GoldmitraGold Price in India vs Australia: Which Is Cheaper in 2026?
Australian jewellery mixes 9K and 18K — both well below India's 22K purity — and is priced per piece with a flat 10% GST, rather than India's per-gram-plus-making-charge model.
Rates last updated: 12 Sept 2026, 6:17 am IST
| Metric | India | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Price/gram (24K) | ₹15,357 | — |
| Price/gram (dominant retail karat) | ₹14,081 (22K) | — |
| Dominant retail karat & purity | 22K · 91.6% | 9K · 37.5% |
| Making charge convention | 8–25%, per gram + disclosed charge | Priced per finished piece — brand/design markup, not a disclosed % |
| Tax on gold | 3% GST | 10% GST (flat, national) |
| Import duty (bringing gold into India) | 15% customs duty | See baggage-rules allowance below |
Why the prices differ
There isn't one dominant karat the way there is in India — 9K (37.5% purity) and 18K (75%) both sell widely, so gold content varies more piece-to-piece than in India's 22K-centric market.
GST is flat at 10% nationally, simpler than the US's patchwork of state sales taxes, but it still taxes jewellery of any karat while exempting investment bullion — the same split most of these markets make.
Like the US and Canada, Australia has no daily published per-gram jewellery retail rate — pricing is per finished piece, design and brand driven.
Purity standard comparison
India's dominant retail karat is 22K (91.6% purity). Australia's is 9K (37.5% purity) — buying 9K gets you less actual gold content per gram than Indian 22K, regardless of the sticker price.
Jewellery-making & style differences
- Priced per finished piece — no itemized making charge disclosed.
- Mix of 9K (durability-first, everyday) and 18K (finer, bridal/designer) pieces.
- Flat 10% GST nationally, no additional state sales tax.
- 9K/18K Australian jewellery resells at a discount in India — priced against 22K-equivalent gold content.
Buying in Australia? What Indian travelers should know
- Returning Indian residents who've lived abroad over a year can bring gold jewellery in duty-free up to a weight limit only — 40g for women, 20g for men/others — with no separate value cap since the 2026 Baggage Rules revision.
- India charges a total 15% customs duty on imported gold (10% Basic Customs Duty + 5% AIDC, hiked from 6% in May 2026), plus 3% GST at sale.
- Yes — the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) refunds the 10% GST on purchases of AUD 300+ (GST-inclusive) at one store within 60 days of departure, claimed at the airport TRS counter.
- Resale caution: Indian buyers typically value jewellery against 22K-equivalent purity, so 9K pieces from Australia may resell for less in India than their purchase price suggested.
Frequently asked questions
What karat is most common in Australian jewellery?
There's no single dominant standard — 9K (37.5% purity) and 18K (75%) both sell widely, unlike India where 22K is the clear cultural and retail norm.
Can I bring gold jewellery from Australia to India duty-free?
Only within India's Baggage Rules weight limit (40g for women, 20g for men, for residents abroad over a year) — beyond that, India's 15% customs duty applies.
Can tourists claim back GST on jewellery bought in Australia?
Yes — the Tourist Refund Scheme refunds the 10% GST on purchases of AUD 300 or more from a single store, claimed at the airport TRS counter within 60 days of the purchase, before departure.
Is 9K Australian gold worth much less than Indian 22K gold?
Per gram, yes — 9K is only 37.5% pure versus 22K's 91.6%, so it holds well under half the gold content. It's chosen for durability and price, not as an investment-grade purity.