Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mataram and Melbourne

For one person, living is cheaper in Mataram: $608 a month against $2,853 in Melbourne, rent and utilities included – about $26,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mataram
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$608
/mo nomad
Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,853
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $608 in Mataram versus $2,853 in Melbourne.

  • Mataram $608
  • Melbourne $2,853

Estimated couple costs with rent: $967 in Mataram versus $4,275 in Melbourne.

  • Mataram $967
  • Melbourne $4,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,327 in Mataram versus $5,697 in Melbourne.

  • Mataram $1,327
  • Melbourne $5,697

Living in Mataram costs roughly 79% less than in Melbourne, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mataram is 55% below, Melbourne is 111% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mataram
Melbourne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.93 Rp 16.8K
$17.20 A$24.75
-94.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.22 Rp 166.0K
$83.1 A$120
-88.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.21 Rp 57.8K
$12.43 A$17.88
-74.18%
Cappuccino
$1.47 Rp 26.4K
$4.05 A$5.82
-63.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 Rp 7,889
$3.12 A$4.50
-85.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 Rp 5,491
$2.46 A$3.54
-87.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 Rp 48.8K
$9.52 A$13.71
-71.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$8.16 A$11.74
-57.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mataram
Melbourne
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$1.56 A$2.25
-11.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 Rp 26.4K
$2.90 A$4.18
-49.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.80 Rp 14.5K
$2.66 A$3.82
-69.92%
Eggs
$1.49 Rp 26.9K
$5.37 A$7.72
-72.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.12 Rp 128.2K
$10.67 A$15.36
-33.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.00 Rp 54.1K
$9.85 A$14.17
-69.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.39 Rp 133.0K
$15.36 A$22.11
-51.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$4.17 A$6.00
-45.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 Rp 22.4K
$3.15 A$4.53
-60.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 Rp 30.6K
$3.26 A$4.69
-47.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.29 Rp 23.1K
$4.76 A$6.85
-72.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 Rp 22.3K
$3.06 A$4.41
-59.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 Rp 34.9K
$2.47 A$3.55
-21.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$2.45 A$3.52
-70.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 Rp 7,214
$1.63 A$2.34
-75.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.63 Rp 47.3K
$45.17 A$65.0
-94.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.99 Rp 377.9K
$12.68 A$18.25
65.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 Rp 34.4K
$5.69 A$8.18
-66.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 Rp 54.7K
$5.23 A$7.53
-41.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Mataram
Melbourne
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,838
$3.87 A$5.57
-93.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$142 A$204
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.50 Rp 8,960
$4.54 A$6.53
-88.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Rp 6,222
$1.42 A$2.04
-75.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 Rp 48.9K
$30.59 A$44.01
-91.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.62 Rp 11.2K
$1.47 A$2.11
-57.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 428.7M
$28.9K A$41.5K
-17.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K Rp 551.3M
$25.9K A$37.3K
18.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mataram
Melbourne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.0 Rp 1.2M
$235 A$338
-71.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.96 Rp 71.3K
$27.45 A$39.51
-85.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.47 Rp 350.5K
$56.1 A$80.8
-65.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mataram
Melbourne
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.35 Rp 348.4K
$50.1 A$72.1
-61.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.15 Rp 146.8K
$21.49 A$30.93
-62.08%
Cinema Ticket
$2.85 Rp 51.2K
$17.76 A$25.56
-83.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mataram
Melbourne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.8 Rp 1.7M
$2,385 A$3,432
-96.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,572 Rp 136.3M
$29.7K A$42.7K
-74.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mataram
Melbourne
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.19 Rp 795.3K
$79.2 A$114
-44.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.84 Rp 519.0K
$49.49 A$71.2
-41.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.5 Rp 1.3M
$118 A$170
-37.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.4 Rp 1.3M
$132 A$190
-46.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mataram
Melbourne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$225 Rp 4.0M
$1,763 A$2,537
-87.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 Rp 2.4M
$1,411 A$2,031
-90.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$530 Rp 9.5M
$3,522 A$5,069
-84.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$356 Rp 6.4M
$2,525 A$3,634
-85.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,184 Rp 21.3M
$7,136 A$10.3K
-83.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$796 Rp 14.3M
$6,355 A$9,144
-87.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mataram
Melbourne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$222 Rp 4.0M
$4,258 A$6,128
-94.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.46
5.9
60.34%

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

Last update for Mataram: October 17, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Mataram
$201
Melbourne
$388 93% $187
Accommodation & Living
Mataram
$133
Melbourne
$1.4K 961% $1.3K
Clothing & Footwear
Mataram
$98
Melbourne
$171 74.1% $73
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mataram
$89
Melbourne
$319 257% $229
Eating Out
Mataram
$58
Melbourne
$310 433% $252
Sport & Entertainment
Mataram
$25
Melbourne
$86 242% $61
Getting Around
Mataram
$3.3 *
Melbourne
$169 5023% $166

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $225 in Mataram and $1,763 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Melbourne pays 1817% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $9.00 in Mataram vs $83.0 in Melbourne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $388 per month, with Mataram cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Mataram
🇦🇺 Melbourne
🕒 Local time
22:14 10:14 PM
01:14 1:14 AM
3 h ahead of Mataram
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
402,843
5,031,195
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mataram Melbourne 4,350 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mataram
  • 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
Mataram vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mataram and in Melbourne?
Mataram and Melbourne differ by about 369% in total monthly costs ($608 vs $2,853 including rent). Mataram is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 1817% lower in Melbourne. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mataram and in Melbourne?
Rent for a central apartment: $225 in Mataram versus $1,763 in Melbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 93% higher in Melbourne. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mataram or Melbourne?
All in, you'll spend $608 per month in Mataram versus $2,853 in Melbourne – a 369% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $608 in Mataram versus $2,853 in Melbourne, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mataram but tight or insufficient in Melbourne. The gap between the two cities makes Mataram the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mataram and 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.
Is Mataram or Melbourne safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mataram 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.
Where should expats move: Mataram or Melbourne?
Expats usually find Mataram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 369% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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