Cost of Living Comparison Between Hobart and Melbourne Cost of Living Comparison Between Hobart and Melbourne

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,528 per month in Hobart vs $2,416 in Melbourne, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,495 per month in Hobart vs $3,579 in Melbourne, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,461 per month in Hobart vs $4,742 in Melbourne, rent included.

Hobart costs about 5% more than Melbourne, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Hobart and Melbourne sit above the global median – Hobart by 89%, Melbourne by 80%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.48 A$23.10

$19.75 A$27.67

-16.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 A$118

$78.7 A$110

6.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.96 A$13.96

$9.70 A$13.60

2.68%

Cappuccino

$3.60 A$5.05

$3.66 A$5.13

-1.64%

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

$2.73 A$3.82

$2.60 A$3.65

5.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 A$2.51

$2.34 A$3.28

-23.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.54 A$10.57

$7.17 A$10.05

5.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.93 A$11.12

$6.99 A$9.79

13.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 A$2.61

$1.45 A$2.03

28.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 A$3.42

$2.66 A$3.73

-8.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 A$2.38

$2.34 A$3.27

-27.35%

Eggs

$5.18 A$7.25

$4.80 A$6.73

7.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.82 A$15.15

$8.77 A$12.28

23.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.74 A$12.25

$9.44 A$13.22

-7.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.34 A$22.90

$14.42 A$20.21

13.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 A$4.25

$3.33 A$4.67

-8.71%

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.54

$2.77 A$3.89

16.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.38 A$4.73

$3.00 A$4.20

12.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 A$6.35

$3.95 A$5.53

14.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 A$4.08

$2.68 A$3.75

8.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 A$3.14

$2.36 A$3.30

-5.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.68 A$3.76

$2.14 A$2.99

25.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 A$2.65

$1.63 A$2.29

15.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$25.50 A$35.74

$32.44 A$45.46

-21.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 A$20.56

$14.11 A$19.76

3.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.19 A$7.27

$4.64 A$6.51

11.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.43 A$7.61

$5.04 A$7.06

7.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.46 A$4.84

$3.49 A$4.89

-0.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.9 A$95.1

$120 A$168

-43.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 A$5.87

$3.50 A$4.90

19.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 A$2.68

$1.35 A$1.88

41.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.04 A$40.69

$26.94 A$37.75

7.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 A$1.63

$1.19 A$1.67

-2.52%

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

$28.8K A$40.4K

$29.4K A$41.2K

-2.13%

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

$27.5K A$38.5K

$23.6K A$33.0K

16.50%

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

$272 A$381

$150 A$210

81.25%

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

$29.72 A$41.65

$21.16 A$29.65

40.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.4 A$74.9

$50.3 A$70.5

6.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.49 A$60.9

$49.14 A$68.9

-11.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.13 A$16.99

$16.37 A$22.94

-25.90%

Cinema Ticket

$16.07 A$22.52

$16.43 A$23.03

-2.19%

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

$1,659 A$2,325

$1,764 A$2,471

-5.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.5K A$39.9K

$19.2K A$26.9K

48.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 A$89.9

$68.3 A$95.7

-6.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 A$76.1

$53.3 A$74.7

1.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 A$154

$106 A$149

3.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 A$157

$105 A$147

6.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,607 A$2,251

$1,572 A$2,203

2.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,165 A$1,632

$1,195 A$1,674

-2.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,196 A$3,078

$3,048 A$4,270

-27.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 A$2,248

$1,990 A$2,788

-19.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,767 A$8,080

$7,387 A$10.4K

-21.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,097 A$7,141

$6,527 A$9,146

-21.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,274 A$5,989

$4,512 A$6,323

-5.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.19

5.98%

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

Last update for Hobart: June 2, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,607 in Hobart versus $1,572 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 6% 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 $84.0 in Hobart versus $79.0 in Melbourne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $379 vs $354 – 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

Hobart vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hobart costs about 5% 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 $3,792 per month in Hobart and $3,624 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.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Hobart, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in Hobart and $79.0 in Melbourne. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,528 in Hobart and $2,416 in Melbourne. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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, Hobart makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.