Moving to Gold Coast? 2025 Living Costs & Relocation Tips

The Gold Coast is situated on the east coast of Australia, just south of Brisbane, and is known as Surfer’s Paradise thanks to the miles of golden beaches. It is Australia’s sixth-largest city and is known for being a tourist trap owing to its beautiful landscape and climate.

If you are considering moving to the Gold Coast, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved in living in Australia’s sixth-largest metropolis.

Quick Gold Coast Facts:

Population: 843,927 (2024).
Official Language: English (de facto) with many other languages being spoken around the city, including Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Cantonese, Italian, German, Spanish, Filipino, French and Arabic.
GDP Per Capita: $42,000+ USD (2020)
Nature reserves and World Heritage Sites: The Gold Coast has 100,000 hectares of nature reserves and World Heritage Sites.
Currency: Australian Dollar ($, AUD). As of 2024, £1 = $1.94 AUD, $1 USD = $1.46 AUD, €1 EUR = $1.62 AUD, $1 CAD = $1.08 AUD.

Sections

1. Moving and Shipping Costs to the Gold Coast

The table below shows the estimated cost of hiring a 20- or 40-foot container from some of the largest global cities, and shipping it to Gold Coast:

Origin City	20FT	40FT
Beijing	$3,300 - $3,400	$6,100 - $6,300
Berlin	$2,800 - $2,900	$5,100 - $5,300
Chicago	$2,550 - $2,650	$4,600 - $4,800
Chongqing	$3,100 - $3,200	$5,700 - $5,900
Delhi	$3,050 - $3,150	$5,600 - $5,800
Dubai	$3,350 - $3,450	$6,200 - $6,400
Houston	$2,700 - $2,800	$4,900 - $5,100
Los Angeles	$2,500 - $2,600	$4,400 - $4,600
Madrid	$2,850 - $2,950	$5,200 - $5,400
New York City	$2,450 - $2,550	$4,300 - $4,500
Paris	$2,900 - $3,000	$5,300 - $5,500
Phoenix	$2,600 - $2,700	$4,700 - $4,900
Rome	$2,850 - $2,950	$5,200 - $5,400
Shanghai	$3,150 - $3,250	$5,800 - $6,000
Sydney	$3,400 - $3,500	$6,300 - $6,500
Toronto	$2,650 - $2,750	$4,800 - $5,000
Vancouver	$2,700 - $2,800	$4,900 - $5,100
Vienna	$2,950 - $3,050	$5,400 - $5,600

All figures are in USD;
The rates above are estimates only and may have changed since the time this article was updated (September 2024). They are based on the lowest estimated rate from either Freightos, Flexport, or Maersk;
To get a more accurate idea of the cost for you, please use the quote form at the top of this page;
Please also see our guide to international container shipping.

2. Gold Coast Housing Costs

Prices vary on the Gold Coast, depending on whether you are buying or renting on the coast or inland. However, the figures below will give you an indication of what’s available at what price.

Monthly Rental Prices in the Gold Coast:

1 bedroom flat (apartment) in City Centre: A$2,000+
1 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: A$1,900+
3 bedroom flat in City Centre: A$3,400+
3 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: A$2,600+

Gold Coast Home Purchase Prices:

Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: A$15,200+
Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside City: A$13,800+

Gold Coast Housing Cost Comparison:

This is how rents in the Gold Coast compare with other cities around the globe.

London is 43.6% more expensive
New York is 61.5% more expensive
Los Angeles is 47.2% more expensive
Sydney is 31.4% more expensive
Melbourne is 3.4% more expensive
Toronto is 19.8% more expensive
Paris is 10.3% more expensive
Dubai is 19.9% more expensive

Source: Numbeo

How to Save on Housing Costs:

Share a Flat or House: Finding long-term rentals is not as easy as in other cities because the Gold Coast is a big tourist destination and many of the apartments are used for holiday lets. However, there are flats and houses to rent or share. With a house or flat share, you will have your own room, or, for a cheaper option, you can share a room. The bathroom/s will be shared with other people in the house. Most people find that Domain is the best place to find rentals, but there are also Flatmates, Gumtree and Real Estate.
Different Areas – Different Prices: There are over 50 suburbs on the Gold Coast and more being built every year. As you can see from the costs above, there isn’t a large range of rental and purchase prices as there is in other cities. Labrador was one of the original suburbs of the Gold Coast, built in the 1950s. Many of the older houses have been demolished and flats and luxury homes built in their place. This is a great place to live for those who enjoy water sports and boating. Robina is an upmarket area which is close to Burleigh Beach – it has good schools and is home to Bond University.

3. Gold Coast Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs

The Gold Coast has a large selection of affordable restaurants.

Inexpensive Restaurant: A$25.00 – A$30.00
Takeout Coffee: A$5.50 – A$6.00
Bottle of Coke: A$3.00 – A$3.50
1L of Milk: A$1.70 – A$2.40
Loaf of Bread: A$3.80 – A$4.00
12 Eggs: A$4.50 – A$5.00
1kg Chicken: A$10.50 – A$14.00
1kg Beef: A$15.00 – A$20.00
1kg Apples: A$4.50 – A$5.00
1kg White Rice: A3.50 – A$5.00

This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major cities in the world.

New York restaurants are 33.8% more expensive and groceries are 35.9% more expensive than the Gold Coast.
Los Angeles restaurants are 26.7% more expensive and groceries are 16.9% more expensive than the Gold Coast.
London restaurants are 18.3% more expensive and groceries are 13.8% cheaper than the Gold Coast.
Sydney restaurants are 14.6% more expensive and groceries are 18.4% more expensive than the Gold Coast.
Melbourne restaurants are 11.3% more expensive and groceries are 19.3% more expensive than the Gold Coast.
Toronto restaurants are 10.7% cheaper and groceries are 4.7% cheaper than the Gold Coast.
Paris restaurants are 4.5% more expensive and groceries are 14.5% more expensive than the Gold Coast.
Dubai restaurants are 7.4% more expensive and groceries are 30.9% cheaper than the Gold Coast.

Source: Numbeo

Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries:

Know Your Supermarkets: Coles, Woolworths and Harris Farm Market are the major supermarket chains on the Gold Coast. There are some independent food stores that sell good local produce. Tugun Fruit Market is one of the oldest stores on the Gold Coast and sells a good selection of fresh produce and other goods. Earth Markets is another food store that sells fresh, organic food and has a good deli.
Find Cheap Eats: There are plenty of restaurants and bars which offer specials on food. Have a look at the following sites to see where you would like to go – Trip Advisor and The Weekend Edition.

4. Gold Coast Alcohol Costs

The Gold Coast, especially Surfer’s Paradise, is full of pubs, clubs and bars.

Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: A$8.00 – A$9.00
Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: A$10.00 – A$12.00
Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a supermarket: A$5.70 – A$6.00
Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: A$5.70 – A$9.00
Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: A$18.00 – A$20.00

How To Drink For Less in the Gold Coast:

Keep an eye on the local papers and websites for specials.
There are many pubs, bars and clubs that offer specials every day. Have a look at Yelp to find one which takes your fancy.

5. Gold Coast Transportation Fares

The Gold Coast’s transportation system consists of a network of trains, buses and trams. Translink controls an integrated ticketing system for all modes of transport.

Here are some example ticket costs:

Adult single – A$5.00
Monthly season ticket for bus, tram and train – A$160.00

How To Save Money on Public Transport:

Buy a Go Card, this will give you discounted fare depending on the number of trips you make.
If you have a business where you need more than 10 tickets, buy a Go Business card to save money.
Travel off-peak and save at least 20% on your fare.
Buy a bike. The Gold Coast is bike friendly and there are lots of cycle lanes.
Walk. If you live close to your place of work, then walk to work and soak up the sun.

6. Cost of Internet in the Gold Coast

Internet in Australia is expensive. Here are some sample broadband internet prices from early 2023, based on a 24-month contract:

Dodo: A$55.00 a month for 15Mbps
Telstra: A$80.00 a month for 25Mbps
Optus: A$80.00 a month for unlimited data

7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure

The Gold Coast has a subtropical climate and receives a minimum of 7 hours of sunshine a day. January is its hottest month, with an average high of 26°C. The lowest winter temperatures are in July where the average is 15°C. February is the wettest month with 130mm of rain falling. The sea reaches 26°C in January.

Here are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.

Pair of Jeans: A$100.00 – A$120.00
Summer Dress: A$60.00 – A$100.00
Running Shoes (Trainers): A$170.00 – A$200.00
Business Shoes: A$150.00 – $165.00
Short Doctor’s Visit (15 mins): A$60.00
Deodorant: A$6.00
Shampoo: A$7.00
Toilet Paper (4 rolls): A$4.00
Gym Membership: A$70 – A$80 per month
Movie (cinema) Ticket: A$18.00 – A$20.00

Source: Numbeo and Expatistan

8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car on the Gold Coast

Everyone in Australia drives on the left. Surfer’s Paradise tends to suffer from traffic problems during peak times but the quieter areas don’t have traffic problems.

If you’re moving to the Gold Coast from another Australian state or from overseas, you will need to get a Queensland driving licence after you have been living in the Gold Coast for 3 months. You may need to take a written test and a driving test before you can be issued a license. This depends on a number of factors such as how long you have been driving and the nationality of your license.

You can also get an International Driving Permit before you leave your home country and this will allow you to drive in Australia for 12 months.

Here are some other sample costs of owning and operating a car on the Gold Coast:

Volkswagen Golf: A$35,000+
1 litre (¼ gallon) of gas (petrol): A$1.91
Vehicle Registration Duty: The amount varies depending on the vehicle. Go to QLD.Gov to find out how to calculate the amount payable on your vehicle
Other Fees (if any): See Queensland Gov

Source: Expatistan, Queensland Gov

Ways To Save Money on Driving in the Gold Coast:

Car sharing or pooling is one way to save money. Try Carpool World, Coseats, Gumtree and GoGet.
Taxis can sometimes be a cheaper option, especially if you are going to have to park all day. Try Uber.

9. Taxes in the Gold Coast

No matter where you live in Australia, you will pay the same rate of tax. To learn more about the different taxes in Australia, go to this site – the Australian Taxation Office.

Sales Tax in Australia is 10% and is added to most goods and services throughout the country. Unlike in some countries, it is always included in the marked price.

Whether you own or rent your home, you will be subject to the payment of rates based on the area in which you live and the size of the property you live in. Learn more about rates in Gold Coast at Gold Coast Rates.

If you decide to buy a flat or house in the Gold Coast you’ll have to pay Stamp Duty.

10. Flight Costs from the Gold Coast

If you do make the move to the Gold Coast, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to other major world cities based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of early 2023:

New York: A$1,704
Los Angeles: A$994
Toronto: A$2,500
Vancouver: A$1,900
Dubai: A$900
London: A$1,300
Sydney: A$60
Melbourne: A$80
Cape Town: A$2,400
Hong Kong: A$620

Other Tips on Moving to the Gold Coast:

The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in the Gold Coast but perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.

11. Moving to the Gold Coast Alone

Moving anywhere can be a lonely experience, but moving to a new city can be rather daunting. Here are a few tips about settling into the Gold Coast alone.

Meetups: The Gold Coast has lots of free meetup groups you can find on Meetup. Find groups such as Fit, Fast and Furious Hikers, Gold Coast Business Club, Female Entrepreneurs, Gold Coast Coffee and Conversation and many more.
Attend Local Events: There’s always a lot going on in the Gold Coast. Find out what’s going on from Trip Advisor, Destination Gold Coast, Australia and Queensland.

12. Moving to the Gold Coast with a Family

The Gold Coast is a very relaxed area to live in with a family. It has a wide selection of neighbourhoods which are family-friendly, plus the beach, parks, entertainment and lots of Australian countryside to explore.

New Parents (or parents to be): Check out Nurtureco.
Live in a Family-friendly Area: Ashmore/Benowa are minutes away from Surfer’s Paradise but situated in a quiet area. The schools are good and there is plenty for kids to do. Burleigh has a wonderful beach and many parks in the vicinity. Pacific Pines is another area which attracts families and is only minutes from the theme parks. Most of the areas in the Gold Coast are suitable for families because that’s what the Gold Coast is about. Ashmore is another area which draws families. It is one of the older treed suburbs and has good schools and pleasant parks and is close to the CBD and M1 motorway.
Find Things To Do With The Kids: Queensland, Y Travel, Experience Oz and Families Magazine all have great ideas for activities and events your kids will love.

13. Moving to the Gold Coast for Work

If you want to work in Australia, you need to ensure you have the right visa. Visa conditions have recently changed, making it more difficult for people to live and work in Australia.

The major employment sector in the Gold Coast is tourism and hospitality. There is also a healthy building sector as more people move into the area. Jobs are also available in education, health, retail and finance.

Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:

Salary: The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea of how much more you’ll want to make the move worthwhile. You can also check salary ranges on sites such as Glassdoor and Payscale.
How to Find Work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to the Gold Coast, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start: Indeed, Seek and Jora. You may also want to Google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.

14. Moving to the Gold Coast from the United Kingdom

There’s a large group of Brits living in the Gold Coast. If you are thinking of joining them, here are a few things to consider.

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of the Gold Coast with a city in the UK, you would be looking at Sheffield.
Join Expat Groups: Internations, Poms in Oz, and Meetup offer ways of meeting up with other Brits in the Gold Coast.

15. Moving to the Gold Coast from Canada

A few Canadians are living in the Gold Coast. If you’re considering making the move from Canada here are a few things to consider.

Size: If you compare the size of the population of the Gold Coast with a city in Canada, then you would be looking at a city 15% larger than Kitchener.
Expat Groups: If you want to find fellow Canadians in the Gold Coast, have a look at Internations and Meetup.

16. Moving to the Gold Coast from the United States

There’s a small group of Americans living on the Gold Coast. If you’re considering making the move from the States to the Gold Coast, here are a few bonus tips:

Size: If you compare the population size of the Gold Coast with a city in the States, you would be looking at Albuquerque.
Expat Groups: Meeting up with fellow Americans who have been living in the Gold Coast for a while can greatly assist the integration process. Sites such as Internations and Meetup will help you connect with people from back home.

Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to the Gold Coast you can start by comparing moving quotes here.