Cost of Living Comparison Between Chattanooga, TN and Melbourne Cost of Living Comparison Between Chattanooga, TN and Melbourne

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,517 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $2,416 in Melbourne, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,681 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $3,579 in Melbourne, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,845 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $4,742 in Melbourne, rent included.

Chattanooga, TN costs about 4% more than Melbourne, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chattanooga, TN and Melbourne sit above the global median – Chattanooga, TN by 88%, Melbourne by 80%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.63 $16.63

$19.75 A$27.68

-15.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.7 $78.7

$78.7 A$110

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.17 $11.17

$9.70 A$13.60

15.15%

Cappuccino

$4.80 $4.80

$3.66 A$5.14

31.15%

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

$2.57 $2.57

$2.60 A$3.65

-1.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.34 A$3.28

-11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$7.17 A$10.06

-13.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.62 $7.62

$6.99 A$9.79

9.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.45 A$2.03

-31.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.66 A$3.73

36.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$2.34 A$3.28

101.28%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$4.80 A$6.73

-11.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.85 $13.85

$8.77 A$12.29

57.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.67 $13.67

$9.44 A$13.23

44.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.82 $12.82

$14.42 A$20.22

-11.10%

Apples (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$3.33 A$4.67

93.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.77 A$3.89

-45.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$3.00 A$4.21

40.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$3.95 A$5.53

-8.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.68 A$3.75

24.63%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.36 A$3.30

43.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.14 A$2.99

6.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.63 A$2.29

86.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.29 $7.29

$32.44 A$45.49

-77.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.72 $15.72

$14.11 A$19.78

11.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$4.64 A$6.51

-57.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$5.04 A$7.07

-28.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.49 A$4.89

16.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.1 $50.1

$120 A$168

-58.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 $1.73

$3.50 A$4.91

-50.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.35 A$1.89

16.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.68 $23.68

$26.94 A$37.77

-12.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.19 A$1.67

-34.45%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$29.4K A$41.3K

-16.16%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$23.6K A$33.1K

8.18%

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

$141 $141

$150 A$210

-5.76%

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

$57.0 $57.0

$21.16 A$29.67

169.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$50.3 A$70.5

41.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.18 $40.18

$49.14 A$68.9

-18.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.37 A$22.96

Cinema Ticket

$12.61 $12.61

$16.43 A$23.04

-23.25%

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

$1,009 $1,009

$1,764 A$2,473

-42.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$19.2K A$26.9K

31.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.01 $42.01

$68.3 A$95.8

-38.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.83 $31.83

$53.3 A$74.7

-40.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.9 $96.9

$106 A$149

-8.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$105 A$147

8.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,491 $1,491

$1,572 A$2,205

-5.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,269 $1,269

$1,195 A$1,675

6.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,630 $3,630

$3,048 A$4,273

19.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,164 $2,164

$1,990 A$2,789

8.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,281 $2,281

$7,387 A$10.4K

-69.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,241 $2,241

$6,527 A$9,151

-65.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,918 $3,918

$4,512 A$6,326

-13.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.19

4.20%

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

Last update for Chattanooga, TN: May 31, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,491 in Chattanooga, TN 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 15% higher in Melbourne, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Chattanooga, TN versus $79.0 in Melbourne. Groceries tell a different story – $418 in Chattanooga, TN 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

Chattanooga, TN vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chattanooga, TN costs about 4% more than Melbourne, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,776 per month in Chattanooga, TN 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 Melbourne, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,517 in Chattanooga, TN and $2,416 in Melbourne. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 140% less in Melbourne. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,517 in Chattanooga, TN and $2,416 in Melbourne. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Melbourne – 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 Melbourne. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chattanooga, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.