Cost of Living Comparison Between Gaithersburg, MD and Melbourne Cost of Living Comparison Between Gaithersburg, MD and Melbourne

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,814 in Gaithersburg, MD versus $2,416 in Melbourne.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,153 in Gaithersburg, MD versus $3,579 in Melbourne.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,491 in Gaithersburg, MD versus $4,742 in Melbourne.

Living in Gaithersburg, MD is roughly 17% more expensive than Melbourne, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gaithersburg, MD 110% above, Melbourne 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.67 $19.67

$19.75 A$27.52

-0.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.2 $99.2

$78.7 A$110

26.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.11 $7.11

$9.70 A$13.52

-26.70%

Cappuccino

$4.11 $4.11

$3.66 A$5.11

12.30%

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

$2.36 $2.36

$2.60 A$3.63

-9.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$2.34 A$3.26

-51.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.61 $6.61

$7.17 A$10.00

-7.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 $7.86

$6.99 A$9.73

12.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.45 A$2.02

-35.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.66 A$3.71

37.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$2.34 A$3.26

188.03%

Eggs

$6.30 $6.30

$4.80 A$6.69

31.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.15 $11.15

$8.77 A$12.21

27.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.33 $17.33

$9.44 A$13.15

83.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.31 $22.31

$14.42 A$20.09

54.72%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$3.33 A$4.64

131.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.77 A$3.87

6.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.55 $7.55

$3.00 A$4.18

151.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.16 $8.16

$3.95 A$5.50

106.58%

Potato (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$2.68 A$3.73

83.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.36 A$3.28

56.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.14 A$2.98

29.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.63 A$2.27

20.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.12 $8.12

$32.44 A$45.21

-74.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$14.11 A$19.66

7.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$4.64 A$6.47

-62.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 $3.71

$5.04 A$7.02

-26.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$3.49 A$4.87

-43.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$120 A$167

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.55 $4.55

$3.50 A$4.88

30.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.35 A$1.87

-1.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.78 $28.78

$26.94 A$37.55

6.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.19 A$1.66

-27.73%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$29.4K A$41.0K

-8.38%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$23.6K A$32.9K

3.93%

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

$125 $125

$150 A$209

-16.48%

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

$53.3 $53.3

$21.16 A$29.49

151.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.8 $53.8

$50.3 A$70.1

6.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.41 $30.41

$49.14 A$68.5

-38.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.37 A$22.82

Cinema Ticket

$15.32 $15.32

$16.43 A$22.90

-6.76%

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

$1,179 $1,179

$1,764 A$2,458

-33.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$19.2K A$26.7K

20.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.40 $48.40

$68.3 A$95.2

-29.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.71 $19.71

$53.3 A$74.3

-63.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 $80.7

$106 A$148

-24.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$105 A$146

12.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 $1,766

$1,572 A$2,191

12.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,602 $1,602

$1,195 A$1,665

34.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 $2,197

$3,048 A$4,247

-27.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,426 $2,426

$1,990 A$2,772

21.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,481 $2,481

$7,387 A$10.3K

-66.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,588 $2,588

$6,527 A$9,095

-60.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,231 $5,231

$4,512 A$6,288

15.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.19

6.14%

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

Last update for Gaithersburg, MD: May 30, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,766 in Gaithersburg, MD and $1,572 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gaithersburg, MD pays 16% 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: $99.0 in Gaithersburg, MD vs $79.0 in Melbourne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $515 vs $354 per month, with Melbourne cheaper across the board.

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

Gaithersburg, MD vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gaithersburg, MD and Melbourne differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($2,814 vs $2,416 including rent). Melbourne is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Gaithersburg, MD pays 16% 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: $1,766 in Gaithersburg, MD versus $1,572 in Melbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,179 in Gaithersburg, MD versus $1,764 in Melbourne. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Melbourne – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $99.0 in Gaithersburg, MD. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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, Gaithersburg, MD 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 17% less than in Gaithersburg, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.