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 $2,597 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $2,894 in Melbourne, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,844 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $4,377 in Melbourne, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,091 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $5,860 in Melbourne, rent included.

Chattanooga, TN is about 10% cheaper than Melbourne, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chattanooga, TN and Melbourne sit above the global median – Chattanooga, TN by 89%, Melbourne by 111%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

$17.95 A$24.91

11.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.0 $99.0

$84.6 A$117

16.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.11 $11.11

$12.26 A$17.01

-9.38%

Cappuccino

$5.35 $5.35

$4.22 A$5.86

26.78%

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

$2.31 $2.31

$3.16 A$4.38

-26.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.66 A$3.70

-20.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.02 $6.02

$9.98 A$13.86

-39.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.55 $7.55

$8.83 A$12.25

-14.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.65 A$2.29

-32.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.40 A$4.73

9.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.79 A$3.87

44.44%

Eggs

$4.41 $4.41

$5.69 A$7.89

-22.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.18 $14.18

$11.30 A$15.69

25.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.66 $14.66

$9.67 A$13.42

51.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 $13.10

$15.78 A$21.90

-16.98%

Apples (1kg)

$6.76 $6.76

$4.19 A$5.82

61.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$3.02 A$4.19

-48.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$3.27 A$4.54

27.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.81 A$6.68

-14.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$3.26 A$4.52

-12.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.60 A$3.61

44.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.51 A$3.49

3.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.64 A$2.28

71.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.31 $8.31

$46.11 A$64.0

-81.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.80 $17.80

$12.06 A$16.74

47.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$5.48 A$7.60

-64.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 $3.25

$5.15 A$7.15

-36.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.83 A$5.31

-47.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.02 $49.02

$144 A$201

-66.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.98 $4.98

$4.31 A$5.98

15.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.47 A$2.04

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.27 $30.27

$31.02 A$43.05

-2.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.46 A$2.03

-41.10%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$29.5K A$41.0K

24.57%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$27.7K A$38.5K

-6.74%

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

$156 $156

$242 A$336

-35.74%

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

$84.2 $84.2

$28.20 A$39.14

198.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$57.2 A$79.4

30.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.47 $40.47

$56.2 A$78.0

-27.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.05 $4.05

$21.71 A$30.13

-81.35%

Cinema Ticket

$14.84 $14.84

$17.89 A$24.83

-17.05%

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

$1,073 $1,073

$2,443 A$3,391

-56.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$33.0K A$45.8K

-23.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.95 $41.95

$82.1 A$114

-48.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.46 $38.46

$50.4 A$70.0

-23.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 $98.2

$126 A$175

-22.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$138 A$192

-15.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,708 $1,708

$1,774 A$2,462

-3.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,262 $1,262

$1,427 A$1,981

-11.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,217 $3,217

$3,504 A$4,863

-8.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,988 $1,988

$2,517 A$3,493

-21.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,273 $2,273

$7,411 A$10.3K

-69.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,272 $2,272

$6,718 A$9,324

-66.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,915 $3,915

$4,478 A$6,215

-12.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.07

5.85

3.76%

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

Last update for Chattanooga, TN: September 1, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,708 in Chattanooga, TN versus $1,774 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 14% 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 $99.0 in Chattanooga, TN versus $85.0 in Melbourne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $430 vs $397 – making Melbourne 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

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

Melbourne costs about 11% more than Chattanooga, TN, 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 $3,896 per month in Chattanooga, TN and $4,341 in Melbourne. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chattanooga, TN, 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 $2,597 in Chattanooga, TN and $2,894 in Melbourne. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 195% less in Chattanooga, TN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,597 in Chattanooga, TN and $2,894 in Melbourne. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Chattanooga, TN – 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 Chattanooga, TN. 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.