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 $2,555 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $2,420 in Melbourne, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,769 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $3,592 in Melbourne, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,983 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $4,765 in Melbourne, rent included.

Chattanooga, TN costs about 6% more than Melbourne, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chattanooga, TN and Melbourne sit above the global median – Chattanooga, TN by 91%, Melbourne by 81%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.48 $16.48

$19.36 A$27.64

-14.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.5 $81.5

$77.5 A$111

5.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.12 $11.12

$9.85 A$14.07

12.89%

Cappuccino

$4.82 $4.82

$3.73 A$5.32

29.22%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$2.62 A$3.74

-4.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.28 A$3.26

-5.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$7.36 A$10.51

-20.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.63 $7.63

$6.94 A$9.91

9.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.50 A$2.14

-31.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.58 A$3.68

40.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$2.34 A$3.34

108.12%

Eggs

$4.16 $4.16

$4.85 A$6.93

-14.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.71 $13.71

$8.72 A$12.46

57.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.95 $13.95

$9.26 A$13.22

50.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.52 $12.52

$14.58 A$20.83

-14.13%

Apples (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.32 A$4.74

96.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.81 A$4.02

-45.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.00 A$4.29

47.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$3.98 A$5.68

-7.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.67 A$3.81

24.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$2.23 A$3.19

49.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.19 A$3.13

7.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.64 A$2.34

82.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.40 $7.40

$31.95 A$45.62

-76.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.94 $17.94

$13.92 A$19.88

28.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$4.67 A$6.67

-57.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$5.04 A$7.20

-29.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.50 A$5.00

11.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.12 $49.12

$121 A$172

-59.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 $1.79

$3.56 A$5.09

-49.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.40 A$2.01

7.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.39 $24.39

$27.50 A$39.27

-11.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.15 A$1.64

-36.52%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$29.2K A$41.7K

-14.87%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.0K A$32.8K

13.29%

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

$142 $142

$154 A$220

-7.71%

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

$56.5 $56.5

$20.93 A$29.90

170.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.5 $71.5

$51.4 A$73.5

38.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.95 $39.95

$48.89 A$69.8

-18.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.24 A$23.19

Cinema Ticket

$12.73 $12.73

$15.97 A$22.81

-20.29%

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

$1,030 $1,030

$1,765 A$2,521

-41.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K $25.0K

$19.5K A$27.9K

27.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.03 $42.03

$67.0 A$95.8

-37.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.39 $31.39

$54.5 A$77.8

-42.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 $98.9

$106 A$151

-6.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$104 A$148

7.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,521 $1,521

$1,575 A$2,250

-3.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,250 $1,250

$1,206 A$1,722

3.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,645 $3,645

$3,041 A$4,343

19.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,097 $2,097

$2,022 A$2,887

3.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,286 $2,286

$7,077 A$10.1K

-67.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,272 $2,272

$6,420 A$9,169

-64.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,980 $3,980

$4,398 A$6,281

-9.51%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,521 in Chattanooga, TN versus $1,575 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 11% 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 $82.0 in Chattanooga, TN versus $77.0 in Melbourne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $424 vs $353 – 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

Chattanooga, TN costs about 6% 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 $3,833 per month in Chattanooga, TN and $3,630 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 $2,555 in Chattanooga, TN and $2,420 in Melbourne. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 146% less in Melbourne. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Melbourne, where all-in costs run around $2,420, than in Chattanooga, TN at $2,555. In Melbourne it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chattanooga, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.