Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fukuyama and Melbourne

For one person, living is cheaper in Fukuyama: $1,134 a month against $2,853 in Melbourne, rent and utilities included – about $20,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Fukuyama
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,134
/mo nomad
Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,853
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Fukuyama and in Melbourne

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Fukuyama and in Melbourne actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,134 in Fukuyama versus $2,853 in Melbourne.

  • Fukuyama $1,134
  • Melbourne $2,853

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,805 in Fukuyama versus $4,275 in Melbourne.

  • Fukuyama $1,805
  • Melbourne $4,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,476 in Fukuyama versus $5,697 in Melbourne.

  • Fukuyama $2,476
  • Melbourne $5,697

Living in Fukuyama costs roughly 60% less than in Melbourne, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Fukuyama is 16% below, Melbourne is 111% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fukuyama
Melbourne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.51 ¥1,186
$17.20 A$24.75
-56.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.20 ¥4,929
$83.1 A$120
-62.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.90 ¥775
$12.43 A$17.88
-60.58%
Cappuccino
$3.27 ¥517
$4.05 A$5.82
-19.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥132
$3.12 A$4.50
-73.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥82.7
$2.46 A$3.54
-78.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.91 ¥302
$9.52 A$13.71
-79.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ¥505
$8.16 A$11.74
-60.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fukuyama
Melbourne
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 ¥155
$1.56 A$2.25
-37.18%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 ¥125
$2.90 A$4.18
-72.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.88 ¥929
$2.66 A$3.82
121.05%
Eggs
$2.07 ¥326
$5.37 A$7.72
-61.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.75 ¥1,382
$10.67 A$15.36
-17.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.39 ¥535
$9.85 A$14.17
-65.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.76 ¥1,700
$15.36 A$22.11
-29.95%
Apples (1kg)
$4.99 ¥788
$4.17 A$6.00
19.66%
Banana (1kg)
$2.33 ¥369
$3.15 A$4.53
-26.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.95 ¥782
$3.26 A$4.69
51.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.66 ¥578
$4.76 A$6.85
-23.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 ¥296
$3.06 A$4.41
-38.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 ¥259
$2.47 A$3.55
-33.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ¥157
$2.45 A$3.52
-59.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 ¥62.4
$1.63 A$2.34
-76.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.85 ¥608
$45.17 A$65.0
-91.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.75 ¥1,224
$12.68 A$18.25
-38.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 ¥259
$5.69 A$8.18
-71.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 ¥503
$5.23 A$7.53
-39.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Fukuyama
Melbourne
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ¥229
$3.87 A$5.57
-62.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ¥8,358
$142 A$204
-62.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.39 ¥535
$4.54 A$6.53
-25.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.82 ¥603
$1.42 A$2.04
169.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.88 ¥4,563
$30.59 A$44.01
-5.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 ¥162
$1.47 A$2.11
-30.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.4K ¥2.0M
$28.9K A$41.5K
-57.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.5K ¥2.4M
$25.9K A$37.3K
-40.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fukuyama
Melbourne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 ¥16.3K
$235 A$338
-56.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.57 ¥2,934
$27.45 A$39.51
-32.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.10 ¥4,755
$56.1 A$80.8
-46.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fukuyama
Melbourne
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.1 ¥8,072
$50.1 A$72.1
1.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$1.92 ¥304
$21.49 A$30.93
-91.07%
Cinema Ticket
$12.19 ¥1,926
$17.76 A$25.56
-31.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fukuyama
Melbourne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$651 ¥102.9K
$2,385 A$3,432
-72.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,461 ¥1.0M
$29.7K A$42.7K
-78.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fukuyama
Melbourne
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.55 ¥5,933
$79.2 A$114
-52.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.32 ¥4,949
$49.49 A$71.2
-36.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.5 ¥10.0K
$118 A$170
-46.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 ¥16.1K
$132 A$190
-22.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fukuyama
Melbourne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$535 ¥84.6K
$1,763 A$2,537
-69.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$335 ¥53.0K
$1,411 A$2,031
-76.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,101 ¥174.0K
$3,522 A$5,069
-68.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$745 ¥117.7K
$2,525 A$3,634
-70.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,284 ¥676.8K
$7,136 A$10.3K
-39.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,742 ¥275.2K
$6,355 A$9,144
-72.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fukuyama
Melbourne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,387 ¥219.1K
$4,258 A$6,128
-67.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1
5.9
-83.05%

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

Last update for Fukuyama: October 19, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Fukuyama
$335
Melbourne
$1.4K 321% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Fukuyama
$250
Melbourne
$388 55.6% $139
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fukuyama
$152
Melbourne
$319 110% $167
Eating Out
Fukuyama
$135
Melbourne
$310 129% $174
Clothing & Footwear
Fukuyama
$105
Melbourne
$171 61.9% $65
Getting Around
Fukuyama
$81
Melbourne
$169 108% $88
Sport & Entertainment
Fukuyama
$75
Melbourne
$86 13.4% $10

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $535 in Fukuyama and $1,763 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Melbourne pays 207% 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: $31.00 in Fukuyama vs $83.0 in Melbourne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $388 per month, with Fukuyama cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Fukuyama
🇦🇺 Melbourne
🕒 Local time
09:48 9:48 AM
11:48 11:48 AM
2 h ahead of Fukuyama
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
460,930
5,031,195
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Fukuyama Melbourne 8,130 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Fukuyama
  • Melbourne

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Fukuyama vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fukuyama or Melbourne?
Fukuyama wins on cost – living expenses run 152% lower than in Melbourne. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fukuyama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Fukuyama or in Melbourne?
On paper, salaries run 207% lower in Melbourne. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Fukuyama compared to Melbourne?
Rent for a central apartment: $535 in Fukuyama versus $1,763 in Melbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Fukuyama and in Melbourne?
Childcare runs $651 in Fukuyama versus $2,385 in Melbourne. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Fukuyama or in Melbourne?
Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Melbourne. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Fukuyama or in Melbourne?
At $1,134 in Fukuyama versus $2,853 in Melbourne, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Fukuyama but tight or insufficient in Melbourne. The gap between the two cities makes Fukuyama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Fukuyama or Melbourne?
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.
How safe is Fukuyama compared to Melbourne?
Safety-wise, Fukuyama 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Fukuyama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 152% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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