🇦🇺 ABS Data · Feb 2026
Sydney
Cost of Living
Real ABS data on what it costs to live in Sydney. CPI, wages, jobs, earnings, and property — no spin.
3rd most expensive
of 8 capital cities by CPI inflation0.0%
CPI Inflation (YoY)
vs
+3.7%
National Average
101.4
CPI Index
📊 Source: ABS Consumer Price Index (6401.0)
CPI Trend
Sydney CPI over time
All Groups CPI index for Sydney vs the national average. Higher = more expensive. Hover for detail.
Sydney
National (dashed)
Inflation Breakdown
What's getting more expensive in Sydney?
Year-on-year inflation by CPI subcategory. Red = prices rising fast. Green = prices falling.
Electricity
+30.6%
Utilities
+25.5%
Water and sewerage
+19.4%
Beef and veal
+12.8%
Coffee, tea and cocoa
+11.6%
Gas and other household fuels
+8.7%
Housing
+7.1%
Medical and hospital services
+5.0%
Restaurant meals
+4.7%
Meals out and take away foods
+4.3%
Milk
+3.8%
Eggs
+3.7%
Take away and fast foods
+3.7%
Alcohol and tobacco
+3.5%
Rents
+3.4%
Food and non-alcoholic beverages
+3.3%
Motor vehicles
+1.0%
Communication
+0.8%
Bread
+0.8%
Cheese
-0.1%
Transport
-0.4%
Private motoring
-0.6%
Poultry
-1.2%
Pharmaceutical products
-3.3%
Automotive fuel
-7.9%
City Comparison
Cost of living vs other cities
All Groups CPI YoY inflation across capital cities. Higher = prices rising faster.
#1
Perth
+4.9%
#2
Hobart
+4.0%
#3
Sydney you are here
+3.8%
#4
Brisbane
+3.7%
#5
Canberra
+3.5%
#6
Adelaide
+3.4%
#7
Melbourne
+3.3%
#8
Darwin
+3.2%
Wage Price Index
Wages in NSW
WPI measures wage growth. NSW vs national. Are wages keeping up with Sydney inflation?
158.7
Latest WPI Index
+3.7%
NSW WPI YoY
+3.4%
National WPI YoY
-0.1%
Real Wage Growth
NSW WPI
National (dashed)
Job Market
Employment in NSW
Unemployment rate and labour force participation for New South Wales.
4.1%
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
National Unemployment
66.1%
Participation Rate
66.9%
National Participation
NSW Unemployment
National (dashed)
Average Weekly Earnings
What NSW earns
Full-time adult average weekly earnings for New South Wales. ABS Cat. 6302.0.
$2,148
Weekly (NSW)
$111,717
Annual (NSW)
$2,129
National Weekly
13.9%
Gender Pay Gap
$2,276/wk
Males
$1,960/wk
Females
Property Market
Housing in NSW
Mean dwelling price and affordability for New South Wales. ABS Cat. 6432.0.
$1,301,100
Mean Dwelling Price
▲ 3.6% YoY
$1,074,700
National Average
11.6x
Price / Annual Earnings
9.7x
National Ratio
NSW Mean Price
National (dashed)
Dwelling Prices by State
New South Wales $1,301,100
Queensland $1,066,000
Western Australia $1,014,200
Australian Capital Territory $973,800
South Australia $938,100
Victoria $933,100
Tasmania $703,800
Northern Territory $580,000
Explore
Other capital cities
Compare the cost of living across Australia.