Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Broome, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Broome, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,905 in Melbourne versus $2,716 in Broome, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,310 in Melbourne versus $4,558 in Broome, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,714 in Melbourne versus $6,399 in Broome, WA.

Living in Melbourne is roughly 7% more expensive than in Broome, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Melbourne 112% above, Broome, WA 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.12 A$25.56

$21.47 A$30.27

-15.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.8 A$120

$86.3 A$122

-1.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 A$17.07

$21.59 A$30.45

-43.91%

Cappuccino

$4.12 A$5.81

$5.26 A$7.42

-21.67%

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

$3.21 A$4.53

$3.90 A$5.50

-17.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 A$3.60

$2.23 A$3.15

14.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.77 A$13.77

$8.43 A$11.89

15.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.55 A$12.06

$7.60 A$10.71

12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 A$2.29

$2.95 A$4.15

-45.08%

White Bread (500g)

$3.19 A$4.49

$2.64 A$3.72

20.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.85 A$4.01

$2.33 A$3.28

22.32%

Eggs

$5.83 A$8.22

$5.10 A$7.19

14.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 A$15.51

$9.90 A$13.96

11.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.03 A$14.14

$9.72 A$13.70

3.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.45 A$21.78

$14.85 A$20.95

4.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 A$6.20

$4.74 A$6.69

-7.17%

Banana (1kg)

$3.17 A$4.47

$3.37 A$4.75

-5.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 A$4.63

$4.19 A$5.91

-21.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 A$6.88

$5.37 A$7.58

-9.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 A$4.39

$3.50 A$4.93

-11.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 A$3.72

$3.15 A$4.44

-16.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 A$3.51

$3.71 A$5.24

-32.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 A$2.38

$1.63 A$2.30

3.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$45.87 A$64.7

$33.39 A$47.09

37.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.66 A$17.86

$18.01 A$25.40

-29.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.61 A$7.92

$4.81 A$6.78

16.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.29 A$7.47

$5.62 A$7.92

-5.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.89 A$5.49

$3.19 A$4.50

21.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 A$198

$87.0 A$123

61.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.65 A$6.56

$3.64 A$5.13

27.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 A$1.99

$1.67 A$2.36

-15.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.65 A$43.22

$71.5 A$101

-57.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 A$1.95

$1.74 A$2.45

-20.69%

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

$28.9K A$40.8K

$28.9K A$40.7K

0.27%

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

$27.2K A$38.4K

$23.6K A$33.2K

15.47%

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

$238 A$335

$209 A$295

13.74%

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

$27.90 A$39.35

$28.62 A$40.37

-2.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.7 A$81.3

$50.2 A$70.8

14.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 A$77.6

$56.2 A$79.3

-2.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.31 A$31.47

$16.04 A$22.62

39.09%

Cinema Ticket

$17.87 A$25.20

$17.55 A$24.75

1.82%

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

$2,450 A$3,455

$1,101 A$1,552

122.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.1K A$45.2K

$20.4K A$28.8K

57.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.3 A$115

$112 A$157

-27.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 A$73.1

$71.9 A$101

-27.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 A$169

$158 A$223

-24.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 A$190

$129 A$183

4.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 A$2,490

$1,516 A$2,137

16.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 A$2,016

$1,214 A$1,712

17.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,441 A$4,853

$3,052 A$4,304

12.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,562 A$3,613

$2,932 A$4,135

-12.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,336 A$10.3K

$6,339 A$8,940

15.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,900 A$9,730

$5,209 A$7,346

32.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,352 A$6,138

$3,902 A$5,502

11.55%

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 Broome, WA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,766 in Melbourne and $1,516 in Broome, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Melbourne pays 12% 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 $86.0 in Broome, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $400 vs $418 per month, with Melbourne 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 Broome, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Melbourne and Broome, WA differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,905 vs $2,716 including rent). Broome, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 12% 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: $1,766 in Melbourne versus $1,516 in Broome, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,905 per month in Melbourne versus $2,716 in Broome, WA – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Broome, WA runs roughly 61% 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 $3,000. Broome, WA 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 Broome, WA 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 Broome, WA 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.