Cost of Living & Salary in Sydney
Compare your salary to Sydney (Australia). With a cost of living index of 78 (NYC = 100), Sydney is 22% cheaper than New York. See what salary you need — calculated privately in your browser.
How Cost of Living & Salary in Sydney Works
Compare salaries to Sydney (COL index 78). See what salary you need to maintain your lifestyle. calculator. Use the tool above to get your results instantly — everything runs in your browser with no data sent to any server.
Cost of Living in Sydney
Sydney is Australia's largest city with high housing costs, especially near the harbor. Strong finance and tech jobs. The city has a cost of living index of 78 relative to New York City (100), making it 22% cheaper than New York. Average salaries in Sydney are around AUD 85,000 per year, though this varies significantly by industry and experience level.
Housing is typically the largest expense, accounting for 35-40% of total living costs. In Sydney, housing costs are above the global city average. Food, transportation, and healthcare make up most of the remaining budget.
Salary Comparison: Sydney vs Other Cities
When comparing salaries across cities, raw numbers can be misleading. A higher salary in Sydney may not stretch as far due to higher living costs. Use this calculator to find the equivalent salary you would need in Sydney to match your current standard of living.
For example, someone earning $100,000 in New York (index 100) would need approximately $78,000 in Sydney (index 78) to maintain the same purchasing power. This accounts for housing, groceries, transport, healthcare, and entertainment.
Working and Living in Sydney
Sydney offers a high cost of living but strong career opportunities for professionals. The city's job market is competitive but rewarding.
Beyond salary, consider quality of life factors: commute times, public transportation, healthcare access, cultural amenities, and climate. Local tax rates can also significantly impact your take-home pay and should be factored into any relocation decision.
Getting the Most from This Tool
Start by exploring the default settings to understand what the tool offers, then customize the inputs to match your specific needs. Use the results as a starting point for deeper analysis or decision-making. Bookmark this page for quick access in the future. All processing happens in your browser, so your data stays private and the tool works even without an internet connection after the initial page load.