🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,674 in Kununurra versus $2,910 in Melbourne.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,788 in Kununurra versus $4,408 in Melbourne.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,902 in Kununurra versus $5,905 in Melbourne.
🌍Living in Kununurra costs roughly 8% less than in Melbourne, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kununurra94% above, Melbourne111% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.22A$25.40
$18.41A$25.66
-1.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.2A$120
$86.5A$121
-0.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59A$14.76
$12.46A$17.38
-15.01%
Cappuccino
$4.12A$5.75
$4.17A$5.81
-1.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92A$4.07
$3.15A$4.40
-7.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24A$3.12
$2.65A$3.70
-15.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.91A$11.03
$10.05A$14.01
-21.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.38A$10.28
$8.51A$11.86
-13.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67A$2.33
$1.61A$2.25
3.73%
White Bread(500g)
$2.68A$3.74
$3.29A$4.58
-18.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.27A$3.16
$3.02A$4.21
-24.83%
Eggs
$5.17A$7.21
$6.00A$8.36
-13.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.50A$13.24
$11.06A$15.42
-14.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.60A$13.39
$9.92A$13.83
-3.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.02A$20.94
$15.87A$22.12
-5.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.56A$4.97
$4.41A$6.15
-19.27%
Banana(1kg)
$3.13A$4.36
$3.22A$4.49
-2.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.34A$4.66
$3.45A$4.80
-3.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.88A$6.80
$4.91A$6.85
-0.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.66A$3.71
$3.14A$4.37
-15.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.49A$3.48
$2.66A$3.71
-6.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.43A$3.38
$2.52A$3.51
-3.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70A$2.37
$1.69A$2.36
0.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$28.45A$39.67
$46.21A$64.4
-38.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.50A$20.22
$12.58A$17.54
15.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.17A$7.21
$5.41A$7.54
-4.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45A$7.60
$5.33A$7.43
2.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.19A$4.45
$4.03A$5.62
-20.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.0A$121
$142A$198
-38.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.55A$4.95
$4.71A$6.56
-24.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60A$2.23
$1.41A$1.97
13.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.74A$56.8
$31.32A$43.67
30.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25A$1.75
$1.43A$1.99
-12.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KA$39.5K
$29.5KA$41.1K
-3.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9KA$43.1K
$27.0KA$37.6K
14.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$214A$299
$239A$334
-10.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.53A$38.39
$28.19A$39.30
-2.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.1A$82.4
$57.3A$79.9
3.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.5A$78.8
$55.9A$77.9
1.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.30A$25.51
$22.72A$31.68
-19.45%
Cinema Ticket
$16.04A$22.37
$17.89A$24.94
-10.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,244A$3,128
$2,456A$3,424
-8.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.8KA$29.0K
$31.5KA$44.0K
-34.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.2A$109
$82.4A$115
-5.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9A$78.0
$52.1A$72.6
7.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114A$159
$120A$168
-5.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127A$177
$137A$191
-7.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,465A$2,043
$1,777A$2,477
-17.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,284A$1,790
$1,457A$2,032
-11.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,305A$3,213
$3,561A$4,965
-35.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,913A$2,667
$2,568A$3,581
-25.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,528A$9,102
$7,269A$10.1K
-10.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,135A$7,159
$6,897A$9,616
-25.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$4,459A$6,217
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.85
5.84
0.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kununurra: September 6, 2026
Last update for Melbourne: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,465 in Kununurra and $1,777 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $86.0 in Kununurra vs $86.0 in Melbourne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $378 vs $403 per month, with Kununurra 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
Kununurra vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kununurra or Melbourne?
Kununurra wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Melbourne. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kununurra the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kununurra and in Melbourne?
You'd need roughly $4,011 in Kununurra and $4,366 in Melbourne to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kununurra compared to Melbourne?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,465 in Kununurra versus $1,777 in Melbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kununurra and in Melbourne?
Dining out is cheaper in Kununurra – a meal for two runs $86.0 versus $86.0 in Melbourne. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Kununurra compared to Melbourne?
All in, you'll spend $2,674 per month in Kununurra versus $2,910 in Melbourne – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Kununurra or in Melbourne?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Kununurra is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kununurra 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 Kununurra compared to Melbourne?
Safety-wise, Kununurra 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 Kununurra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.