Cost of Living Comparison Between Albany and Melbourne Cost of Living Comparison Between Albany and Melbourne

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,191 in Albany versus $2,420 in Melbourne.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,263 in Albany versus $3,592 in Melbourne.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,336 in Albany versus $4,765 in Melbourne.

Living in Albany costs roughly 9% less than in Melbourne, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Albany 64% above, Melbourne 81% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.82 A$21.21

$19.36 A$27.71

-23.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.9 A$113

$77.5 A$111

1.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 A$11.12

$9.85 A$14.10

-21.12%

Cappuccino

$3.98 A$5.70

$3.73 A$5.33

6.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 A$3.29

$2.62 A$3.75

-12.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 A$2.37

$2.28 A$3.27

-27.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.34 A$10.50

$7.36 A$10.53

-0.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 A$10.06

$6.94 A$9.93

1.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 A$2.15

$1.50 A$2.14

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 A$3.47

$2.58 A$3.69

-5.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 A$2.83

$2.34 A$3.35

-15.38%

Eggs

$4.38 A$6.27

$4.85 A$6.95

-9.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.65 A$12.38

$8.72 A$12.49

-0.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.22 A$11.76

$9.26 A$13.26

-11.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.65 A$19.54

$14.58 A$20.88

-6.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 A$4.59

$3.32 A$4.75

-3.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.83 A$4.06

$2.81 A$4.03

0.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 A$4.08

$3.00 A$4.30

-5.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.99 A$5.71

$3.98 A$5.70

0.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 A$3.50

$2.67 A$3.82

-8.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 A$3.00

$2.23 A$3.20

-5.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.11 A$3.02

$2.19 A$3.14

-3.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 A$2.25

$1.64 A$2.35

-4.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$30.66 A$43.90

$31.95 A$45.74

-4.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 A$21.08

$13.92 A$19.93

5.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.53 A$6.48

$4.67 A$6.69

-3.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.25 A$7.51

$5.04 A$7.21

4.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 A$3.68

$3.50 A$5.01

-26.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.3 A$93.4

$121 A$173

-45.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.67 A$5.26

$3.56 A$5.10

3.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 A$2.28

$1.40 A$2.01

13.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.17 A$48.92

$27.50 A$39.37

24.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 A$1.69

$1.15 A$1.64

2.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.1K A$41.7K

$29.2K A$41.8K

-0.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.1K A$31.6K

$23.0K A$32.9K

-3.88%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$182 A$261

$154 A$220

18.23%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.98 A$38.63

$20.93 A$29.97

28.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.03 A$50.2

$51.4 A$73.7

-31.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.70 A$71.2

$48.89 A$70.0

1.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.86 A$22.71

$16.24 A$23.25

-2.34%

Cinema Ticket

$12.99 A$18.60

$15.97 A$22.87

-18.66%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,608 A$2,302

$1,765 A$2,527

-8.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K A$16.9K

$19.5K A$27.9K

-39.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.4 A$96.5

$67.0 A$96.0

0.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.58 A$71.0

$54.5 A$78.0

-8.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 A$140

$106 A$151

-7.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 A$153

$104 A$148

3.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,268 A$1,815

$1,575 A$2,255

-19.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,064 A$1,523

$1,206 A$1,726

-11.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,984 A$2,840

$3,041 A$4,354

-34.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,666 A$2,385

$2,022 A$2,895

-17.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,365 A$7,682

$7,077 A$10.1K

-24.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,921 A$7,045

$6,420 A$9,192

-23.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,596 A$3,716

$4,398 A$6,297

-40.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.34

6.19

2.42%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Albany: July 11, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,268 in Albany and $1,575 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Melbourne pays 69% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $79.0 in Albany vs $77.0 in Melbourne. Groceries flip the comparison at $338 vs $353, with Albany cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Albany vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Albany wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Melbourne. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Albany the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 69% lower in Melbourne. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,268 in Albany versus $1,575 in Melbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,191 per month in Albany versus $2,420 in Melbourne – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Albany runs roughly 85% less than in Melbourne. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,191 in Albany versus $2,420 in Melbourne, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Albany but tight or insufficient in Melbourne. The gap between the two cities makes Albany the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Albany and Melbourne are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Albany gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.