NSW - New South Wales
Sydney Salary Calculator
Australia's most expensive city for housing, with the highest salaries to match. Work out your Sydney take-home pay and what it leaves after rent and living costs.
Short answer
A $90,000 salary in Sydney leaves about $70,680 take-home a year after PAYG tax and the 2% Medicare levy, with 12% super paid on top. Typical living costs of $4,170 a month, including $2,600 rent for a one-bedroom, leave roughly $1,720 a month spare for a single person.
Salary details - Sydney
Estimated result
Take-home (annual)
$70,680.00
$70,680 per year
Employer super
$10,800
Paid on top into super
Sydney disposable income
Net pay (monthly)
$6,173
Core living costs (monthly)
$4,170
Sydney estimate
Disposable (monthly)
$2,003
Savings rate
32.5%
Of net pay
On $95,000 in Sydney, your estimated disposable income is $2,003 a month after rent, transport, food and utilities. Cost figures are indicative and should be refreshed from current sources for your suburb.
What salary do you need to live in Sydney?
As a rough guide, a single person needs around $68,000 a year to live comfortably in Sydney on these indicative costs (about $4,170/month for rent, transport, food and utilities). Families and inner-city suburbs need more. Use the calculator below with your real rent for a personal figure.
Cost of living in Sydney
Indicative monthly costs: one-bed rent $2,600, family home $4,200, transport $220, food $1,100, utilities $250. Sydney sits at about 100 on our cost index where Sydney = 100.
Sydney take-home pay
Your Sydney pay is taxed the same as anywhere in Australia - income tax is federal, so there is no separate NSW income tax. What changes between cities is the cost of living, especially rent. Compare with the cost of living calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is income tax different in Sydney?+
No. Income tax in Australia is federal, so your tax in Sydney is the same as elsewhere. Only employer payroll tax differs by state, and that does not affect your take-home pay.
How much rent should I budget in Sydney?+
Indicatively about $2,600/month for a one-bedroom and $4,200/month for a family home, but this varies sharply by suburb. Check current listings.
Will I be better off moving to Sydney?+
Use the cost of living and migration tools to compare disposable income, not just salary. Highest rents in the country - a strong salary can still leave less disposable income than a cheaper city.
Sources & methodology
- ATO - Personal income tax: new tax cuts (15% rate from 1 July 2026)
- Income Tax Rates Act 1986 (legislation.gov.au)
- ATO - Study and training loan repayment thresholds and rates
- ATO - Super guarantee
- ATO - Contribution caps
- ATO - Payday Super and the annual maximum contribution base
- ATO - Medicare levy
- ATO - Medicare levy surcharge income thresholds and rates
- Fair Work Ombudsman - Pay slips
- How we calculate these estimates
Last updated 13 August 2026. Figures use the 2026-27 financial year.