Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kununurra and Melbourne

For one person, living is cheaper in Kununurra: $2,371 a month against $2,849 in Melbourne, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kununurra, Australia
Melbourne, Australia
Kununurra
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,371
/mo nomad
Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,849
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kununurra 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 Kununurra and in Melbourne actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,371 in Kununurra versus $2,849 in Melbourne.

  • Kununurra $2,371
  • Melbourne $2,849

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,541 in Kununurra versus $4,274 in Melbourne.

  • Kununurra $3,541
  • Melbourne $4,274

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,711 in Kununurra versus $5,699 in Melbourne.

  • Kununurra $4,711
  • Melbourne $5,699

Living in Kununurra costs roughly 17% less than in Melbourne, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kununurra 74% above, Melbourne 109% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.09 A$22.86
$17.50 A$24.86
-8.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.5 A$117
$84.3 A$120
-2.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 A$17.07
$12.17 A$17.29
-1.23%
Cappuccino
$4.18 A$5.94
$4.07 A$5.79
2.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 A$4.02
$3.18 A$4.52
-11.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 A$2.79
$2.50 A$3.55
-21.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.61 A$9.40
$9.57 A$13.60
-30.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.67 A$10.90
$8.25 A$11.72
-7.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 A$2.16
$1.50 A$2.14
1.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 A$3.86
$2.97 A$4.22
-8.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.29 A$3.25
$2.68 A$3.81
-14.55%
Eggs
$5.49 A$7.80
$5.45 A$7.75
0.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.16 A$13.01
$10.71 A$15.22
-14.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.44 A$13.42
$10.05 A$14.28
-6.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.75 A$20.96
$15.00 A$21.31
-1.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.76 A$5.35
$4.07 A$5.78
-7.62%
Banana (1kg)
$3.12 A$4.44
$3.14 A$4.46
-0.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.28 A$4.65
$3.12 A$4.43
5.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.56 A$6.48
$4.73 A$6.72
-3.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.65 A$3.77
$2.98 A$4.23
-11.07%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 A$3.39
$2.49 A$3.55
-4.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.41 A$3.42
$2.48 A$3.53
-2.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 A$2.17
$1.60 A$2.27
-4.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$26.81 A$38.09
$44.65 A$63.4
-39.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.89 A$19.74
$12.68 A$18.02
9.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.86 A$6.91
$5.55 A$7.88
-12.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.16 A$7.33
$5.18 A$7.37
-0.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.45 A$3.48
$3.84 A$5.45
-36.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.3 A$120
$139 A$197
-39.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.80 A$5.40
$4.36 A$6.19
-12.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 A$2.53
$1.37 A$1.94
29.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.87 A$51.0
$29.72 A$42.23
20.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 A$1.94
$1.49 A$2.11
-8.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K A$40.5K
$29.1K A$41.3K
-2.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K A$32.1K
$25.7K A$36.5K
-12.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$209 A$297
$236 A$335
-11.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.61 A$39.23
$28.01 A$39.80
-1.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.8 A$82.1
$57.2 A$81.3
0.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.8 A$80.7
$48.39 A$68.8
17.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.06 A$22.82
$21.46 A$30.50
-25.16%
Cinema Ticket
$12.94 A$18.39
$17.67 A$25.10
-26.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,289 A$3,252
$2,461 A$3,497
-7.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.0K A$32.7K
$29.7K A$42.2K
-22.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.8 A$108
$81.2 A$115
-6.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.66 A$67.7
$49.28 A$70.0
-3.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 A$152
$120 A$170
-10.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 A$168
$131 A$186
-9.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 A$1,999
$1,703 A$2,419
-17.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,079 A$1,533
$1,409 A$2,002
-23.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,336 A$3,319
$3,496 A$4,967
-33.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,827 A$2,596
$2,527 A$3,590
-27.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,605 A$7,964
$7,978 A$11.3K
-29.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,305 A$7,537
$6,900 A$9,805
-23.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kununurra
Melbourne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,257 A$6,049
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
5.9
-

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

Last update for Kununurra: October 27, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kununurra
$1.1K
Melbourne
$1.4K 30.6% $330
Groceries & Markets
Kununurra
$369
Melbourne
$386 4.8% $18
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kununurra
$295
Melbourne
$321 8.9% $26
Eating Out
Kununurra
$283
Melbourne
$312 10.6% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Kununurra
$157
Melbourne
$171 9.4% $15
Getting Around
Kununurra
$107
Melbourne
$165 54.8% $58
Sport & Entertainment
Kununurra
$83
Melbourne
$84 1.3% $1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,407 in Kununurra and $1,703 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $82 in Kununurra vs $84 in Melbourne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $369 vs $386 per month, with Kununurra cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Kununurra
🇦🇺 Melbourne
🕒 Local time
00:50 12:50 AM
03:50 3:50 AM
3 h ahead of Kununurra
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,300
5,031,195
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.704 USD). 1 EUR = 1.58 AUD (1 AUD = 0.632 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kununurra Melbourne 2,920 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Kununurra
  • 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
Kununurra vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kununurra or Melbourne?
Kununurra wins on cost – living expenses run 17% 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 $3,557 in Kununurra and $4,273 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: $1,407 in Kununurra versus $1,703 in Melbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Kununurra and in Melbourne?
Childcare runs $2,289 in Kununurra versus $2,461 in Melbourne. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How expensive is transport in Kununurra compared to Melbourne?
A monthly transit pass in Kununurra runs roughly 39% less than in Melbourne. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.
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.

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