COUNTRY people pay five times more than their city cousins for essential services, a new study has found.
Commissioned by the Australian Farm Institute, the study found the biggest cost disadvantages related to hospitals, residential care and secondary and tertiary education.
"People choosing to live in rural areas understand they face higher costs to access services," AFI executive director Mick Keogh said.
"However, in recent decades people living in rural communities have found it increasingly difficult to secure or retain access to essential services."
The study, carried out by the National Institute of Industry and Economic Research, is the first major attempt to quantify the extra costs faced by people living outside cities.
It found the cost of getting treatment at a large hospital was between nine and 11 times more expensive in rural areas. Specialist services were four times more costly, while GPs were twice as expensive.
National Farmers' Federation chief executive Ben Fargher said the study was a reminder of the costs facing country people.
"There are clear deficiencies and the Federal Government needs to invest to do something about them," he said.
