Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Cairns Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Cairns

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,894 per month in Melbourne vs $2,583 in Cairns, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,377 per month in Melbourne vs $3,813 in Cairns, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,860 per month in Melbourne vs $5,042 in Cairns, rent included.

Melbourne costs about 12% more than Cairns, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Melbourne and Cairns sit above the global median – Melbourne by 111%, Cairns by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.95 A$25.11

$18.09 A$25.30

-0.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 A$118

$102 A$142

-16.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.26 A$17.14

$12.76 A$17.85

-3.92%

Cappuccino

$4.22 A$5.91

$4.60 A$6.44

-8.26%

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

$3.16 A$4.42

$3.23 A$4.52

-2.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 A$3.73

$2.76 A$3.87

-3.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.98 A$13.97

$7.13 A$9.97

39.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 A$12.35

$8.38 A$11.72

5.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 A$2.31

$1.97 A$2.76

-16.24%

White Bread (500g)

$3.40 A$4.76

$2.77 A$3.87

22.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.79 A$3.90

$2.62 A$3.66

6.49%

Eggs

$5.69 A$7.95

$5.44 A$7.61

4.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.30 A$15.81

$9.54 A$13.34

18.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.67 A$13.52

$14.28 A$19.97

-32.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.78 A$22.07

$15.30 A$21.41

3.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.19 A$5.86

$4.09 A$5.72

2.44%

Banana (1kg)

$3.02 A$4.22

$2.83 A$3.96

6.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 A$4.58

$3.67 A$5.14

-10.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 A$6.73

$5.83 A$8.15

-17.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 A$4.56

$2.68 A$3.74

21.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 A$3.64

$2.58 A$3.61

0.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 A$3.52

$2.85 A$3.99

-11.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 A$2.30

$2.59 A$3.62

-36.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.11 A$64.5

$44.99 A$62.9

2.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.06 A$16.87

$14.49 A$20.27

-16.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.48 A$7.66

$3.56 A$4.98

53.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.15 A$7.20

$5.51 A$7.71

-6.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.83 A$5.35

$3.55 A$4.97

7.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$144 A$202

$16.04 A$22.44

800.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 A$6.03

$2.70 A$3.77

59.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 A$2.06

$1.98 A$2.77

-25.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.02 A$43.39

$43.74 A$61.2

-29.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 A$2.04

$1.23 A$1.71

18.70%

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

$29.5K A$41.3K

$31.4K A$43.9K

-5.85%

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

$27.7K A$38.8K

$42.2K A$59.1K

-34.34%

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

$242 A$339

$165 A$231

46.38%

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

$28.20 A$39.44

$35.34 A$49.43

-20.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.2 A$80.0

$69.2 A$96.8

-17.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 A$78.6

$46.13 A$64.5

21.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.71 A$30.37

$28.53 A$39.91

-23.90%

Cinema Ticket

$17.89 A$25.02

$14.55 A$20.36

22.96%

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

$2,443 A$3,418

$2,156 A$3,016

13.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.0K A$46.2K

$14.2K A$19.9K

131.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.1 A$115

$93.2 A$130

-11.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.4 A$70.5

$73.3 A$102

-31.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 A$176

$124 A$174

1.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 A$193

$137 A$191

1.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,774 A$2,481

$1,517 A$2,122

16.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 A$1,997

$1,255 A$1,755

13.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,504 A$4,901

$2,315 A$3,239

51.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,517 A$3,520

$1,985 A$2,777

26.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,411 A$10.4K

$6,709 A$9,385

10.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,718 A$9,397

$5,173 A$7,237

29.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,478 A$6,264

$4,565 A$6,385

-1.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.85

6.32

-7.44%

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

Last update for Melbourne: August 30, 2026

Last update for Cairns: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,774 in Melbourne versus $1,517 in Cairns. 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 2% higher in Cairns, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Melbourne versus $102 in Cairns. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $397 vs $420 – making Melbourne the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Cairns: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Melbourne costs about 12% more than Cairns, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,341 per month in Melbourne and $3,875 in Cairns. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Melbourne – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Melbourne and $102 in Cairns. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,894 in Melbourne and $2,583 in Cairns. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Cairns – 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 Cairns. 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.