How expensive is Melbourne compared to the rest of Australia?

Melbourne ranks #56 out of 577 cities globally. It is 6.3% more expensive than the Australia average, based on 8 cities. The rent index is 41.0 and local purchasing power is 135.5.

What is the average rent in Melbourne?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Melbourne city centre costs approximately AUD 2,429 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to AUD 1,989 (saving 18%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around AUD 4,851.

Is Melbourne affordable to live in?

Melbourne is very expensive by global standards. Groceries are average, restaurants are average, and local purchasing power is average. Workers in Australia earning AUD 81,435 gross take home approximately AUD 5,431 per month after tax.

🇦🇺 Australia · 2026

Coste de Vida en Melbourne

6.3% por encima del promedio de Australia

Posición #56 de 577 ciudades · Más cara que el 90.3% de las ciudades del mundo

+6.3%

Coste de Vida

+2.0%

Alquiler

+2.2%

Supermercado

+1.2%

Poder Adquisitivo

Comparado con el promedio de Australia · Ver ranking de Australia →

Precios de Alquiler en Melbourne

Apartamento	Centro	Fuera del Centro	Ahorras
1 Dormitorio	AUD 2,429/mo ≈ $1,688	AUD 1,989/mo ≈ $1,382	18%
3 Dormitorios	AUD 4,851/mo ≈ $3,371	AUD 3,553/mo ≈ $2,469	27%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in Melbourne

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	AUD 5.17	2 sources
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	AUD 8.45	2 sources
Bread (500g)	AUD 3.63	2 sources
Local cheese (1kg)	AUD 20.06	2 sources
Chicken (1kg)	AUD 14.83	2 sources
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	AUD 51.00	2 sources
Eggs (12)	AUD 8.23	2 sources
Milk (1L)	AUD 2.35	2 sources
Potatoes (1kg)	AUD 4.32	2 sources
Tomatoes (1kg)	AUD 7.35	2 sources
Water (1.5L)	AUD 2.54	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	AUD 21.50	2 sources

Apples (1kg)

AUD 5.17

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

AUD 8.45

Bread (500g)

AUD 3.63

Local cheese (1kg)

AUD 20.06

Chicken (1kg)

AUD 14.83

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

AUD 51.00

Eggs (12)

AUD 8.23

Milk (1L)

AUD 2.35

Potatoes (1kg)

AUD 4.32

Tomatoes (1kg)

AUD 7.35

Water (1.5L)

AUD 2.54

Wine (mid-range)

AUD 21.50

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	AUD 13.50	2 sources
Cappuccino	AUD 5.70	2 sources
McMeal	AUD 16.00	2 sources
Cheap meal	AUD 23.00	2 sources
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	AUD 111.50	2 sources

Draft beer (0.5L)

AUD 13.50

Cappuccino

AUD 5.70

McMeal

AUD 16.00

Cheap meal

AUD 23.00

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

AUD 111.50

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	AUD 201.35	2 sources
Jeans (Levi's 501)	AUD 112.97	2 sources
Sport shoes (Nike)	AUD 183.50	2 sources
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	AUD 90.34	2 sources

Business shoes (leather)

AUD 201.35

Jeans (Levi's 501)

AUD 112.97

Sport shoes (Nike)

AUD 183.50

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

AUD 90.34

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	AUD 23.00	2 sources
Gym membership	AUD 72.88	2 sources

Cinema ticket

AUD 23.00

Gym membership

AUD 72.88

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	AUD 1.90	2 sources
Taxi start	AUD 5.10	1 source
Monthly pass	AUD 183.50	2 sources

Gasoline (1L)

AUD 1.90

Taxi start

AUD 5.10

Monthly pass

AUD 183.50

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	AUD 270.49	2 sources

Basic utilities (85m²)

AUD 270.49

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★★ High Confidence

Melbourne has a cost of living index of 59.3 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 3 of 4 data sources. ShouldIMove price index is left out because it sits more than 15% away from the others.

59.3

Index

Sources

7.1

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

61.0

Expatistan

62.0

LivingCost

54.9

ShouldIMove price index

50.3

left out

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

Eurostat Validation (EU27 = 100) Gov. Data

Eurostat

118.8

Based on 110 country PLI x 1.08 city factor

View all 577 cities | Data last updated: 2026-03-18

Índices de Coste

Coste de Vida

+6.3% Average

Alquiler

+2.0% Average

Supermercado

+2.2% Average

Restaurantes

-0.9% Average

Poder Adquisitivo

+1.2% Average

Vivir en Melbourne: Qué Esperar

Melbourne es very expensive según estándares globales (puesto #56 de 577 ciudades). Está 6.3% más caro que el promedio de Australia, basado en 8 ciudades.

Los comestibles son average, mientras que comer fuera es average. Restaurants ofrece el mejor valor, mientras que Groceries es lo más caro.

El poder adquisitivo local es fuerte: los residentes pueden permitirse más bienes y servicios que en la mayoría de ciudades.

Los trabajadores en Australia con AUD 81,435 brutos se llevan AUD 5,431/mes neto después de impuestos (20%% tipo efectivo). Ver calculadora fiscal completa de Australia →