Cost of Living Comparison Between Mackay and Melbourne Cost of Living Comparison Between Mackay and Melbourne

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,233 per month in Mackay vs $2,910 in Melbourne, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,540 per month in Mackay vs $4,408 in Melbourne, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,848 per month in Mackay vs $5,905 in Melbourne, rent included.

Mackay is about 23% cheaper than Melbourne, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Mackay and Melbourne sit above the global median – Mackay by 62%, Melbourne by 111%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.88 A$24.92

$18.41 A$25.66

-2.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.8 A$113

$86.5 A$121

-6.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.22 A$18.44

$12.46 A$17.38

6.10%

Cappuccino

$4.21 A$5.88

$4.17 A$5.81

0.96%

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

$3.37 A$4.70

$3.15 A$4.40

6.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 A$4.09

$2.65 A$3.70

10.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.21 A$10.05

$10.05 A$14.01

-28.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.42 A$10.35

$8.51 A$11.86

-12.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 A$2.87

$1.61 A$2.25

27.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 A$3.74

$3.29 A$4.58

-18.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.91 A$4.06

$3.02 A$4.21

-3.64%

Eggs

$6.08 A$8.48

$6.00 A$8.36

1.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.72 A$13.55

$11.06 A$15.42

-12.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.69 A$12.11

$9.92 A$13.83

-12.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.71 A$23.30

$15.87 A$22.12

5.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.94 A$5.50

$4.41 A$6.15

-10.66%

Banana (1kg)

$3.04 A$4.24

$3.22 A$4.49

-5.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 A$4.50

$3.45 A$4.80

-6.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.76 A$9.42

$4.91 A$6.85

37.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 A$3.67

$3.14 A$4.37

-16.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 A$3.83

$2.66 A$3.71

3.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.18 A$4.44

$2.52 A$3.51

26.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.21 A$4.48

$1.69 A$2.36

89.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$44.49 A$62.0

$46.21 A$64.4

-3.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.83 A$12.31

$12.58 A$17.54

-29.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.26 A$7.33

$5.41 A$7.54

-2.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.39 A$8.91

$5.33 A$7.43

19.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.59 A$3.62

$4.03 A$5.62

-35.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 A$102

$142 A$198

-48.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.82 A$8.12

$4.71 A$6.56

23.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 A$3.09

$1.41 A$1.97

57.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$36.71 A$51.2

$31.32 A$43.67

17.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 A$1.73

$1.43 A$1.99

-13.29%

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

$28.4K A$39.5K

$29.5K A$41.1K

-3.71%

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

$37.1K A$51.7K

$27.0K A$37.6K

37.65%

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

$239 A$333

$239 A$334

-0.08%

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

$30.33 A$42.28

$28.19 A$39.30

7.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.9 A$116

$57.3 A$79.9

44.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.3 A$74.3

$55.9 A$77.9

-4.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.56 A$30.06

$22.72 A$31.68

-5.11%

Cinema Ticket

$16.80 A$23.43

$17.89 A$24.94

-6.09%

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

$1,918 A$2,674

$2,456 A$3,424

-21.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,755 A$9,418

$31.5K A$44.0K

-78.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.4 A$104

$82.4 A$115

-9.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 A$72.5

$52.1 A$72.6

-0.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 A$181

$120 A$168

8.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 A$151

$137 A$191

-20.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 A$1,357

$1,777 A$2,477

-45.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$837 A$1,166

$1,457 A$2,032

-42.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 A$2,698

$3,561 A$4,965

-45.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,857 A$2,589

$2,568 A$3,581

-27.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,294 A$4,592

$7,269 A$10.1K

-54.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,778 A$2,479

$6,897 A$9,616

-74.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,814 A$8,106

$4,459 A$6,217

30.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.63

5.84

-3.60%

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

Last update for Mackay: September 8, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Mackay versus $1,777 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 30% higher in Mackay, 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 $81.0 in Mackay versus $86.0 in Melbourne. Groceries tell a different story – $412 in Mackay vs $403 in Melbourne – so Melbourne wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Mackay vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Melbourne is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,349 per month in Mackay and $4,366 in Melbourne. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Melbourne – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Mackay and $86.0 in Melbourne. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Mackay, where all-in costs run around $2,233, than in Melbourne at $2,910. In Mackay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Melbourne it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mackay – 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 Mackay. 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.