Cost of Living Comparison Between Bordeaux and Melbourne Cost of Living Comparison Between Bordeaux and Melbourne

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,043 per month in Bordeaux vs $2,416 in Melbourne, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,075 per month in Bordeaux vs $3,579 in Melbourne, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,106 per month in Bordeaux vs $4,742 in Melbourne, rent included.

Bordeaux is about 15% cheaper than Melbourne, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bordeaux and Melbourne sit above the global median – Bordeaux by 52%, Melbourne by 80%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bordeaux
Melbourne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.63 €17.74
$19.75 A$27.52
4.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.8 €54.0
$78.7 A$110
-20.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.54 €9.93
$9.70 A$13.52
18.97%
Cappuccino
$3.98 €3.42
$3.66 A$5.11
8.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 €2.39
$2.60 A$3.63
6.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 €1.48
$2.34 A$3.26
-26.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.20 €7.05
$7.17 A$10.00
14.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 €6.09
$6.99 A$9.73
1.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bordeaux
Melbourne
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 €1.10
$1.45 A$2.02
-11.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.09 €1.79
$2.66 A$3.71
-21.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.02 €2.60
$2.34 A$3.26
29.06%
Eggs
$5.35 €4.60
$4.80 A$6.69
11.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.30 €13.16
$8.77 A$12.21
74.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.90 €14.54
$9.44 A$13.15
79.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.46 €19.32
$14.42 A$20.09
55.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.46 €2.97
$3.33 A$4.64
3.90%
Banana (1kg)
$2.25 €1.93
$2.77 A$3.87
-18.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.90 €3.36
$3.00 A$4.18
30.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.65 €4.00
$3.95 A$5.50
17.72%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 €2.11
$2.68 A$3.73
-8.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.79 €2.40
$2.36 A$3.28
18.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 €1.55
$2.14 A$2.98
-15.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.62
$1.63 A$2.27
-55.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.73 €11.81
$32.44 A$45.21
-57.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.51 €9.04
$14.11 A$19.66
-25.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.09 €3.52
$4.64 A$6.47
-11.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 €3.83
$5.04 A$7.02
-11.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Bordeaux
Melbourne
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 €1.74
$3.49 A$4.87
-42.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.55 €39.18
$120 A$167
-62.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.58 €3.94
$3.50 A$4.88
30.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.35 A$1.87
29.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$47.74 €41.07
$26.94 A$37.55
77.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 €1.82
$1.19 A$1.66
78.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K €31.8K
$29.4K A$41.0K
25.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K €31.8K
$23.6K A$32.9K
56.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bordeaux
Melbourne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$259 €223
$150 A$209
72.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.62 €21.18
$21.16 A$29.49
16.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.26 €27.75
$50.3 A$70.1
-35.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bordeaux
Melbourne
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.23 €32.89
$49.14 A$68.5
-22.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.87 €24.84
$16.37 A$22.82
76.36%
Cinema Ticket
$13.71 €11.79
$16.43 A$22.90
-16.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bordeaux
Melbourne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$842 €724
$1,764 A$2,458
-52.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,251 €7,957
$19.2K A$26.7K
-51.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bordeaux
Melbourne
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111 €95.1
$68.3 A$95.2
61.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.06 €38.76
$53.3 A$74.3
-15.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.3 €82.8
$106 A$148
-9.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146 €126
$105 A$146
39.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bordeaux
Melbourne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$875 €753
$1,572 A$2,191
-44.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$694 €597
$1,195 A$1,665
-41.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,583 €1,362
$3,048 A$4,247
-48.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,231 €1,059
$1,990 A$2,772
-38.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,157 €6,157
$7,387 A$10.3K
-3.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,876 €4,194
$6,527 A$9,095
-25.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bordeaux
Melbourne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,172 €2,729
$4,512 A$6,288
-29.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.79
6.19
-38.77%

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

Last update for Bordeaux: June 1, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $875 in Bordeaux 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 42% 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 $63.0 in Bordeaux versus $79.0 in Melbourne. Groceries tell a different story – $414 in Bordeaux vs $354 in Melbourne – so Melbourne wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Bordeaux vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bordeaux or Melbourne?
Melbourne costs about 18% more than Bordeaux, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bordeaux vs Melbourne?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,065 per month in Bordeaux and $3,624 in Melbourne. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bordeaux or Melbourne?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bordeaux, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Bordeaux vs Melbourne?
Public transport costs about 163% less in Bordeaux. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Bordeaux and Melbourne?
Kindergarten costs $842 per month in Bordeaux and $1,764 in Melbourne. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Bordeaux or Melbourne?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bordeaux, where all-in costs run around $2,043, than in Melbourne at $2,416. In Bordeaux it covers expenses comfortably, while in Melbourne it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bordeaux or Melbourne?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bordeaux costs $2,043 versus $2,416 in Melbourne. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bordeaux compared to Melbourne?
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.
Should I move to Bordeaux or Melbourne?
If budget matters most, go with Bordeaux. 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.

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