Cost of living in Canberra, prices and what it is like to live for an Expat, quality of life / hardship, and compare cost of living for Expatriates as at October 2023.

What is it like to live in Canberra?

Canberra: Canberra is the capital city of Australia and is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth largest Australian city overall.

Economy: Canberra's main industry is government administration and defence employing over 40% of Canberra's workforce. The unemployment rate in Canberra is well below the national unemployment rate, with labour shortages reported in some sectors. As a result of low unemployment and substantial levels of public sector and commercial employment, Canberra has the highest average disposable income of any Australian capital city.

Inflation: 6% for Australia as at June 2023.

Canberra Population: 403,000 (2022 est.)

Expat Life: Australians typically talk directly rather than around issues, generally do not like class orientated structure, preferring informality and modesty such as first names even in a business setting (although dress tends to be formal), respect the opinions of others, and enjoy a good debate. Australians typically take turns in paying for beverages, and often use humour to establish rapport. The safety risk for expatriates in Australia is low. Risks include low levels of petty crime in busy tourist areas.

Health Care: The standard of healthcare in Australia is very good however costs of treatment for expatriates can be high.

For other areas within the country see Australia.

Cost Of Living

What is the cost of living in Canberra?

The cost of living for expatriates in Canberra as at October 2023 is high in comparison to other places in the world, with an overall Cost of Living Index (COLI), for all 13 basket groups, of 80.73 (New York =100). We have collected prices for the same items, world wide, based on Expat spending norms, in or closest to the location, and converted them to $USD so that we can compare the cost of 13 different baskets in 780 global locations. For each basket, compared to New York, the equivalent cost in Canberra is as follows:

1) Alcohol and/or Tobacco: Cost is very high for items such as beer, spirits, wine and tobacco related products such as cigarettes. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$1190. Average price in a store for a midrange bottle of wine is USD$17.86, domestic/local beer (500ml) USD$10.73, imported/international beer (330ml) USD$7.41 and a pack of 20 cigarettes is USD$31.27.

2) Clothing: Cost is very high for items such as business, casual and children's clothing and footwear. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$1140. Average price for an international brand of mens jeans is USD$101, a quality international brand of running shoes USD$139, mens leather shoes suitable for office wear USD$187 while a medium size international summer dress from a global chain store is USD$78.

3) Communication: Cost is average for various communication costs such as home telephone rental, internet subscription, mobile service provider tariff and data costs. A basket costing USD$200 in New York costs USD$184. Average price for a monthly standard plan internet subscription is USD$73, while the benchmark mobile tariff is USD$30.92 per minute.

4) Education: Cost is average for items such as creche / pre-school fees, primary school fees, high school fees and tertiary study fees. A basket costing USD$30,000 in New York costs USD$21600. Average annual private international school fee (excluding extras) USD$13,950 for Primary School, and USD$15,524 for High School.

5) Furniture & Appliances: Cost is high for items such as dining table and chairs, home entertainment, kitchen appliances, and sofas. A basket costing USD$2,500 in New York costs USD$2275. Average price for a 6kg front loader Washing Machine is USD$729, and USD$626 for a 46+'' LED UHD TV.

6) Groceries: Cost is high for items such as consumables, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruit & vegetables, general food products, snacks, soft drinks. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$800. Average grocery prices in a major international retail store for 1 kg apples is USD$2.02, 1 kg oranges USD$2.12, 1 head lettuce USD$3.41, 1 kg potatos USD$1.60, 1 kg boneless, skinless, chicken breast USD$4.93, 1 kg cheddar cheese USD$7.03, 1 dozen large eggs USD$5.59, 500g loaf white bread USD$2.90, 1 L full cream milk USD$8.83, and 1.5 L water USD$2.56.

7) Healthcare: Cost is average for general heath care, doctor visits, hospital stays, non-prescription medicine, and medical insurance. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$680. Average healthcare cost for a private practice Doctor visit for an uninsured patient is USD$55, and a private hospital stay per day including nursing care, medications, diagnostic tests, food, and related costs is USD$1,691.

8) Household Accommodation: Cost is high for items such as apartment rent, house rent, property purchase, mortgage rate, and utilities. A basket costing USD$5,000 in New York costs USD$3150. Average expatriate house / apartment rent for a secure upmarket unfurnished apartment (3 bedrooms) is USD$5,255 in a central location, and USD$3,340 in a suburban location, per month, excluding utilities.

9) Miscellaneous: Cost is average for items such as dry cleaning, linen, magazines, newspapers, office supplies, and postage stamps. A basket costing USD$500 in New York costs USD$375. Average price for dry cleaning (1 mens 2 pc suit) is USD$7.28, while an international newspaper is USD$2.24.

10) Personal Care: Cost is high for items such as cosmetics, hair care, and toiletries. A basket costing USD$500 in New York costs USD$455. Average cost for a mens haircut and blow dry is USD$37, while a womens hair colour, cut and blow dry - medium length is USD$183.

11) Recreation & Culture: Cost is high for items such as books, cinema, sport and theatre tickets. A basket costing USD$500 in New York costs USD$425. Average price for a latest release international cinema ticket (average of on and off peak where applicable) for one adult is USD$18.76, and an international fitness, recreation or sports club membership cost for one adult is USD$94 per month.

12) Restaurants Meals Out and Hotels: Cost is very high for items such as hotel daily room rates, meals and beverages in a restaurant, and take away food and beverages. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$860. Average cappuccino price (regular, medium) is USD$5.06, coke/pepsi (330ml) USD$3.61, burger meal (international franchise or similar) USD$13.40, and a mid-range international restaurant meal for 2 USD$174.17.

13) Transport: Cost is high for items such as fuel (petrol/gasoline), car hire, public transport, vehicle purchase and maintenance. A basket costing USD$1,000 in New York costs USD$1010. Average average price over the last year for highest available octane petrol / gasoline (1L) is USD$5.64, while the benchmark car sedan purchase price including taxes/duties for a compact / small / economy vehicle (1.4 L) is USD$21,922.

How does the cost of living in Canberra compare?

Canberra is 9.6% more expensive than Houston TX for groceries, 182.5% more expensive for household costs than Kuala Lumpur, and 37.9% more expensive for transport costs than Dubai.

What is the quality of life / hardship in Canberra?

Canberra is ranked as a minimal hardship location.The hardship premium for Canberra for an expat from London, is for example 0%, i.e. host location (Canberra) premium of 10% minus home (London) location premium of 10%.

Want to know more about cost of living, hardship (quality of living) or expat salary in Canberra? Register subscribe to your home location and Canberra and run your personalised reports.