Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Banjarmasin

For one person, living is cheaper in Banjarmasin: $584 a month against $2,821 in Melbourne, rent and utilities included – about $26,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,821
/mo nomad
Banjarmasin
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$584
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Melbourne and in Banjarmasin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Melbourne and in Banjarmasin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,821 per month in Melbourne vs $584 in Banjarmasin, rent included.

  • Melbourne $2,821
  • Banjarmasin $584

A couple spends around $4,235 per month in Melbourne vs $921 in Banjarmasin, rent included.

  • Melbourne $4,235
  • Banjarmasin $921

A family of three spends $5,650 per month in Melbourne vs $1,258 in Banjarmasin, rent included.

  • Melbourne $5,650
  • Banjarmasin $1,258

Melbourne costs about 383% more than Banjarmasin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Melbourne sits 109% above the global median, while Banjarmasin is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melbourne
Banjarmasin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.43 A$25.08
$1.14 Rp 20.6K
1428.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 A$122
$14.15 Rp 254.8K
497.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.46 A$17.92
$3.28 Rp 59.1K
279.88%
Cappuccino
$4.11 A$5.91
$1.23 Rp 22.2K
234.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 A$4.40
$0.78 Rp 14.1K
292.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 A$3.62
$0.35 Rp 6,222
620.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.80 A$14.10
$4.89 Rp 88.0K
100.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.57 A$12.33
$3.51 Rp 63.2K
144.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
Banjarmasin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 A$2.14
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
12.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 A$4.23
$0.97 Rp 17.4K
203.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 A$3.82
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
212.94%
Eggs
$5.54 A$7.97
$1.54 Rp 27.7K
259.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.51 A$15.13
$6.69 Rp 120.3K
57.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 A$13.89
$2.12 Rp 38.1K
355.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.22 A$21.91
$3.25 Rp 58.5K
368.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.99 A$5.75
$1.91 Rp 34.4K
108.90%
Banana (1kg)
$3.02 A$4.34
$1.12 Rp 20.1K
169.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 A$4.46
$0.89 Rp 16.0K
248.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.82 A$6.93
$1.29 Rp 23.2K
273.64%
Potato (1kg)
$3.03 A$4.36
$1.30 Rp 23.4K
133.08%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 A$3.52
$0.90 Rp 16.2K
171.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 A$3.54
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
236.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 A$2.34
$0.40 Rp 7,234
307.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$44.07 A$63.4
$1.93 Rp 34.8K
2183.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.70 A$18.28
$21.41 Rp 385.3K
-40.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.54 A$7.97
$1.86 Rp 33.4K
197.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23 A$7.52
$3.12 Rp 56.1K
67.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Melbourne
Banjarmasin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.74 A$5.38
$0.29 Rp 5,217
1189.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$138 A$198
$16.77 Rp 301.8K
720.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.51 A$6.50
$0.52 Rp 9,283
767.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 A$1.96
$0.37 Rp 6,657
267.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.45 A$43.81
$2.63 Rp 47.3K
1057.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 A$2.12
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
86.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K A$41.7K
$24.4K Rp 438.7M
18.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K A$38.1K
$26.7K Rp 479.8M
-0.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
Banjarmasin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$234 A$336
$41.10 Rp 739.8K
468.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.93 A$40.19
$2.75 Rp 49.5K
915.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7 A$80.2
$17.31 Rp 311.5K
222.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
Banjarmasin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.40 A$71.1
$19.71 Rp 354.7K
150.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.48 A$30.91
$7.89 Rp 142.0K
172.24%
Cinema Ticket
$15.09 A$21.72
$5.62 Rp 101.1K
168.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melbourne
Banjarmasin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,371 A$3,412
$95.9 Rp 1.7M
2372.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.2K A$43.5K
$8,380 Rp 150.8M
260.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
Banjarmasin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.0 A$115
$42.79 Rp 770.1K
86.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7 A$73.0
$25.24 Rp 454.4K
100.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 A$174
$53.7 Rp 965.7K
124.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 A$188
$32.67 Rp 588.1K
299.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
Banjarmasin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,759 A$2,531
$216 Rp 3.9M
714.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,390 A$2,000
$162 Rp 2.9M
757.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,494 A$5,027
$557 Rp 10.0M
527.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,493 A$3,588
$370 Rp 6.7M
573.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,926 A$9,967
$1,052 Rp 18.9M
558.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,445 A$9,274
$822 Rp 14.8M
683.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melbourne
Banjarmasin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,383 A$6,307
$204 Rp 3.7M
2045.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
9.46
-37.63%

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

Last update for Melbourne: October 10, 2026

Last update for Banjarmasin: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
$1.4K
Banjarmasin
$162 88.3% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
$384
Banjarmasin
$171 55.5% $213
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
$317
Banjarmasin
$61 80.7% $256
Eating Out
Melbourne
$315
Banjarmasin
$70 77.8% $245
Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
$172
Banjarmasin
$69 59.6% $102
Getting Around
Melbourne
$164
Banjarmasin
$20 87.6% $143
Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
$80
Banjarmasin
$31 61.1% $49

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,759 in Melbourne versus $216 in Banjarmasin. 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 2045% higher in Melbourne, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Melbourne versus $14.00 in Banjarmasin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $384 vs $171 – making Banjarmasin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Melbourne
🇮🇩 Banjarmasin
🕒 Local time
18:07 6:07 PM
15:07 3:07 PM
3 h behind Melbourne
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,031,195
715,703
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Melbourne Banjarmasin 4,920 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Melbourne
  • Banjarmasin

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
Melbourne vs Banjarmasin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banjarmasin cheaper than Melbourne?
Yes – Melbourne is pricier by about 383%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,231 per month in Melbourne and $877 in Banjarmasin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Banjarmasin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Melbourne or in Banjarmasin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Melbourne and $14.00 in Banjarmasin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Melbourne and in Banjarmasin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,821 in Melbourne and $584 in Banjarmasin. That's a gap of about 383%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Melbourne or in Banjarmasin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banjarmasin, where all-in costs run around $584, than in Melbourne at $2,821. In Banjarmasin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Melbourne it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Melbourne or Banjarmasin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Banjarmasin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Melbourne or Banjarmasin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Banjarmasin. 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.

Melbourne vs other spots: cost of living compared

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