Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Coffs Harbour Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Coffs Harbour

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,905 in Melbourne versus $2,526 in Coffs Harbour.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,310 in Melbourne versus $3,638 in Coffs Harbour.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,714 in Melbourne versus $4,750 in Coffs Harbour.

Living in Melbourne is roughly 15% more expensive than in Coffs Harbour, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Melbourne 112% above, Coffs Harbour 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.12 A$25.56

$14.46 A$20.40

25.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.8 A$120

$106 A$150

-20.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 A$17.07

$9.54 A$13.45

26.94%

Cappuccino

$4.12 A$5.81

$3.80 A$5.35

8.42%

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

$3.21 A$4.53

$2.77 A$3.91

15.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 A$3.60

$1.90 A$2.68

34.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.77 A$13.77

$5.30 A$7.47

84.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.55 A$12.06

$5.75 A$8.11

48.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 A$2.29

$1.66 A$2.34

-2.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.19 A$4.49

$2.81 A$3.96

13.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.85 A$4.01

$2.46 A$3.47

15.85%

Eggs

$5.83 A$8.22

$3.39 A$4.79

71.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 A$15.51

$8.96 A$12.64

22.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.03 A$14.14

$7.01 A$9.89

43.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.45 A$21.78

$14.54 A$20.51

6.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 A$6.20

$4.00 A$5.64

10.00%

Banana (1kg)

$3.17 A$4.47

$3.11 A$4.39

1.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 A$4.63

$3.59 A$5.06

-8.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 A$6.88

$4.28 A$6.03

14.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 A$4.39

$1.45 A$2.04

114.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 A$3.72

$2.47 A$3.48

6.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 A$3.51

$2.56 A$3.61

-2.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 A$2.38

$2.45 A$3.46

-31.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$45.87 A$64.7

$33.00 A$46.54

39.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.66 A$17.86

$14.83 A$20.92

-14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.61 A$7.92

$5.80 A$8.18

-3.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.29 A$7.47

$6.96 A$9.81

-23.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.89 A$5.49

$4.94 A$6.97

-21.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 A$198

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.65 A$6.56

$2.17 A$3.06

114.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 A$1.99

$1.60 A$2.25

-11.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.65 A$43.22

$37.41 A$52.8

-18.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 A$1.95

$1.25 A$1.77

10.40%

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

$28.9K A$40.8K

$27.2K A$38.4K

6.29%

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

$27.2K A$38.4K

$34.3K A$48.4K

-20.72%

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

$238 A$335

$179 A$252

32.90%

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

$27.90 A$39.35

$10.55 A$14.88

164.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.7 A$81.3

$54.4 A$76.7

6.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 A$77.6

$109 A$154

-49.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.31 A$31.47

Cinema Ticket

$17.87 A$25.20

$14.29 A$20.16

25.05%

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

$2,450 A$3,455

$2,181 A$3,076

12.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.1K A$45.2K

$12.3K A$17.4K

160.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.3 A$115

$77.2 A$109

5.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 A$73.1

$55.5 A$78.2

-6.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 A$169

$105 A$148

13.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 A$190

$123 A$174

9.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 A$2,490

$1,421 A$2,003

24.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 A$2,016

$1,294 A$1,825

10.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,441 A$4,853

$2,156 A$3,041

59.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,562 A$3,613

$2,053 A$2,895

24.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,336 A$10.3K

$3,718 A$5,243

97.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,900 A$9,730

$3,682 A$5,192

87.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,352 A$6,138

$3,686 A$5,198

18.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.89

5.73

2.79%

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

Last update for Melbourne: September 14, 2026

Last update for Coffs Harbour: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,766 in Melbourne and $1,421 in Coffs Harbour. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Melbourne pays 18% 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 $106 in Coffs Harbour. Groceries flip the comparison at $400 vs $370, with Coffs Harbour cheaper for home cooking.

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 Coffs Harbour: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Coffs Harbour is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 18% 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 $1,421 in Coffs Harbour. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Melbourne. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,905 per month in Melbourne versus $2,526 in Coffs Harbour – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,526 in Coffs Harbour versus $2,905 in Melbourne, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Coffs Harbour but tight or insufficient in Melbourne. The gap between the two cities makes Coffs Harbour the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.