Cost of Living Comparison Between Bendigo and Melbourne Cost of Living Comparison Between Bendigo and Melbourne

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,636 per month in Bendigo vs $2,416 in Melbourne, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,464 per month in Bendigo vs $3,579 in Melbourne, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Bendigo vs $4,742 in Melbourne, rent included.

Bendigo is about 32% cheaper than Melbourne, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bendigo and Melbourne sit above the global median – Bendigo by 22%, Melbourne by 80%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.42 A$27.06

$19.75 A$27.52

-1.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.9 A$82.0

$78.7 A$110

-25.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.49 A$13.23

$9.70 A$13.52

-2.16%

Cappuccino

$3.72 A$5.18

$3.66 A$5.11

1.64%

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

$2.55 A$3.55

$2.60 A$3.63

-1.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 A$3.08

$2.34 A$3.26

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.41 A$10.33

$7.17 A$10.00

3.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 A$6.52

$6.99 A$9.73

-33.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 A$1.53

$1.45 A$2.02

-24.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 A$3.52

$2.66 A$3.71

-5.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 A$3.12

$2.34 A$3.26

-4.27%

Eggs

$4.31 A$6.00

$4.80 A$6.69

-10.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.74 A$12.18

$8.77 A$12.21

-0.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.91 A$12.41

$9.44 A$13.15

-5.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.66 A$20.42

$14.42 A$20.09

1.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 A$4.55

$3.33 A$4.64

-1.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 A$4.06

$2.77 A$3.87

5.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.95 A$4.11

$3.00 A$4.18

-1.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 A$5.71

$3.95 A$5.50

3.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 A$3.14

$2.68 A$3.73

-16.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 A$2.69

$2.36 A$3.28

-18.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 A$2.99

$2.14 A$2.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 A$2.29

$1.63 A$2.27

0.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$23.76 A$33.12

$32.44 A$45.21

-26.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.79 A$13.64

$14.11 A$19.66

-30.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.71 A$6.57

$4.64 A$6.47

1.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 A$7.07

$5.04 A$7.02

0.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.29 A$5.98

$3.49 A$4.87

22.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 A$75.3

$120 A$167

-54.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 A$4.86

$3.50 A$4.88

-0.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 A$1.86

$1.35 A$1.87

-0.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.96 A$18.06

$26.94 A$37.55

-51.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 A$1.55

$1.19 A$1.66

-6.72%

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

$25.5K A$35.6K

$29.4K A$41.0K

-13.17%

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

$18.1K A$25.2K

$23.6K A$32.9K

-23.18%

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

$151 A$210

$150 A$209

0.49%

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

$19.64 A$27.36

$21.16 A$29.49

-7.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.49 A$66.2

$50.3 A$70.1

-5.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.5 A$81.5

$49.14 A$68.5

19.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.05 A$25.15

$16.37 A$22.82

10.26%

Cinema Ticket

$10.37 A$14.45

$16.43 A$22.90

-36.88%

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

$1,167 A$1,626

$1,764 A$2,458

-33.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.5K A$27.2K

$19.2K A$26.7K

1.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.0 A$90.6

$68.3 A$95.2

-4.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 A$75.2

$53.3 A$74.3

1.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 A$150

$106 A$148

1.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 A$143

$105 A$146

-2.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 A$892

$1,572 A$2,191

-59.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 A$672

$1,195 A$1,665

-59.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$965 A$1,345

$3,048 A$4,247

-68.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$670 A$933

$1,990 A$2,772

-66.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,522 A$6,302

$7,387 A$10.3K

-38.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,977 A$5,541

$6,527 A$9,095

-39.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,408 A$4,749

$4,512 A$6,288

-24.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.19

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

Last update for Bendigo: June 1, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $640 in Bendigo versus $1,572 in Melbourne. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 32% higher in Melbourne, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Bendigo versus $79.0 in Melbourne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $335 vs $354 – making Bendigo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Bendigo vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Melbourne is pricier by about 48%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,455 per month in Bendigo and $3,624 in Melbourne. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bendigo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Bendigo and $79.0 in Melbourne. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,636 in Bendigo and $2,416 in Melbourne. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bendigo, where all-in costs run around $1,636, than in Melbourne at $2,416. In Bendigo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Melbourne it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bendigo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bendigo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Melbourne makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.