Brisbane is now Australia’s second most expensive city — but don’t stress. With a smart budget and a few cost-saving tricks, you can live well in Queensland’s capital without stretching yourself too thin.
By following a clear and considered budget that takes into account all the extras, you can make the most of the city without scraping through the basic cost of living.
Lucky for you we’ve done the legwork to put together a realistic budget for the Brisbane lifestyle.
In this article we outline clear and up-to-date budgets for:
And since budgets are all relative to the amount that you earn, we’ve got the info on Brisbane wages and salaries too.
Editor’s note (Updated July 2025): All data in this article has been refreshed using the latest available figures from CoreLogic, the RTA, Numbeo, Budget Direct and the RBA. References are included throughout.
Whether you choose to buy or rent in Brisbane will entirely depend on your future plans, current budget and preferred lifestyle. So, we’re covering all bases with a complete overview of the Brisbane property market - buying and renting costs.
As of mid‑2025, rental price growth has slowed slightly, though demand for inner-city and coastal areas remains high. The RTA reports the median rent is now $600 per week for houses and $500 per week for units, depending on property type and suburb.
While median prices are a good indicator, the actual cost will vary greatly depending on where you choose to settle in Brisbane and the type of property you are looking for.
Detailed below is a list of median house and unit rental costs across each area in Brisbane.
|
Area in Brisbane |
Average unit rental cost per week |
Average house rental cost per week |
|
Brisbane CBD |
$660 |
$820 |
|
Inner Brisbane |
$620 |
$945 |
|
Northern Brisbane |
$525 |
$660 |
|
East Brisbane |
$600 |
$775 |
|
Southern Brisbane |
$480 |
$615 |
|
West Brisbane |
$510 |
$640 |
(Source: RTA Queensland, June 2025)
As is to be expected, rental prices are highest in Brisbane’s inner, CBD and eastern suburbs. However, more budget friendly options exist in the city’s south and western suburbs. House sharing is also a popular way to bring down weekly costs in the more popular areas.
Weekly rent summary: Room in shared house $300–$350 or Solo rental (unit or house): $500–$600
If you’re starting the rental process, our guide on how to apply for a rental property is packed with tips to help you stand out and secure a lease.
CoreLogic reports Brisbane’s median house price remains steady at around $1,010,000 (June 2025). A 20% deposit of $202,000 would leave a loan of roughly $808,000. At an average interest rate of 6.04% (RBA), weekly repayments would come to around $1,155, or $4,995/month.
Southern suburbs are also worth exploring as they offer cheaper property prices. Areas like Beenleigh and Logan have become more popular over recent years thanks to their lower property prices and easy connection to the CBD by train or public transport.
In Logan, the median house price is still a budget-friendly $465,000. A 20% deposit would be $93,000, with estimated repayments of $537 per week based on a 6.2% loan rate.
Weekly cost: $537 - $1,116
Depending on the area you choose and whether you choose to live independently or with house mates.
Naturally the amount you will spend on groceries each week when you live in Brisbane will depend on your personal preferences and dietary requirements. According to Numbeo (July 2025), a single adult in Brisbane spends around $1,436/month on general expenses excluding rent — roughly $330 per week on food and essentials. We’ve included typical averages to help guide your budget.
Budget Direct estimates the monthly cost of utilities for an 85m² apartment in Brisbane is around $309/month (electricity, heating, water, garbage) or $71/week.
If you also have internet and a mobile phone with data and monthly pan you can expect to pay a little more still:
Brisbane’s utility bills are slightly cheaper than the national average.
NOTE: While these figures detail the average costs for utilities, it’s important to note that your needs will vary depending on the season (extra power throughout summer / winter to cater for heating, cooling and water needs.)
Weekly cost: $100 - $120
To keep your expenses down year-round, you might find these energy-saving tips to reduce your power bill especially helpful.
Brisbane has an extensive public transport system that includes buses, trains and ferries. People in Brisbane spend an average $60 per week on public transport.
Despite relatively cheap and accessible public transport, many Brisbane residents still choose to use a car as their way of getting around. If you’re planning on using a car, it’s important to factor in all of the associated costs into your weekly budget.
Weekly cost: $500.43 per person, per week (car costs including estimated loan repayments)
Foodies will not be disappointed by Brisbane’s selection of dining and drinking venues. From riverside Italians to modern mexican and more, there’s something for everyone. The best thing about the variety of dining options is that you can enjoy great food without always needing a huge budget.
We’ve looked at bars, restaurants and cafes in the central city to give you an idea around the type of dining and drinking budget you may need to account for.
|
Item |
Average $ |
Range $ |
|
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
$20.00 |
$15.00 - $32.00 |
|
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
$120.00 |
$85.00 - $160.00 |
|
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
$15.00 |
$14.00 - $18.00 |
|
Domestic Beer (0.5 litre draught) |
$12.00 |
$8.00 - $15.00 |
|
Imported Beer (0.33 litre bottle) |
$12.00 |
$8.00 - $15.00 |
|
Cappuccino (regular) |
$5.40 |
$4.00 - $7.00 |
|
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre bottle) |
$4.02 |
$3.00 - $5.00 |
|
Water (0.33 litre bottle) |
$3.60 |
$2.50 - $5.00 |
|
Cocktail |
$18 |
$15 - $22 |
A typical meal out in Brisbane (with drinks) will set you back $80–$100, depending on the venue.
Weekly cost: $80 - $100
Brisbane is home to some beautiful parklands, scenic lookouts and bustling markets - none of which cost anything to enjoy. However, there are also a number of concerts, conventions, sporting events and social activities that are available to you with a low - moderate weekly budget.
General admission to high end concerts will usually cost from $130. Sporting events such as NRL, soccer matches etc. offer tickets starting from around $30 per adult and there are usually games on every weekend.
Bowling, escape rooms and karaoke are also highly popular in and around Brisbane.
Bowling will set you back about $25 a game while Karaoke is about $100 per hour and escape rooms about $40 each time.
Weekly cost: $25 – $150, depending on how active your social calendar is.
Based on the above budget (low end costs, renting a room in a shared house etc.)
Based on updated data, we estimate a single person would spend around $50,000 a year to cover the basics in Brisbane.
If you’re spending around $52,000 on the cost of living in Brisbane you’ll need to earn more than this to afford this lifestyle after tax.
If you’re spending around $52,000/year, you’ll need to earn more than that to cover your lifestyle and tax comfortably.
Single people should aim to earn at least $70,000 to cover the basics comfortably, with some room for savings or travel.
Having children in Brisbane will significantly increase the amount you need to earn in order to live comfortably.
Based on recent budgeting insights, a family of four will likely need a combined income of at least $130,000 to cover living costs. To enjoy greater flexibility, a target closer to $150,000 is more realistic.
To live more comfortably a family would need to earn $150,000, although this still would not leave a lot for savings or big surprise expenditures.
The average salary in Brisbane is around $80,000 per year in 2025.
Remember, this is just the average wage, so if you’re working in a high-paying industry or profession, you may expect to earn more.
These roles pay anywhere between $47,000 and $107,000 per year.
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