Cheapest suburb to live is…
By Thang Ngo
Menulog has launched MPTI, a cheeky cost of living index based on the cost of food or to be more precise, the cost of ordering pad Thai online. And according to them, Sydney’s Greenacre is the cheapest, where a pad thai will set you back a wallet friendly $7.90 to order online.
Sydney’s tourist-hub, Darling Harbour is the most expensive with an average price of $17.90.
The average price of pad Thai online in Australia is $12.10 with the cheapest state being South Australia, where it will set you back just $11.00.
Noodlies, Sydney food blog is intrigued, if you are too, more details below from Menulog’s media release.
Media Release
29 Oct 2013 11:22 AM AEST – Menulog launches Pad Thai Index comparing the true cost of living across Australia’s suburbs
Menulog launches Pad Thai Index comparing the true cost of living across Australia’s suburbs
This new economic indicator from Menulog, No.1 for online takeaway, compares the price of one of Australia’s most popular ordered meals online, exposing how the cost of living can differ dramatically from one suburb to another. The popular Thai dish is a staple on almost all Thai restaurant menus consisting of a combination of noodles, prawns, vegetables and distinctive sweet and tangy sauce.
The statistics show that Darling Harbour in Sydney is the most expensive place to live according to Menulog’s Pad Thai Index (MPTI) and on the other end of the spectrum Greenacre in Sydney was identified as the cheapest suburb with the average Pad Thai costing $7.90 for takeaway, $10 cheaper than Darling Harbour where the average cost is $17.90.
Surprisingly, according to the MPTI, Sydney and Melbourne are not the only major cities that feature expensive suburbs to live in. Some of the most expensive suburbs are Ascot, Hope Island, Woolloongabba, Banyo and Windsor, all coming from Brisbane. Below is a snapshot of the average price by state:
| State | Av Price ($) |
| South Australia | 11.00 |
| Queensland | 13.00 |
| Victoria | 12.00 |
| Western Australia | 12.70 |
| New South Wales | 12.00 |
Julia Snabl, Marketing Director for Menulog added: “It’s always interesting to read economists reports about the standard of living and how they compare the different social, financial and geographical situations, but the MPTI is informative as it’s a specific indicator across all suburbs.”
MPTI focuses on the cost of an average Pad Thai from randomly selected restaurants featured on Menulog.com.au that deliver the popular takeaway meal; taken from over 270 suburbs in 5 major cities in Australia.
The average cost of Pad Thai nation-wide is $12.10
About Menulog
Menulog is Australia’s number one online takeaway and food delivery website. It features over 2000 takeaway restaurants, 6000 specials and 100,000 restaurant reviews.
Menulog customers can order through the website or mobile app and pay via credit card or cash. It’s free to use and customers will receive instant SMS confirmation upon completing an order. Menulog is owned and operated by Menulog Pty Ltd.
Pad Thai – Snapshot of Most to Least expensive cities and suburbs in Australia:
| City | Suburb | Av Price ($) |
| Sydney | Darling Harbour | 17.90 |
| Melbourne | Wantirna | 17.90 |
| Brisbane | Ascot | 16.50 |
| Brisbane | Hope Island | 16.00 |
| Brisbane | Woolloongabba | 15.45 |
| Melbourne | Docklands | 15.00 |
| Melbourne | Albert Park | 14.90 |
| Sydney | Asquith | 14.90 |
| Brisbane | Banyo | 14.90 |
| Brisbane | Windsor | 14.90 |
| Melbourne | Braybrook | 14.80 |
| Melbourne | Doncaster East | 14.50 |
| Melbourne | Box Hill | 14.40 |
| Sydney | Bella Vista | 14.33 |
| Sydney | Balmain | 14.27 |
| Melbourne | Mount Waverley | 14.00 |
| Sydney | Abbotsford | 13.90 |
| Melbourne | Balwyn North | 13.90 |
| Sydney | Baulkham Hills | 13.90 |
| Melbourne | Beaumaris | 13.90 |
| Sydney | Castle Cove | 13.90 |
| Melbourne | Dandenong | 13.90 |
| Sydney | Hornsby | 13.90 |
| Sydney | Narrabeen | 13.90 |
| Brisbane | Nundah | 13.90 |
| Sydney | Paddington | 13.90 |
| Sydney | Penshurst | 13.90 |
| Sydney | Eastlakes | 10.90 |
| Melbourne | Hughesdale | 10.90 |
| Melbourne | Kensington | 10.90 |
| Sydney | Kensington | 10.90 |
| Melbourne | Knoxfield | 10.90 |
| Sydney | Kogarah | 10.90 |
| Melbourne | Kooyong | 10.90 |
| Sydney | Merrylands | 10.90 |
| Melbourne | Noble Park | 10.90 |
| Sydney | Revesby | 10.90 |
| Sydney | Revesby Heights | 10.90 |
| Adelaide | Rosewater | 10.90 |
| Sydney | Waverley | 10.90 |
| Adelaide | Maylands | 10.80 |
| Adelaide | Millswood | 10.80 |
| Brisbane | North Lakes | 10.75 |
| Sydney | Bondi | 10.70 |
| Sydney | Bondi Junction | 10.70 |
| Sydney | Erskineville | 10.70 |
| Sydney | Frenchs Forest | 10.70 |
| Brisbane | Upper Mount Gravatt | 10.50 |
| Sydney | Watsons Bay | 10.50 |
| Sydney | Rockdale | 10.46 |
| Sydney | Leichhardt | 9.70 |
| Melbourne | Northcote | 9.60 |
| Sydney | Fairfield East | 9.50 |
| Melbourne | St Albans | 9.50 |
| Sydney | Arncliffe | 9.20 |
| Melbourne | Balaclava | 8.90 |
| Sydney | Riverwood | 8.90 |
| Sydney | Greenacre | 7.90 |
wow 7.90 for pad thai? thats hella cheap.
I know, it’s sooooo cheap!
Interesting! Good to know that Pad Thai is a stronger economic indicator than Big Macs! BTW, my favourite dirt cheap Pad Thai is from Thai La Ong in Newtown, used to be $6 at lunch, but I think it’s $6.90 now.
Yeah, go the pad thai vs big macs… woah $6.90 is a steal!
Interesting read!! I can’t help but think though, if I’m going to be in Greenacre, I’d head for a Lebanese restaurant (Al Aseel) instead!! x When in Rome…
True, so true, I guess that’s one that’s more for the local who’ve had lots of falafels, lol
Maybe you should put a photo of a pad thai as opposed to a pad see ew? ^^;
I find it amazing that Newtown didn’t get mentioned in the pad Thai measurement system! Definitely the suburnb with the most pad Thai on offer. And it’s extremely cheap!