How much do you need to earn to live in Darwin? We calculate the gross monthly salary required to cover rent, food, transport, and utilities — accounting for Australia's tax system.
You need at least $4,641/month gross to live in Darwin on a budget.
For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $6,354/month gross ($5,088 net after ~20% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $2,300 Cheapest neighborhood (Palmerston) | $3,250 Median neighborhood | $3,800 Premium neighborhood (Stuart Park) |
| Groceries | $693 | $832 | $1,040 |
| Transport | $221 | $221 | $221 |
| Utilities | $331 | $331 | $331 |
| Dining & Entertainment | $378 | $454 | $567 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | $3,923 | $5,088 | $5,959 |
$4,641/month gross
$6,354/month gross
$7,635/month gross
1-bedroom second-hand rents across 5 neighborhoods in Darwin
Palmerston
25 min by car
$2,300 - $2,800
Nightcliff
12 min by bus
$2,900 - $3,400
Parap
8 min by bus
$3,000 - $3,500
Stuart Park
5 min by walk
$3,500 - $4,100
Darwin City
0 min by walk
$3,300 - $3,800
Parap
8 min by bus
$3,000 - $3,500
See all 5 neighborhoods, detailed expense breakdowns, and savings projections.
Explore DarwinEnter your actual salary to see your take-home pay, affordable neighborhoods, and savings potential.
Open calculatorWe total monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then reverse-calculate the gross salary needed to cover those expenses after Australia's income tax and social contributions. Rent data comes from second-hand market listings (what expats actually pay). All figures are based on 2026 data from official government statistics. See our data sources for full attribution.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least $4,641/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Darwin. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $6,354/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Australia.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 5 neighborhoods in Darwin is approximately $3,260/month. Rents range from $2,300 in Palmerston to $4,100 in Stuart Park.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Darwin cost approximately $693. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Australia are progressive. At the budget salary level of $4,641/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 16%. At the comfortable level of $6,354/month, it rises to approximately 20%. This includes income tax and social contributions.