Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Albany Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Albany

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,894 in Melbourne versus $2,702 in Albany.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,377 in Melbourne versus $3,800 in Albany.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,860 in Melbourne versus $4,899 in Albany.

Living in Melbourne is roughly 7% more expensive than in Albany, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Melbourne 111% above, Albany 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.95 A$24.92

$19.61 A$27.23

-8.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 A$117

$84.5 A$117

0.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.26 A$17.01

$10.45 A$14.50

17.32%

Cappuccino

$4.22 A$5.86

$4.63 A$6.43

-8.86%

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

$3.16 A$4.38

$2.57 A$3.56

22.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 A$3.70

$2.10 A$2.91

26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.98 A$13.86

$8.76 A$12.16

13.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 A$12.26

$7.54 A$10.47

17.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 A$2.29

White Bread (500g)

$3.40 A$4.73

$2.68 A$3.73

26.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.79 A$3.87

$1.96 A$2.72

42.35%

Eggs

$5.69 A$7.89

$5.51 A$7.65

3.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.30 A$15.69

$9.76 A$13.55

15.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.67 A$13.42

$9.38 A$13.02

3.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.78 A$21.90

$13.34 A$18.52

18.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.19 A$5.82

$4.37 A$6.07

-4.12%

Banana (1kg)

$3.02 A$4.19

$3.05 A$4.23

-0.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 A$4.55

$3.15 A$4.37

3.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 A$6.68

$4.66 A$6.47

3.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 A$4.52

$2.63 A$3.65

23.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 A$3.61

$2.52 A$3.50

3.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 A$3.49

$2.25 A$3.12

11.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 A$2.28

$1.49 A$2.07

10.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.11 A$64.0

$38.96 A$54.1

18.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.06 A$16.75

$15.62 A$21.69

-22.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.48 A$7.61

$5.29 A$7.35

3.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.15 A$7.15

$5.89 A$8.18

-12.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.83 A$5.31

$2.85 A$3.96

34.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$144 A$201

$92.4 A$128

56.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 A$5.98

$3.96 A$5.50

8.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 A$2.04

$1.79 A$2.48

-17.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.02 A$43.06

$40.33 A$56.0

-23.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 A$2.03

$1.22 A$1.69

19.67%

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

$29.5K A$41.0K

$25.2K A$35.0K

17.00%

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

$27.7K A$38.5K

$32.3K A$44.9K

-14.21%

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

$242 A$336

$212 A$294

14.30%

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

$28.20 A$39.15

$28.36 A$39.37

-0.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.2 A$79.4

$50.7 A$70.3

12.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 A$78.0

$60.8 A$84.4

-7.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.71 A$30.14

$18.45 A$25.62

17.67%

Cinema Ticket

$17.89 A$24.83

$15.70 A$21.80

13.95%

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

$2,443 A$3,392

$2,419 A$3,358

1.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.0K A$45.8K

$21.2K A$29.4K

55.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.1 A$114

$84.9 A$118

-3.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.4 A$70.0

$48.30 A$67.1

4.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 A$175

$116 A$161

8.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 A$192

$126 A$175

9.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,774 A$2,462

$1,467 A$2,036

20.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 A$1,981

$1,220 A$1,693

17.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,504 A$4,864

$2,294 A$3,185

52.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,517 A$3,494

$1,869 A$2,595

34.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,411 A$10.3K

$6,704 A$9,306

10.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,718 A$9,326

$4,615 A$6,407

45.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,478 A$6,216

$2,676 A$3,715

67.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.85

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

Last update for Melbourne: August 30, 2026

Last update for Albany: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,774 in Melbourne and $1,467 in Albany. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Melbourne pays 67% 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: $85.0 in Melbourne vs $84.0 in Albany for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $375 per month, with Albany cheaper across the board.

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 vs Albany: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Albany wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Melbourne. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Albany the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 67% higher in Melbourne, 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: $1,774 in Melbourne versus $1,467 in Albany. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,894 per month in Melbourne versus $2,702 in Albany – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Albany runs roughly 56% less than in Melbourne. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Albany is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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, Melbourne and Albany 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 Albany gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.