Cost of Living Australia vs UK

Both the UK and Australia offer a high quality of life to their residents. Both countries offer numerous areas of natural beauty, excellent educational and health facilities, and appealing travel connections. However, the cost of living in both countries can be expensive, and this is likely to be an important factor when deciding which location is right for you.

For the most part, the cost of living in Australia and the UK is fairly similar. While salaries in Australia tend to be higher, the difference between UK and Australian salaries largely balances out after conversion and accounting for the prices of different purchases.

Affordability also varies between types of expense. For example, while food is often slightly cheaper in Australia compared to the UK, housing is generally slightly more expensive.

In general, the cost of living in either country will depend heavily on factors such as lifestyle, location, and the size of your family. Both countries provide options for different budgets and a variety of possible locations, ranging from more affordable rural areas to more expensive city locations.

Page Contents

• Cost of Living Comparison in Australia vs the UK
• Housing Cost in Australia vs UK
• Food Costs in Australia vs UK
• Transportation Costs in Australia vs UK
• Recreation Costs Comparison
• Utility Bills Comparison: Australia vs UK
• Education Costs in Australia vs UK
• What Is the Average Salary in the UK and Australia?
• Living Costs in UK Cities Comparison
• Living Costs in Australian Cities Comparison
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions

Housing in either the UK or Australia is likely to be one of your major expenses after moving to your chosen destination. In both countries, house prices can be very expensive compared to many other global locations.

According to Numbeo, the average 2025 housing costs in both destinations are as follows:

In general, then, property prices in the 2 countries are similar after conversion, with costs in Australia slightly higher. However, note that the exact cost varies significantly depending on where in the country you are living. In both countries, housing in urban areas tends to be significantly more expensive than in rural areas, and you should expect housing in cities such as London and Sidney to be at the higher end of housing costs in both locations. In particular, property in London costs significantly more than in many other global cities, which is an important consideration when considering a move.

The exact cost for you will depend on a range of factors, such as location, number of bedrooms, and local amenities.

Food costs are an important consideration when moving to a new country. Especially if you are moving with your family, food costs are likely to be a substantial portion of your monthly expenses. In both the UK and Australia, food can be an expensive purchase, and so its cost should be considered when deciding on your next country of choice.

According to Numbeo, the average 2025 food costs in the UK and Australia are as follows:

As the table shows, in general, food costs are slightly lower in Australia, with some exceptions. However, note that exact costs will depend on where you shop and the brands which you buy. Prices may also vary across regions of the country, with costs of food in more rural areas of the UK often cheaper than in cities such as London, for example.

Both the UK and Australia offer a wide range of transportation options. Whether buying a private vehicle, taking a domestic flight, or catching a bus or train, you will have numerous options from which to choose.

According to Numbeo, average 2025 public transport costs in the 2 countries are as follows:

Public transport is another instance where costs are similar between the two countries but slightly more expensive in the UK. If you are expecting to live on a tight budget upon arrival in your new country, this might make Australia the better choice.

In both Australia and the UK, many residents also own their own cars. This is especially helpful in Australia, given the large size of the country and limited public transport options in more rural areas. In Australia, the cost of a new Toyota Corolla Sedan (or equivalent car) is £17,000 on average, whereas in the UK it is £30,000. In this respect, the cost of living in the UK is significantly more expensive, as residents of the UK can expect to pay substantially more for a private car. If owning your own vehicle is important to you, Australia may be a more affordable relocation option.

Both the UK and Australia offer a wide range of recreational activities. In Australia, activities like surfing and other water sports are especially popular, whereas in the UK options like hiking and museum visits are common choices. However, in general, the recreational activities available in both countries are broadly similar.

The below Numbeo data gives some insight into the cost of different recreational activities in both countries in 2025.

In both the UK and Australia, many museums offer free entry, although it may be necessary to pay to visit special exhibits. Activities like hiking and surfing are also generally budget-friendly, although you will likely need to make initial investments in good-quality equipment before you can enjoy the activities for free.

In general, both countries offer a wide range of recreational activities. The exact range which is available to you will depend on where you choose to live. In Australia, for example, many of the population hotspots are along the coast, making surfing a more accessible activity. In the UK, on the other hand, whilst surfing is available in coastal areas, the population hotspots tend to be more inland, making activities like the cinema and museum visits more accessible.

In both the UK and Australia, utility bills will be one of your regular monthly costs. As such, it is important to account for their affordability when deciding where you want to live.

According to Numbeo’s 2025 data, the cost of the main utility bills in both countries are as follow:

In general, both countries are comparable in price. However, note that prices will vary depending on frequency of utility use, location, and family size.

Education costs in both Australia and the UK can be expensive, depending on the educational institution in question and the level of study.

In both the UK and Australia, students have access to government-funded schools, which are free for permanent residents and citizens. This means that, until university level, education is generally affordable in both countries. However, both the UK and Australia also offer private schools, depending on budget. According to the Good Schools Guide, private schools in the UK cost an average of £19,000 for a day private school and £50,000 for schools which offer boarding. Private schools in Australia tend to fall within a similar price range, after conversion.

Once a student reaches university level, they should generally expect to pay around £9000 a year for undergraduate study in the UK (with higher rates for international students). In Australia, there is more fluctuation in the prices, but students should expect to pay at least £4000 (with international students once again paying more than domestic students).

Both Australia and the UK offer excellent education options for different budgets. The country which is right for you will depend on factors like your chosen area of study and preferred location.

In Australia, the average monthly salary after tax is £2650. In the UK, by comparison, it is £2378.

While this is not a major difference, it does mean that average salaries in the UK tend to be a little lower than in Australia. Combined with the slightly higher cost of living, this may be an important consideration when deciding where to live.

However, salaries will depend largely on your profession of choice and where in the country you live. In the UK, for example, salaries in London tend to be higher than in more rural areas like Cornwall and Cumbria, with many companies offering an additional salary boost to their London-based employees to reflect the higher cost of living.

It is also worth noting that, for many visa routes, you will need to satisfy certain minimum salary criteria. This is the case for the UK’s Skilled Worker visa route, for example.

Costs in the UK vary significantly between cities. As such, specific location should be a major consideration when choosing between countries, depending on your desired salary and cost of living.

The below Numbeo data gives an insight into the difference in cost of living between 3 popular UK cities: London, Birmingham, and Edinburgh.

The data shows that the cost of living tends to be significantly higher in London, but that this is also reflected in a higher average salary. Edinburgh is also an expensive city in which to live, although not to the same extent as London.

In general, if you are looking for a higher salary than the national average, London is likely to be the best choice. However, if your priority is a lower cost of living, other population hotspots like Birmingham may be a better fit. It is possible to have a high quality of life regardless of the city which you choose, and across different budgets.

As in the UK, living costs in Australia vary significantly between cities. The cost of expenses like rent and utilities will depend on your location of choice.

The Numbeo data in the table below gives some insight into how costs vary between 3 major Australian cities: Canberra, Sydney, and Perth.

As the data shows, the cost of living in Sydney tends to be higher than in Canberra and Perth. However, the average Sydney salary is also higher, and Canberra and Perth can also both be expensive, depending on location and lifestyle. In general, your cost of living will depend on where in the city you live, your particular lifestyle, and the size of your family. The cost of living in Australian cities tends to be significantly higher than in more rural Australian destinations, for example.