Cost of Living Comparison Between Hervey Bay and Melbourne Cost of Living Comparison Between Hervey Bay and Melbourne

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,092 per month in Hervey Bay vs $2,465 in Melbourne, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,079 per month in Hervey Bay vs $3,636 in Melbourne, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,067 per month in Hervey Bay vs $4,806 in Melbourne, rent included.

Hervey Bay is about 15% cheaper than Melbourne, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hervey Bay and Melbourne sit above the global median – Hervey Bay by 56%, Melbourne by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 A$22.97

$19.34 A$26.88

-14.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.7 A$99.6

$78.4 A$109

-8.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 A$13.74

$10.03 A$13.94

-1.50%

Cappuccino

$3.67 A$5.10

$3.62 A$5.04

1.38%

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

$2.67 A$3.71

$2.61 A$3.63

2.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 A$2.88

$2.31 A$3.21

-10.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.39 A$7.49

$7.43 A$10.32

-27.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.97 A$11.08

$7.20 A$10.00

10.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 A$2.15

$1.46 A$2.03

6.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 A$1.51

$2.66 A$3.70

-59.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 A$2.54

$2.32 A$3.22

-21.12%

Eggs

$3.05 A$4.24

$4.68 A$6.51

-34.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 A$11.10

$9.20 A$12.78

-13.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.94 A$8.26

$9.36 A$13.01

-36.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.74 A$19.11

$14.69 A$20.42

-6.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 A$4.48

$3.21 A$4.46

0.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.30 A$3.20

$2.78 A$3.87

-17.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 A$3.80

$2.96 A$4.11

-7.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 A$6.05

$4.09 A$5.69

6.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 A$2.69

$2.70 A$3.76

-28.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 A$2.64

$2.35 A$3.26

-19.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 A$2.98

$2.21 A$3.08

-3.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 A$1.72

$1.66 A$2.30

-25.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$33.00 A$45.87

$32.79 A$45.58

0.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.51 A$16.00

$14.59 A$20.28

-21.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.47 A$6.21

$4.72 A$6.56

-5.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 A$5.92

$5.09 A$7.08

-16.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.67 A$3.71

$3.61 A$5.02

-26.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.4 A$91.0

$118 A$163

-44.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 A$3.20

$3.68 A$5.11

-37.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 A$2.12

$1.39 A$1.94

9.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.41 A$46.45

$27.58 A$38.34

21.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 A$1.70

$1.19 A$1.65

2.52%

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

$29.3K A$40.7K

-0.02%

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

$22.6K A$31.4K

$23.7K A$32.9K

-4.61%

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

$148 A$206

$152 A$211

-2.50%

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

$25.30 A$35.17

$21.15 A$29.40

19.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.8 A$74.8

$49.94 A$69.4

7.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.38 A$68.6

$49.19 A$68.4

0.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.54 A$21.60

$16.15 A$22.45

-3.78%

Cinema Ticket

$12.81 A$17.80

$15.99 A$22.22

-19.89%

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

$1,601 A$2,225

$1,756 A$2,441

-8.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,631 A$12.0K

$19.2K A$26.7K

-55.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 A$82.9

$66.9 A$92.9

-10.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.10 A$61.3

$53.9 A$75.0

-18.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.8 A$81.8

$106 A$147

-44.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.7 A$81.7

$103 A$143

-42.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,240 A$1,724

$1,568 A$2,180

-20.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,053 A$1,464

$1,183 A$1,644

-10.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,054 A$2,855

$3,038 A$4,223

-32.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,664 A$2,313

$2,022 A$2,811

-17.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,557 A$10.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,527 A$9,073

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,848 A$5,349

$4,490 A$6,242

-14.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

6.19

0.81%

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

Last update for Hervey Bay: April 27, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,240 in Hervey Bay versus $1,568 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 17% 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 $72.0 in Hervey Bay versus $78.0 in Melbourne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $357 – making Hervey Bay 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

Hervey Bay vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Melbourne is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,138 per month in Hervey Bay and $3,698 in Melbourne. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hervey Bay, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,601 per month in Hervey Bay and $1,756 in Melbourne. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Melbourne, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Hervey Bay, where all-in costs run around $2,092, than in Melbourne at $2,465. In Hervey Bay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Melbourne it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hervey Bay – 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 Hervey Bay. 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.