Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Bega NSW Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Bega NSW

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,905 per month in Melbourne vs $2,613 in Bega NSW, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,310 per month in Melbourne vs $3,697 in Bega NSW, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,714 per month in Melbourne vs $4,781 in Bega NSW, rent included.

Melbourne costs about 11% more than Bega NSW, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Melbourne and Bega NSW sit above the global median – Melbourne by 112%, Bega NSW by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.12 A$25.38

$20.08 A$28.12

-9.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.8 A$119

$95.5 A$134

-11.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 A$16.96

$9.46 A$13.25

28.01%

Cappuccino

$4.12 A$5.77

$3.80 A$5.32

8.42%

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

$3.21 A$4.50

$3.04 A$4.26

5.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 A$3.57

$2.07 A$2.90

23.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.77 A$13.68

$8.85 A$12.39

10.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.55 A$11.98

$8.76 A$12.27

-2.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 A$2.27

$1.44 A$2.01

12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.19 A$4.46

$2.61 A$3.65

22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.85 A$3.99

$2.36 A$3.31

20.76%

Eggs

$5.83 A$8.16

$5.05 A$7.07

15.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 A$15.40

$8.59 A$12.04

28.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.03 A$14.04

$10.33 A$14.46

-2.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.45 A$21.63

$15.48 A$21.67

-0.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 A$6.16

$3.37 A$4.72

30.56%

Banana (1kg)

$3.17 A$4.44

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 A$4.59

$3.18 A$4.46

3.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 A$6.83

$4.50 A$6.31

8.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 A$4.36

$2.63 A$3.68

18.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 A$3.69

$2.30 A$3.22

14.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 A$3.49

$2.35 A$3.30

5.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 A$2.36

$1.76 A$2.46

-4.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$45.87 A$64.3

$45.07 A$63.1

1.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.66 A$17.73

$13.90 A$19.46

-8.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.61 A$7.86

$5.00 A$7.00

12.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.29 A$7.41

$5.43 A$7.60

-2.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.89 A$5.45

$3.55 A$4.98

9.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 A$197

$96.3 A$135

45.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.65 A$6.51

$3.21 A$4.50

44.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 A$1.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.65 A$42.92

$44.31 A$62.1

-30.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 A$1.94

$1.10 A$1.54

25.45%

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

$28.9K A$40.5K

$26.9K A$37.7K

7.55%

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

$27.2K A$38.1K

$30.7K A$43.0K

-11.45%

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

$238 A$333

$217 A$304

9.61%

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

$27.90 A$39.08

$28.97 A$40.57

-3.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.7 A$80.8

$62.4 A$87.3

-7.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 A$77.0

$48.76 A$68.3

12.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.31 A$31.25

$19.35 A$27.09

15.30%

Cinema Ticket

$17.87 A$25.02

$15.03 A$21.05

18.90%

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

$2,450 A$3,431

$1,994 A$2,793

22.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.1K A$44.9K

$22.5K A$31.5K

42.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.3 A$114

$80.7 A$113

0.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 A$72.6

$47.65 A$66.7

8.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 A$168

$124 A$174

-3.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 A$189

$125 A$175

7.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 A$2,473

$1,575 A$2,205

12.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 A$2,002

$1,370 A$1,919

4.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,441 A$4,819

$2,029 A$2,842

69.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,562 A$3,588

$2,044 A$2,862

25.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,336 A$10.3K

$6,103 A$8,548

20.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,900 A$9,663

$5,796 A$8,117

19.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,352 A$6,095

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.89

5.87

0.34%

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

Last update for Melbourne: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bega NSW: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,766 in Melbourne versus $1,575 in Bega NSW. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Melbourne versus $96.0 in Bega NSW. Groceries tell a different story – $400 in Melbourne vs $372 in Bega NSW – so Bega NSW 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

Melbourne vs Bega NSW: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Melbourne is pricier by about 11%, 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 $4,358 per month in Melbourne and $3,919 in Bega NSW. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $2,450 per month in Melbourne and $1,994 in Bega NSW. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Melbourne, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,905 in Melbourne and $2,613 in Bega NSW. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Bega NSW – 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 Bega NSW. 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.