Cost of living in Sydney — is your salary enough?
Sydney median rent exceeded A$2,800/month in 2023, the highest in Australia by a wide margin. Sydney's housing crisis means even high-income earners can struggle to save above the national benchmark.
Rent in Sydney
Other monthly costs
How different incomes stack up
At typical Sydney costs (A$2,800 rent)
See your personal verdict for Sydney
Cost figures are estimates based on reported median rents and typical spending patterns. Savings benchmarks from ABS Household Expenditure Survey 2022/23. Figures in AUD.
Frequently asked questions — Living in Sydney
How much does it cost to live in Sydney?+
Core monthly costs in Sydney run about A$5,200 — roughly A$2,800 for rent and A$2,400 for other living expenses (food, transport, utilities, basics). Sydney median rent exceeded A$2,800/month in 2023, the highest in Australia by a wide margin.
What is the median rent in Sydney?+
The median rent in Sydney is around A$2,800 per month. Sydney is classified as a very high cost cost-of-living city in Australia.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Sydney?+
Using the 70%-rule (core costs ≤ 70% of gross), you need roughly A$89,143 per year before tax to live comfortably in Sydney. That leaves room to hit the 8% savings benchmark for Australia.
Is Sydney expensive compared to the rest of Australia?+
Sydney sits in the very high cost tier within Australia. Sydney's housing crisis means even high-income earners can struggle to save above the national benchmark.
How much of your income should rent take in Sydney?+
The standard rule is no more than 30% of gross income on rent. At A$2,800/month in Sydney, that means a gross income of at least A$112,000 per year to stay under the 30% threshold.
Can you still save money living in Sydney?+
Yes — the Australia benchmark for mid-income earners is 8% of gross income. In a very high cost city like Sydney, hitting that rate is tighter but achievable with disciplined budgeting.
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