Cost of Living in Melbourne
Australia
Monthly budget (single)
$2,646–$4,190/month
A$4,071 – A$6,446 (local currency)
Last updated: 2026-03
Can you afford to live in Melbourne?
Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).
Cost breakdown
| Category | USD | Local currency |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $1,985–$3,087 | A$3,054 – A$4,749 |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $1,047–$1,654 | A$1,611 – A$2,545 |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $83–$160 | A$128 – A$246 |
| Internet & Mobile | $33–$55 | A$51 – A$85 |
| Groceries (monthly) | $419–$628 | A$645 – A$966 |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $55–$99 | A$85 – A$152 |
| Coffee | $4–$7 | A$6 – A$11 |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $105–$127 | A$162 – A$195 |
| Gym membership | $39–$72 | A$60 – A$111 |
| Cinema ticket | $15–$20 | A$23 – A$31 |
Budget scenarios
Single
$2,646–$4,190/mo USD
A$4,071 – A$6,446
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$3,087/mo
- Groceries: ~$628/mo
- Transport: ~$127/mo
Couple
$4,190–$6,395/mo USD
A$6,446 – A$9,838
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$3,087/mo
- Groceries: ~$628/mo
- Transport: ~$127/mo
Family
$6,064–$9,372/mo USD
A$9,329 – A$14,418
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$3,087/mo
- Groceries: ~$628/mo
- Transport: ~$127/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Melbourne Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $2,481–$3,859/mo (A$3,817 – A$5,937)
Melbourne Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $2,184–$3,396/mo (A$3,360 – A$5,225)
Melbourne Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,588–$2,470/mo (A$2,443 – A$3,800)
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • Coffee
- • Sports
- • Arts
❌ Cons
- • Changeable weather
- • Sprawl
Similar cities & cheaper alternatives
Cheaper alternatives
Compare Melbourne with another city
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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.