Cost of Living Comparison Between Bardwell Park, NSW and Melbourne Cost of Living Comparison Between Bardwell Park, NSW and Melbourne

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,629 in Bardwell Park, NSW versus $2,910 in Melbourne.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,754 in Bardwell Park, NSW versus $4,408 in Melbourne.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,878 in Bardwell Park, NSW versus $5,905 in Melbourne.

Living in Bardwell Park, NSW costs roughly 10% less than in Melbourne, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bardwell Park, NSW 91% above, Melbourne 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.62 A$24.57

$18.41 A$25.66

-4.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.4 A$118

$86.5 A$121

-2.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.55 A$14.71

$12.46 A$17.38

-15.33%

Cappuccino

$4.09 A$5.71

$4.17 A$5.81

-1.92%

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

$3.01 A$4.20

$3.15 A$4.40

-4.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 A$3.13

$2.65 A$3.70

-15.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 A$11.23

$10.05 A$14.01

-19.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.71 A$10.75

$8.51 A$11.86

-9.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 A$2.31

$1.61 A$2.25

2.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.74 A$3.82

$3.29 A$4.58

-16.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 A$3.27

$3.02 A$4.21

-22.19%

Eggs

$5.15 A$7.18

$6.00 A$8.36

-14.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.63 A$13.43

$11.06 A$15.42

-12.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.38 A$13.07

$9.92 A$13.83

-5.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.86 A$20.72

$15.87 A$22.12

-6.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.60 A$5.01

$4.41 A$6.15

-18.37%

Banana (1kg)

$3.12 A$4.34

$3.22 A$4.49

-3.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 A$4.58

$3.45 A$4.80

-4.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 A$6.59

$4.91 A$6.85

-3.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 A$3.82

$3.14 A$4.37

-12.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 A$3.50

$2.66 A$3.71

-5.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 A$3.38

$2.52 A$3.51

-3.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 A$2.36

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$40.01 A$55.8

$46.21 A$64.4

-13.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.14 A$19.71

$12.58 A$17.54

12.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.21 A$7.26

$5.41 A$7.54

-3.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.40 A$7.53

$5.33 A$7.43

1.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.20 A$4.46

$4.03 A$5.62

-20.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.4 A$122

$142 A$198

-38.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 A$4.87

$4.71 A$6.56

-25.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 A$2.26

$1.41 A$1.97

14.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.66 A$58.1

$31.32 A$43.67

33.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 A$1.74

$1.43 A$1.99

-12.59%

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

$27.8K A$38.7K

$29.5K A$41.1K

-5.72%

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

$31.4K A$43.8K

$27.0K A$37.6K

16.65%

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

$214 A$298

$239 A$334

-10.60%

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

$28.24 A$39.37

$28.19 A$39.30

0.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.4 A$81.5

$57.3 A$79.9

1.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 A$80.8

$55.9 A$77.9

3.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.29 A$25.50

$22.72 A$31.68

-19.50%

Cinema Ticket

$16.02 A$22.34

$17.89 A$24.94

-10.45%

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

$2,214 A$3,087

$2,456 A$3,424

-9.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.0K A$29.3K

$31.5K A$44.0K

-33.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.2 A$109

$82.4 A$115

-5.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 A$77.3

$52.1 A$72.6

6.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 A$161

$120 A$168

-3.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 A$177

$137 A$191

-7.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,437 A$2,003

$1,777 A$2,477

-19.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 A$1,774

$1,457 A$2,032

-12.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,284 A$3,185

$3,561 A$4,965

-35.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,906 A$2,658

$2,568 A$3,581

-25.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,712 A$9,358

$7,269 A$10.1K

-7.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,197 A$7,245

$6,897 A$9,616

-24.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,645 A$7,870

$4,459 A$6,217

26.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.85

5.84

0.17%

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

Last update for Bardwell Park, NSW: September 7, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,437 in Bardwell Park, NSW and $1,777 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bardwell Park, NSW pays 27% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Bardwell Park, NSW vs $86.0 in Melbourne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $403 per month, with Bardwell Park, NSW cheaper across the board.

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

Bardwell Park, NSW vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bardwell Park, NSW wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Melbourne. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bardwell Park, NSW the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 27% higher in Bardwell Park, NSW, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,437 in Bardwell Park, NSW versus $1,777 in Melbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Melbourne. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Bardwell Park, NSW – a meal for two runs $84.0 versus $86.0 in Melbourne. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Bardwell Park, NSW is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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, Bardwell Park, NSW 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 Bardwell Park, NSW gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.