πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,935 in Melbourne, FL versus $2,879 in Bristol.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,015 in Melbourne, FL versus $4,130 in Bristol.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,094 in Melbourne, FL versus $5,380 in Bristol.
πLiving in Melbourne, FL is roughly 2% more expensive than Bristol, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Melbourne, FL119% above, Bristol115% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Melbourne, FL
Bristol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.38$25.38
$20.34Β£15.15
24.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.8$73.8
$104Β£77.3
-28.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.97$9.97
$10.75Β£8.00
-7.26%
Cappuccino
$4.87$4.87
$5.14Β£3.83
-5.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63$2.63
$2.70Β£2.01
-2.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$1.73Β£1.29
20.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94$5.94
$7.94Β£5.92
-25.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.40$6.40
$6.80Β£5.07
-5.88%
π Groceries & Markets
Melbourne, FL
Bristol
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89$0.89
$1.56Β£1.16
-42.95%
White Bread(500g)
$3.72$3.72
$2.35Β£1.75
58.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$1.87Β£1.39
46.52%
Eggs
$3.94$3.94
$4.18Β£3.11
-5.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.63$11.63
$12.30Β£9.16
-5.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43$8.43
$11.36Β£8.46
-25.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.53$14.53
$12.15Β£9.05
19.59%
Apples(1kg)
$4.80$4.80
$3.39Β£2.52
41.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49$1.49
$1.64Β£1.22
-9.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.64$3.64
$2.73Β£2.03
33.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.17$5.17
$3.98Β£2.97
29.90%
Potato(1kg)
$2.59$2.59
$2.04Β£1.52
26.96%
Onion(1kg)
$3.39$3.39
$1.78Β£1.32
90.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.28$2.28
$1.20Β£0.89
90.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$1.86Β£1.39
12.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.31$9.31
$20.50Β£15.27
-54.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.40$15.40
$10.83Β£8.07
42.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72$1.72
$2.98Β£2.22
-42.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80$2.80
$2.70Β£2.01
3.70%
π Getting Around
Melbourne, FL
Bristol
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.83$3.83
$3.11Β£2.32
23.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.31$42.31
$115Β£85.5
-63.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.57$4.57
$5.58Β£4.15
-18.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64$0.64
$1.69Β£1.26
-62.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.19$22.19
$27.71Β£20.64
-19.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$1.90Β£1.42
-55.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K$23.7K
$38.2KΒ£28.5K
-38.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K$24.2K
$35.3KΒ£26.3K
-31.62%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne, FL
Bristol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173$173
$301Β£224
-42.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.8$55.8
$16.75Β£12.48
232.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.4$64.4
$45.52Β£33.90
41.41%
π Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne, FL
Bristol
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.4$70.4
$49.81Β£37.10
41.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.03$2.03
$10.12Β£7.54
-79.94%
Cinema Ticket
$12.96$12.96
$13.72Β£10.22
-5.54%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Melbourne, FL
Bristol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$910$910
$2,193Β£1,633
-58.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K$15.8K
$24.2KΒ£18.0K
-34.69%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne, FL
Bristol
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.09$47.09
$95.6Β£71.2
-50.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.86$45.86
$48.61Β£36.20
-5.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.3$86.3
$112Β£83.5
-23.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.8$93.8
$138Β£103
-32.28%
π Accommodation & Living
Melbourne, FL
Bristol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,625$1,625
$1,852Β£1,379
-12.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,607$1,607
$1,391Β£1,036
15.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,018$3,018
$3,094Β£2,305
-2.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,293$2,293
$2,285Β£1,702
0.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,493$2,493
$6,918Β£5,153
-63.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,482$2,482
$5,209Β£3,880
-52.34%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Melbourne, FL
Bristol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,643$3,643
$3,777Β£2,813
-3.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.53
5.6
16.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Melbourne, FL: June 1, 2026
Last update for Bristol: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,625 in Melbourne, FL and $1,852 in Bristol. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Bristol pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $74.0 in Melbourne, FL vs $104 in Bristol. Groceries flip the comparison at $361 vs $330, with Bristol 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
Melbourne, FL vs Bristol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Melbourne, FL and Bristol?
Melbourne, FL and Bristol differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($2,935 vs $2,879 including rent). Bristol is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Bristol earns 4% less. 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 Melbourne, FL and Bristol?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,625 in Melbourne, FL versus $1,852 in Bristol. 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 9% higher in Melbourne, FL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Bristol β a meal for two runs $104 versus $74.0 in Melbourne, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Bristol is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Melbourne, FL and Bristol?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Melbourne, FL or Bristol safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Melbourne, FL and Bristol 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: Melbourne, FL or Bristol?
Expats usually find Bristol gentler on the wallet β expenses run 2% less than in Melbourne, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Melbourne, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared