Cost of Living Comparison Between Elk Grove, CA and Melbourne Cost of Living Comparison Between Elk Grove, CA and Melbourne

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,617 in Elk Grove, CA versus $2,482 in Melbourne.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,806 in Elk Grove, CA versus $3,689 in Melbourne.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,995 in Elk Grove, CA versus $4,896 in Melbourne.

Living in Elk Grove, CA is roughly 5% more expensive than Melbourne, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Elk Grove, CA 95% above, Melbourne 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 $18.71

$19.24 A$26.94

-2.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$78.5 A$110

-3.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.03 $11.03

$9.58 A$13.41

15.14%

Cappuccino

$5.08 $5.08

$3.63 A$5.09

39.94%

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

$2.48 $2.48

$2.51 A$3.52

-1.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.39 A$3.34

-14.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.97 $5.97

$7.11 A$9.96

-16.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.21 $7.21

$7.23 A$10.12

-0.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.51 A$2.11

-33.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.62 A$3.66

35.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.34 A$3.28

82.48%

Eggs

$4.10 $4.10

$4.67 A$6.54

-12.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.31 $12.31

$8.86 A$12.40

38.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.53 $11.53

$9.34 A$13.08

23.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.56 $15.56

$14.80 A$20.73

5.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.30 A$4.63

46.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.87 A$4.02

-44.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$2.95 A$4.12

41.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$4.05 A$5.67

15.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.68 A$3.75

4.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.33 A$3.26

22.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.22 A$3.11

-5.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.63 A$2.28

30.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.53 $9.53

$33.09 A$46.32

-71.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.77 $20.77

$14.28 A$19.99

45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$4.67 A$6.54

-62.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.29 A$7.40

-35.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.51 A$4.91

-44.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$121 A$169

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.50 A$4.91

0.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.38 A$1.93

15.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.72 $29.72

$27.53 A$38.55

7.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.17 A$1.64

-26.50%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$29.4K A$41.2K

-0.48%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$23.7K A$33.2K

6.01%

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

$188 $188

$153 A$214

22.99%

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

$53.2 $53.2

$21.03 A$29.44

152.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$120 $120

$50.2 A$70.3

139.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.24 $42.24

$50.0 A$70.0

-15.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.24 A$22.74

Cinema Ticket

$13.63 $13.63

$16.14 A$22.60

-15.55%

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

$1,277 $1,277

$1,768 A$2,476

-27.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$19.2K A$26.8K

23.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 $50.6

$68.4 A$95.8

-25.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 $40.05

$52.8 A$73.9

-24.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 $87.5

$107 A$150

-18.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$105 A$147

5.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,571 $1,571

$1,560 A$2,184

0.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,363 $1,363

$1,213 A$1,699

12.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$3,010 A$4,213

-13.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,204 $2,204

$1,984 A$2,778

11.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,940 $3,940

$7,460 A$10.4K

-47.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,285 $3,285

$6,569 A$9,197

-49.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,740 $7,740

$4,305 A$6,027

79.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.19

5.17%

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

Last update for Elk Grove, CA: April 19, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,571 in Elk Grove, CA and $1,560 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Elk Grove, CA pays 80% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $75 in Elk Grove, CA vs $78 in Melbourne. Groceries flip the comparison at $399 vs $356, with Melbourne cheaper for home cooking.

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

Elk Grove, CA vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Melbourne is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Elk Grove, CA pays 80% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,571 in Elk Grove, CA versus $1,560 in Melbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Elk Grove, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,617 per month in Elk Grove, CA versus $2,482 in Melbourne – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Melbourne is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Elk Grove, CA and Melbourne are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Melbourne gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Elk Grove, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.