Australia
Australia's cultural capital, renowned for its coffee obsession, street art laneways, live music scene, and a fiercely proud sporting culture.
#48 of 250
68% above average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 2 430
Based on NYC = 100 index
Melbourne is the 48. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 2 430 for one adult.
Most of that goes on housing, which runs 28% above the median city and adds $ 293 a month: 1br apartment (city center) $ 1 508, 1br apartment (outside center) $ 1 162. It is also pricier than usual for restaurants, basic grocery basket.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
46 prices on this page come from live scrapers (12 sources, observed September 28, 2026 to October 13, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in Melbourne, Australia. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/melbourne. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 1,161.53 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Rentola |
| 3BR Apartment (city-wide) | 1,749.44 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Rentola |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 19.14 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Pork (1kg) | 13.92 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Beef (1kg) | 23.66 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Fish Fillet (1kg) | 9.05 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Deli Meat / Ham (1kg) | 24.89 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Milk (1 liter) | 1.24 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Cheese (1kg) | 12.88 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Butter (200g) | 4.73 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Eggs (12) | 3.41 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Bread (500g) | 2.39 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Bread Roll (1pc) | 3.79 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Pasta (500g) | 1.74 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Rice (1kg) | 2.26 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Oats (500g) | 0.79 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 2.64 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 6.26 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Carrots (1kg) | 6.27 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Onions (1kg) | 5.57 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Garlic (1kg) | 20.88 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 2.78 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Apples (1kg) | 4.87 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Banana (1kg) | 3.82 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Oranges (1kg) | 3.13 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Lentils (1kg) | 3.22 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Canned Tomatoes (400g) | 2.70 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Sunflower Oil (1L) | 5.57 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Flour (1kg) | 6.89 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Sugar (1kg) | 1.60 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Coffee (250g) | 10.44 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Water (1.5 liter) | 1.15 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Orange Juice (1L) | 3.45 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Grocery Chains |
| Monthly Transit Pass | 72.11 / month | 1 | 2026-09-28 | City Transit Fares (browser) |
| One-way Ticket | 2.00 / trip | 1 | 2026-09-28 | City Transit Fares (browser) |
| Taxi Start | 3.65 / trip | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Official Taxi Tariffs |
| Taxi 1km | 1.18 / km | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Official Taxi Tariffs |
| Basic Utilities (85m2 Apt) | 82.58 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo electricity tariffs |
| Mobile Plan (10GB+) | 21.08 / month | 1 | 2026-09-28 | Anglo Telecom Operators |
| Internet (60 Mbps+) | 66.13 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Anglo Telecom Operators |
| Cinema Ticket | 19.14 / ticket | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Cinema Ticket Prices |
| Cold Medicine (6 days) | 3.48 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Online Pharmacies (API), Global Local Pharmacies |
| Jeans (Levis or Similar) | 45.44 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Uniqlo, H&M |
| Summer Dress (Chain Store) | 38.02 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Uniqlo, H&M |
| Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas) | 181.00 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Asia-Pacific & ME Local Fashion Stores |
| Business Shoes (Leather) | 180.30 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Asia-Pacific & ME Local Fashion Stores |
Cities where the money splits the same way
Australia
Similar share of Housing & Restaurants
United States
Similar share of Housing & Transportation
Australia
Similar share of Housing & Basic Grocery Basket
Australia
Similar share of Basic Grocery Basket & Utilities
Monthly average costs by category
$ 1 335
per month
$ 237
per month
$ 363
per month
$ 136
per month
$ 170
per month
$ 125
per month
$ 21
per month
$ 44
per month