Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Canberra Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Canberra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,910 per month in Melbourne vs $2,980 in Canberra, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,408 per month in Melbourne vs $4,172 in Canberra, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,905 per month in Melbourne vs $5,364 in Canberra, rent included.

Melbourne is about 2% cheaper than Canberra, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Melbourne and Canberra sit above the global median – Melbourne by 111%, Canberra by 116%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.41 A$25.66

$20.20 A$28.16

-8.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.5 A$121

$94.6 A$132

-8.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.46 A$17.38

$11.03 A$15.38

12.96%

Cappuccino

$4.17 A$5.81

$4.24 A$5.91

-1.65%

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

$3.15 A$4.40

$3.31 A$4.62

-4.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 A$3.70

$2.82 A$3.94

-6.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.05 A$14.01

$8.72 A$12.16

15.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.51 A$11.86

$10.09 A$14.07

-15.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 A$2.25

$1.66 A$2.32

-3.01%

White Bread (500g)

$3.29 A$4.58

$3.46 A$4.83

-4.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 A$4.21

$2.64 A$3.69

14.39%

Eggs

$6.00 A$8.36

$5.63 A$7.84

6.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 A$15.42

$14.40 A$20.08

-23.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.92 A$13.83

$11.15 A$15.55

-11.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 A$22.12

$16.29 A$22.72

-2.58%

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 A$6.15

$4.08 A$5.69

8.09%

Banana (1kg)

$3.22 A$4.49

$3.25 A$4.53

-0.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.45 A$4.80

$3.70 A$5.15

-6.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 A$6.85

$5.10 A$7.11

-3.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 A$4.37

$3.18 A$4.43

-1.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 A$3.71

$2.89 A$4.03

-7.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 A$3.51

$2.73 A$3.80

-7.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 A$2.36

$1.45 A$2.02

16.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.21 A$64.4

$46.77 A$65.2

-1.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.58 A$17.54

$15.02 A$20.94

-16.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.41 A$7.54

$4.80 A$6.69

12.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 A$7.43

$5.80 A$8.08

-8.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.03 A$5.62

$3.51 A$4.90

14.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$142 A$198

$95.0 A$132

49.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.71 A$6.56

$4.12 A$5.75

14.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 A$1.97

$1.63 A$2.27

-13.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.32 A$43.67

$44.00 A$61.4

-28.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 A$1.99

$1.31 A$1.83

9.16%

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

$29.5K A$41.1K

$28.1K A$39.2K

4.71%

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

$27.0K A$37.6K

$31.0K A$43.3K

-13.11%

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

$239 A$334

$189 A$264

26.54%

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

$28.19 A$39.30

$28.38 A$39.57

-0.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.3 A$79.9

$58.6 A$81.6

-2.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 A$77.9

$89.6 A$125

-37.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.72 A$31.68

$28.52 A$39.77

-20.34%

Cinema Ticket

$17.89 A$24.94

$16.91 A$23.58

5.80%

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

$2,456 A$3,424

$2,492 A$3,475

-1.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.5K A$44.0K

$20.8K A$29.0K

51.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.4 A$115

$78.2 A$109

5.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 A$72.6

$57.9 A$80.7

-9.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 A$168

$122 A$170

-1.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 A$191

$138 A$192

-0.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,777 A$2,477

$1,845 A$2,572

-3.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,457 A$2,032

$1,576 A$2,197

-7.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,561 A$4,965

$3,365 A$4,691

5.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,568 A$3,581

$2,122 A$2,958

21.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,269 A$10.1K

$11.5K A$16.1K

-37.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,897 A$9,616

$7,639 A$10.7K

-9.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,459 A$6,217

$4,447 A$6,201

0.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.84

5.95

-1.85%

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

Last update for Melbourne: September 6, 2026

Last update for Canberra: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,777 in Melbourne versus $1,845 in Canberra. 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 0% higher in Melbourne, 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 $86.0 in Melbourne versus $95.0 in Canberra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $403 vs $422 – 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 Canberra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,910 in Melbourne, $2,980 in Canberra – roughly 2% apart. Canberra costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,366 per month in Melbourne and $4,470 in Canberra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,910 in Melbourne and $2,980 in Canberra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 49% less in Melbourne. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,910 in Melbourne and $2,980 in Canberra. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Melbourne – 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 Melbourne. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Canberra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.