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 80,860 gross take home approximately AUD 5,399 per month after tax.

🇦🇺 Australia · 2026

Custo de Vida em Melbourne

6.3% acima da média de Australia

Classificada em #56 de 577 cidades · Mais cara do que 90.3% das cidades mundialmente

+6.3%

Custo de Vida

+2.0%

Renda

+2.2%

Supermercado

+1.2%

Poder de Compra

Comparado com a média de Australia · Ver ranking de Australia →

Preços de Renda em Melbourne

Apartamento	Centro da Cidade	Fora do Centro	Poupa
1 Quarto	AUD 2,429/mo ≈ $1,687	AUD 1,989/mo ≈ $1,382	18%
3 Quartos	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 Custo

Custo de Vida

+6.3% Average

Renda

+2.0% Average

Supermercado

+2.2% Average

Restaurantes

-0.9% Average

Poder de Compra

+1.2% Average

Viver em Melbourne: O Que Esperar

Melbourne é very expensive pelos padrões globais (classificada #56 de 577 cidades). Está 6.3% mais caro que a média de Australia, com base em 8 cidades.

Os mantimentos são average, enquanto comer fora é average. Restaurants oferece o melhor custo-benefício, enquanto Groceries é o mais caro.

O poder de compra local é forte: os residentes podem pagar mais bens e serviços do que na maioria das cidades.

Os trabalhadores em Australia com AUD 80,860 brutos recebem AUD 5,399/mês líquido após impostos (taxa efetiva: 19.9%%). Ver calculadora fiscal completa de Australia →