Australiavs
CanadaAustralia vs Canada: salary, tax & cost of living
Average wage, take-home after tax and cost of living, side by side — on real OECD wage data, PPP-adjusted. The headline salary and the net paycheck don't always point the same way.
Head to head
Australia vs Canada
| Metric | Australia | Canada | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average wage (PPP) | $70,736 | $69,417 | Australia |
| Payroll deduction | 23% | 28% | Australia |
| Net take-home (avg wage) | $54,467 | $49,980 | Australia |
| Cost index (NY=100) | 80 | 72 | Canada |
Average wage: OECD (PPP). Tax is an effective single-filer rate at the average wage; cost index is each country's anchor city (Sydney / Toronto).
Data signals
What actually separates them
Who keeps more
On the average wage, Australia leaves the bigger net paycheck — about $4,486 more per year ($54,467 in Australia vs $49,980 in Canada, PPP).
Payroll deduction
Australia takes less off the top: ~23% vs ~28% combined income tax + social security.
Cost of living
Canada is the cheaper base: cost index 72 vs 80 (Sydney / Toronto, New York = 100). Higher net pay doesn't help if rent eats it.
Banking & transfers for either move
Some links below are affiliate links — if you sign up we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
FAQ
- Is the average salary higher in Australia or Canada?
- Australia has the higher OECD average wage: $70,736 in Australia vs $69,417 in Canada (PPP-adjusted). But after tax, Australia keeps more net.
- Where do you take home more after tax?
- Australia — about $4,486 more net per year on the average wage, once income tax and social security are applied.
- Which is cheaper to live in?
- Canada, by cost index (Sydney 80 vs Toronto 72, NY = 100). Weigh net pay against cost together, not separately.