2,200/month compared to $2,400/month in Washington DC. Sydney has lower rent by approximately 8%.
Sydney has lower total deductions (18.4%) compared to Washington DC (29.9%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Sydney.
Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.
Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.
Last updated: 2026-02-28. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.