How much do you need to earn to live in Sydney? We calculate the gross monthly salary required to cover rent, food, transport, and utilities — accounting for Australia's tax system.
You need at least $4,526/month gross to live in Sydney on a budget.
For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $5,708/month gross ($4,649 net after ~19% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $2,300 Cheapest neighborhood (Marrickville) | $2,900 Median neighborhood | $3,500 Premium neighborhood (CBD Sydney) |
| Groceries | $660 | $792 | $990 |
| Transport | $210 | $210 | $210 |
| Utilities | $315 | $315 | $315 |
| Dining & Entertainment | $360 | $432 | $540 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | $3,845 | $4,649 | $5,555 |
$4,526/month gross
$5,708/month gross
$7,041/month gross
1-bedroom second-hand rents across 9 neighborhoods in Sydney
Marrickville
20 min by metro
$2,300 - $2,700
Randwick
25 min by tram
$2,500 - $2,900
Chatswood
20 min by metro
$2,600 - $3,000
CBD Sydney
0 min by walk
$3,200 - $3,800
Manly
30 min by bus
$3,000 - $3,500
Surry Hills
10 min by walk
$3,000 - $3,500
See all 9 neighborhoods, detailed expense breakdowns, and savings projections.
Explore SydneyEnter 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 $4,526/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Sydney. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $5,708/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Australia.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 9 neighborhoods in Sydney is approximately $2,989/month. Rents range from $2,300 in Marrickville to $3,800 in CBD Sydney.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Sydney cost approximately $660. 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 $4,526/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 15%. At the comfortable level of $5,708/month, it rises to approximately 19%. This includes income tax and social contributions.