Cost of living in Melbourne

In Melbourne, United States, a family of four typically needs around $5040 per month including rent. A single person may spend about $2361 monthly.

How expensive is Melbourne compared to other cities?

Compared to the European benchmark, Melbourne is 65% more expensive overall.

How does Melbourne compare to your city?

Melbourne is 48% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in Melbourne is, on average, 38% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Melbourne?

Who is Melbourne a good fit for?

Melbourne tends to fit higher-income residents who can comfortably absorb housing costs. It can be challenging on a moderate budget, mainly due to rent and utilities.

FAQ

Why is Melbourne so expensive?

The primary driver of Melbourne's high cost of living is rent and utilities, which significantly impact overall expenses.

Is food expensive in Melbourne?

Yes, food costs are 20% higher than the European benchmark, contributing to the overall expense.

Is public transport affordable in Melbourne?

Public transport in Melbourne is 46% lower than the European benchmark, making it a more budget-friendly option.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
2361 $
Without Rent
745 $
Rent & Utilities
1616 $
Food
571 $
Transport
41 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
4055 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
84.7K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 20 $
Dinner 73.2 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 9.97 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 4.96 $
Capuccino 5.19 $
Coke, 330ml 2.75 $

Compare Melbourne with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 0.87 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 3.14 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.12 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.46 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 11.6 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 7.91 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 14.7 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.99 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.53 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.86 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 5.35 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.98 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.09 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.38 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.21 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 9.97 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 1.74 $
Cigarette pack 6.52 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 3.74 $
Monthly Pass 41.7 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 0.89 $
Taxi, 8 km 9.4 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 99.2 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 7.79 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 4.82 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 4.21 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 1.77 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 100 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 153 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 61.5 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 1,451 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 2,298 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,467 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 3,012 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 3,984 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 2,483 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 4,055 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.56%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 55.5 $
Cinema, 1 seat 12.7 $
Haircut 14.3 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 60.3 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 47.9 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 751 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 15,974 $

Compare Melbourne with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Melbourne vs George Town (George Town is 54% more expensive)
Bahamas
Melbourne vs Nassau (Nassau is 17% more expensive) Melbourne vs Freeport (Freeport is 7% less expensive)
Vanuatu
Melbourne vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 1% less expensive) Melbourne vs Luganville (Luganville is 29% more expensive)
United States
Melbourne vs New York City (New York City is 72% more expensive) Melbourne vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 35% more expensive) Melbourne vs Chicago (Chicago is 13% more expensive) Melbourne vs Houston (Houston is 5% less expensive) Melbourne vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 0% more expensive) Melbourne vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 8% more expensive) Melbourne vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 7% less expensive) Melbourne vs San Diego (San Diego is 42% more expensive) Melbourne vs Dallas (Dallas is 8% more expensive) Melbourne vs San Jose (San Jose is 56% more expensive)
Canada
Melbourne vs Toronto (Toronto is 9% more expensive) Melbourne vs Montreal (Montreal is 17% less expensive) Melbourne vs Calgary (Calgary is 9% less expensive) Melbourne vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 5% less expensive) Melbourne vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 24% less expensive) Melbourne vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 26% less expensive) Melbourne vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 5% more expensive) Melbourne vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 12% more expensive) Melbourne vs Brampton (Brampton is 10% less expensive) Melbourne vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 9% less expensive)
Barbados
Melbourne vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 42% less expensive) Melbourne vs Holetown (Holetown is 41% less expensive)
Panama
Melbourne vs Panama City (Panama City is 41% less expensive) Melbourne vs Colon (Colon is 50% less expensive) Melbourne vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 48% less expensive) Melbourne vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 55% less expensive) Melbourne vs David (David is 65% less expensive) Melbourne vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 60% less expensive) Melbourne vs Balboa (Balboa is 47% less expensive) Melbourne vs Pacora (Pacora is 47% less expensive) Melbourne vs Chitre (Chitre is 54% less expensive) Melbourne vs Penonome (Penonome is 53% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Melbourne vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 47% less expensive) Melbourne vs Cayon (Cayon is 47% less expensive)
Cuba
Melbourne vs Havana (Havana is 57% less expensive) Melbourne vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 40% less expensive) Melbourne vs Holguin (Holguin is 46% less expensive) Melbourne vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 35% less expensive) Melbourne vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 55% less expensive) Melbourne vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 51% less expensive) Melbourne vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 34% less expensive) Melbourne vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 34% less expensive) Melbourne vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 54% less expensive) Melbourne vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 63% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Melbourne vs San Jose (San Jose is 48% less expensive) Melbourne vs Limon (Limon is 49% less expensive) Melbourne vs Liberia (Liberia is 62% less expensive) Melbourne vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 48% less expensive) Melbourne vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 46% less expensive) Melbourne vs Cartago (Cartago is 59% less expensive) Melbourne vs Heredia (Heredia is 47% less expensive) Melbourne vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 29% less expensive) Melbourne vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 45% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Melbourne vs Castries (Castries is 51% less expensive) Melbourne vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 49% less expensive)
Jamaica
Melbourne vs Kingston (Kingston is 44% less expensive) Melbourne vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 67% less expensive) Melbourne vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 57% less expensive) Melbourne vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 51% less expensive) Melbourne vs May Pen (May Pen is 65% less expensive) Melbourne vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 59% less expensive) Melbourne vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 64% less expensive) Melbourne vs Linstead (Linstead is 56% less expensive) Melbourne vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 52% less expensive) Melbourne vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 52% less expensive)
El Salvador
Melbourne vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 50% less expensive) Melbourne vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 70% less expensive) Melbourne vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 50% less expensive) Melbourne vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 54% less expensive) Melbourne vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 51% less expensive) Melbourne vs Apopa (Apopa is 52% less expensive) Melbourne vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 49% less expensive) Melbourne vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 38% less expensive) Melbourne vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 54% less expensive) Melbourne vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 63% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Melbourne vs St. John's (St. John's is 54% less expensive) Melbourne vs All Saints (All Saints is 54% less expensive)
Grenada
Melbourne vs St. George's (St. George's is 55% less expensive) Melbourne vs Grenville (Grenville is 55% less expensive)
Dominica
Melbourne vs Roseau (Roseau is 58% less expensive) Melbourne vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 52% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Melbourne vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 58% less expensive) Melbourne vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 57% less expensive)
Belize
Melbourne vs Belize City (Belize City is 63% less expensive) Melbourne vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 54% less expensive) Melbourne vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 69% less expensive) Melbourne vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 44% less expensive) Melbourne vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 33% less expensive)
Guatemala
Melbourne vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 57% less expensive) Melbourne vs Mixco (Mixco is 73% less expensive) Melbourne vs Coban (Coban is 61% less expensive) Melbourne vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 67% less expensive) Melbourne vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 62% less expensive) Melbourne vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 62% less expensive) Melbourne vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 63% less expensive) Melbourne vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 63% less expensive) Melbourne vs Flores (Flores is 64% less expensive) Melbourne vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 66% less expensive)
Honduras
Melbourne vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 65% less expensive) Melbourne vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 56% less expensive) Melbourne vs Choloma (Choloma is 75% less expensive) Melbourne vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 72% less expensive) Melbourne vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 63% less expensive) Melbourne vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 63% less expensive) Melbourne vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 70% less expensive) Melbourne vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 70% less expensive) Melbourne vs Yoro (Yoro is 69% less expensive) Melbourne vs La Lima (La Lima is 63% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Melbourne vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 66% less expensive) Melbourne vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 56% less expensive) Melbourne vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 68% less expensive) Melbourne vs Higuey (Higuey is 67% less expensive) Melbourne vs La Vega (La Vega is 76% less expensive) Melbourne vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 65% less expensive) Melbourne vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 69% less expensive) Melbourne vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 78% less expensive) Melbourne vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 74% less expensive) Melbourne vs Bonao (Bonao is 77% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Melbourne vs Managua (Managua is 67% less expensive) Melbourne vs Leon (Leon is 73% less expensive) Melbourne vs Masaya (Masaya is 70% less expensive) Melbourne vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 77% less expensive) Melbourne vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 73% less expensive) Melbourne vs Esteli (Esteli is 75% less expensive) Melbourne vs Granada (Granada is 70% less expensive) Melbourne vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 81% less expensive) Melbourne vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 72% less expensive) Melbourne vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 62% less expensive)