Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Biarritz

For one person, living is cheaper in Biarritz: $2,091 a month against $2,821 in Melbourne, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,821
/mo nomad
Biarritz
🇫🇷 France
$2,091
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Melbourne and in Biarritz

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 Biarritz actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,821 in Melbourne versus $2,091 in Biarritz.

  • Melbourne $2,821
  • Biarritz $2,091

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,235 in Melbourne versus $3,371 in Biarritz.

  • Melbourne $4,235
  • Biarritz $3,371

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,650 in Melbourne versus $4,652 in Biarritz.

  • Melbourne $5,650
  • Biarritz $4,652

Living in Melbourne is roughly 35% more expensive than in Biarritz, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Melbourne 109% above, Biarritz 55% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melbourne
Biarritz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.43 A$25.08
$19.87 €17.67
-12.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 A$122
$77.2 €68.7
9.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.46 A$17.92
$13.97 €12.43
-10.81%
Cappuccino
$4.11 A$5.91
$3.77 €3.36
9.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 A$4.40
$2.86 €2.54
6.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 A$3.62
$1.44 €1.28
75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.80 A$14.10
$7.93 €7.05
23.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.57 A$12.33
$6.63 €5.90
29.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
Biarritz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 A$2.14
$1.18 €1.05
25.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 A$4.23
$2.01 €1.79
46.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 A$3.82
$2.22 €1.97
19.82%
Eggs
$5.54 A$7.97
$3.65 €3.25
51.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.51 A$15.13
$13.78 €12.26
-23.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 A$13.89
$15.93 €14.17
-39.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.22 A$21.91
$20.32 €18.07
-25.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.99 A$5.75
$3.27 €2.91
22.02%
Banana (1kg)
$3.02 A$4.34
$2.21 €1.96
36.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 A$4.46
$3.28 €2.92
-5.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.82 A$6.93
$4.38 €3.90
10.05%
Potato (1kg)
$3.03 A$4.36
$2.18 €1.94
38.99%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 A$3.52
$2.63 €2.34
-7.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 A$3.54
$1.37 €1.22
79.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 A$2.34
$0.52 €0.47
213.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$44.07 A$63.4
$13.04 €11.60
237.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.70 A$18.28
$10.16 €9.03
25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.54 A$7.97
$3.89 €3.46
42.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23 A$7.52
$3.42 €3.04
52.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Melbourne
Biarritz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.74 A$5.38
$1.57 €1.40
138.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$138 A$198
$42.31 €37.64
225.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.51 A$6.50
$2.24 €1.99
101.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 A$1.96
$1.89 €1.68
-28.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.45 A$43.81
$37.32 €33.20
-18.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 A$2.12
$2.04 €1.81
-27.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K A$41.7K
$34.7K €30.9K
-16.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K A$38.1K
$33.8K €30.1K
-21.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
Biarritz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$234 A$336
$217 €193
7.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.93 A$40.19
$15.24 €13.55
83.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7 A$80.2
$31.33 €27.87
77.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
Biarritz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.40 A$71.1
$71.9 €64.0
-31.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.48 A$30.91
$23.87 €21.24
-10.01%
Cinema Ticket
$15.09 A$21.72
$9.91 €8.82
52.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melbourne
Biarritz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,371 A$3,412
$782 €695
203.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.2K A$43.5K
$13.4K €11.9K
125.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
Biarritz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.0 A$115
$118 €105
-32.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7 A$73.0
$44.28 €39.39
14.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 A$174
$108 €96.1
11.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 A$188
$147 €130
-10.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
Biarritz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,759 A$2,531
$900 €801
95.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,390 A$2,000
$800 €711
73.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,494 A$5,027
$2,165 €1,925
61.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,493 A$3,588
$1,737 €1,545
43.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,926 A$9,967
$10.1K €8,987
-31.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,445 A$9,274
$7,631 €6,788
-15.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melbourne
Biarritz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,383 A$6,307
$2,301 €2,047
90.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
3.7
59.46%

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

Last update for Melbourne: October 10, 2026

Last update for Biarritz: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
$1.4K
Biarritz
$800 42.5% $590
Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
$384
Biarritz
$372 3.1% $12
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
$317
Biarritz
$264 17% $54
Eating Out
Melbourne
$315
Biarritz
$316 0.5% $1.7
Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
$172
Biarritz
$187 9.1% $16
Getting Around
Melbourne
$164
Biarritz
$60 63.2% $104
Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
$80
Biarritz
$92 15.3% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,759 in Melbourne and $900 in Biarritz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Melbourne pays 90% 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 $77.0 in Biarritz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $384 vs $372 per month, with Biarritz cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Melbourne
🇫🇷 Biarritz
🕒 Local time
20:29 8:29 PM
11:29 11:29 AM
9 h behind Melbourne
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,031,195
25,764
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD 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).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Melbourne Biarritz 17,140 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Melbourne
  • Biarritz

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 Biarritz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Melbourne and in Biarritz?
Melbourne and Biarritz differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($2,821 vs $2,091 including rent). Biarritz is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Melbourne or Biarritz?
Average pay runs 90% higher in Melbourne, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Melbourne and in Biarritz?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,759 in Melbourne versus $900 in Biarritz. 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 3% higher in Melbourne. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Biarritz – a meal for two runs $77.0 versus $85.0 in Melbourne. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,091 in Biarritz versus $2,821 in Melbourne, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Biarritz but tight or insufficient in Melbourne. The gap between the two cities makes Biarritz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Melbourne and Biarritz?
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 Melbourne or Biarritz safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Melbourne and Biarritz 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 or Biarritz?
Expats usually find Biarritz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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