Sydney, Australia
In Sydney, $10 covers a suburban bakery sausage roll and a scoop of gelato with money to spare, or an off-peak Opal ferry ride across the harbour with plenty left over.
Index score 132 (rank 18 of 20) — the full basket totals $37.90, so $10 covers about 26.4% of it.
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The basket
| Item | Sydney | NYC | vs NYC |
|---|---|---|---|
| White bread (500g) | $2.54 | $4.61 | -45% |
| Milk (1L) | $1.79 | $1.44 | +24% |
| Eggs (12) | $5.50 | $5.90 | -7% |
| Bananas (1kg) | $3.09 | $2.10 | +47% |
| Bottled water (1.5L) | $1.20 | $2.50 | -52% |
| Domestic beer (0.5L, store) | $4.11 | $3.21 | +28% |
| Cappuccino (cafe) | $3.91 | $6.09 | -36% |
| White rice (1kg) | $2.30 | $6.64 | -65% |
| Chicken breast (1kg) | $9.55 | $14.41 | -34% |
| Public transit, one-way ticket | $3.91 | $3.00 | +30% |
| Total | $37.90 | $49.90 |
What $10 actually buys here
- A sausage roll from a suburban bakery~$4.05
A classic cheap bakery snack.
- A single scoop of gelato~$4.82
From a Darlinghurst or Bondi gelateria.
- An off-peak one-way Opal ferry ride~$3.73
A short route — the cheapest harbour view in the city.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a basic grocery basket cost in Sydney?
$37.90 for a basic grocery basket in Sydney — about $12 less than New York City's $49.90.
What can $10 buy in Sydney?
A suburban bakery sausage roll and a scoop of gelato together for about $8.87, or an off-peak one-way Opal ferry ride for $3.73 — the cheapest harbour view in the city.
Is Sydney cheaper than New York for everyday expenses?
Yes — Sydney's index score of 132 means a dollar goes roughly 1.3 times as far as in New York.
How much is a domestic beer in Sydney?
About $4.11 for a 0.5L bottle from a store — one of the pricier beer basket items in this Index.
What's the cheapest item in Sydney's basket?
Bottled water at $1.20, while chicken breast is the priciest item at $9.55 per kilo.
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Keep exploring
In Mumbai, $10 covers a round-trip ferry to Elephanta Island with cave-temple entry, a full street-food crawl of vada pav and pav bhaji, or a Bollywood movie with popcorn.
In New York City, $10 covers a halal-cart chicken-and-rice platter, three subway or bus rides, or a pay-what-you-wish museum ticket — the baseline this whole index is measured against.
In Berlin, $10 covers a döner kebab with a drink, about seven Späti corner-store beers, or a transit ticket plus a currywurst mit Pommes.
Prices are researched estimates (July 2026), not live data — treat them as illustrative, not exact. See the methodology page for details.