Cost of Living Comparison Between Launceston and Melbourne Cost of Living Comparison Between Launceston and Melbourne

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,004 in Launceston versus $2,482 in Melbourne.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,859 in Launceston versus $3,689 in Melbourne.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,713 in Launceston versus $4,896 in Melbourne.

Living in Launceston costs roughly 19% less than in Melbourne, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Launceston 50% above, Melbourne 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.30 A$22.81

$19.24 A$26.94

-15.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.0 A$93.8

$78.5 A$110

-14.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.90 A$11.06

$9.58 A$13.41

-17.54%

Cappuccino

$3.17 A$4.44

$3.63 A$5.09

-12.67%

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

$1.28 A$1.79

$2.51 A$3.52

-49.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 A$2.59

$2.39 A$3.34

-22.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.78 A$8.09

$7.11 A$9.96

-18.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.57 A$9.20

$7.23 A$10.12

-9.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 A$2.35

$1.51 A$2.11

11.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.87 A$2.62

$2.62 A$3.66

-28.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 A$2.46

$2.34 A$3.28

-24.79%

Eggs

$2.91 A$4.08

$4.67 A$6.54

-37.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 A$15.14

$8.86 A$12.40

22.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.77 A$12.27

$9.34 A$13.08

-6.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.61 A$23.26

$14.80 A$20.73

12.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 A$4.42

$3.30 A$4.63

-4.24%

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.54

$2.87 A$4.02

12.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.38 A$4.73

$2.95 A$4.12

14.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 A$6.56

$4.05 A$5.67

15.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 A$4.07

$2.68 A$3.75

8.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 A$3.19

$2.33 A$3.26

-2.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 A$3.72

$2.22 A$3.11

19.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 A$2.75

$1.63 A$2.28

20.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$25.34 A$35.48

$33.09 A$46.32

-23.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 A$20.86

$14.28 A$19.99

4.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.33 A$7.46

$4.67 A$6.54

14.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.42 A$7.59

$5.29 A$7.40

2.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.31 A$4.63

$3.51 A$4.91

-5.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.1 A$72.9

$121 A$169

-56.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.33 A$6.06

$3.50 A$4.91

23.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 A$2.54

$1.38 A$1.93

31.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.13 A$40.78

$27.53 A$38.55

5.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 A$1.61

$1.17 A$1.64

-1.71%

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

$28.9K A$40.4K

$29.4K A$41.2K

-1.85%

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

$27.4K A$38.3K

$23.7K A$33.2K

15.31%

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

$276 A$387

$153 A$214

80.31%

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

$29.44 A$41.22

$21.03 A$29.44

39.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.77 A$69.7

$50.2 A$70.3

-0.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.73 A$69.6

$50.0 A$70.0

-0.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.65 A$21.92

$16.24 A$22.74

-3.63%

Cinema Ticket

$15.67 A$21.94

$16.14 A$22.60

-2.91%

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

$1,666 A$2,332

$1,768 A$2,476

-5.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.2K A$39.5K

$19.2K A$26.8K

47.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 A$90.5

$68.4 A$95.8

-5.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 A$76.2

$52.8 A$73.9

3.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 A$151

$107 A$150

0.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 A$157

$105 A$147

7.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,047 A$1,466

$1,560 A$2,184

-32.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$767 A$1,074

$1,213 A$1,699

-36.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,259 A$1,762

$3,010 A$4,213

-58.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 A$1,489

$1,984 A$2,778

-46.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,460 A$10.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,569 A$9,197

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,478 A$7,669

$4,305 A$6,027

27.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.19

5.01%

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

Last update for Launceston: April 21, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,047 in Launceston and $1,560 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Launceston pays 27% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $67 in Launceston vs $78 in Melbourne. Groceries flip the comparison at $367 vs $356, with Melbourne cheaper for home cooking.

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

Launceston vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Launceston wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Melbourne. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Launceston the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Launceston pays 27% 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: $1,047 in Launceston versus $1,560 in Melbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Launceston – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $78.0 in Melbourne. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,004 per month in Launceston versus $2,482 in Melbourne – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,004 in Launceston versus $2,482 in Melbourne, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Launceston but tight or insufficient in Melbourne. The gap between the two cities makes Launceston the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Launceston 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 Launceston gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.