Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Eden NSW Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Eden NSW

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,905 in Melbourne versus $2,548 in Eden NSW.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,310 in Melbourne versus $3,728 in Eden NSW.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,714 in Melbourne versus $4,907 in Eden NSW.

Living in Melbourne is roughly 14% more expensive than in Eden NSW, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Melbourne 112% above, Eden NSW 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.12 A$25.45

$17.32 A$24.32

4.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.8 A$119

$93.2 A$131

-8.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 A$17.00

$10.31 A$14.48

17.46%

Cappuccino

$4.12 A$5.79

$4.45 A$6.25

-7.42%

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

$3.21 A$4.51

$2.82 A$3.96

13.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 A$3.58

$2.18 A$3.06

16.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.77 A$13.72

$6.99 A$9.82

39.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.55 A$12.01

$7.38 A$10.36

15.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 A$2.28

White Bread (500g)

$3.19 A$4.47

$2.71 A$3.80

17.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.85 A$4.00

$2.13 A$3.00

33.80%

Eggs

$5.83 A$8.18

$5.67 A$7.96

2.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 A$15.44

$10.47 A$14.70

5.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.03 A$14.08

$8.08 A$11.35

24.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.45 A$21.69

$13.57 A$19.06

13.85%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 A$6.17

$3.18 A$4.47

38.36%

Banana (1kg)

$3.17 A$4.45

$2.96 A$4.15

7.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 A$4.61

$3.62 A$5.08

-9.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 A$6.85

$4.44 A$6.24

9.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 A$4.37

$2.39 A$3.36

30.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 A$3.70

$2.54 A$3.57

3.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 A$3.50

$2.39 A$3.35

4.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 A$2.36

$1.44 A$2.02

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$45.87 A$64.4

$44.16 A$62.0

3.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.66 A$17.78

$14.76 A$20.73

-14.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.61 A$7.88

$4.43 A$6.23

26.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.29 A$7.43

$5.27 A$7.40

0.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.89 A$5.46

$2.73 A$3.83

42.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 A$197

$92.7 A$130

51.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.65 A$6.53

$3.67 A$5.16

26.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 A$1.98

$1.42 A$1.99

-0.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.65 A$43.04

$45.07 A$63.3

-31.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 A$1.94

$1.30 A$1.82

6.15%

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

$28.9K A$40.6K

$26.1K A$36.7K

10.86%

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

$27.2K A$38.2K

$33.5K A$47.0K

-18.65%

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

$238 A$334

$184 A$258

29.47%

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

$27.90 A$39.18

$24.64 A$34.59

13.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.7 A$81.0

$54.5 A$76.5

5.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 A$77.2

$59.7 A$83.9

-7.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.31 A$31.33

$20.59 A$28.91

8.35%

Cinema Ticket

$17.87 A$25.09

$16.70 A$23.44

7.01%

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

$2,450 A$3,440

$2,443 A$3,431

0.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.1K A$45.0K

$20.8K A$29.2K

54.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.3 A$114

$89.5 A$126

-9.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 A$72.8

$58.8 A$82.6

-11.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 A$168

0.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 A$189

$133 A$187

1.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 A$2,479

$1,599 A$2,245

10.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 A$2,008

$1,071 A$1,503

33.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,441 A$4,832

$2,482 A$3,486

38.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,562 A$3,598

$2,032 A$2,853

26.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,336 A$10.3K

$6,699 A$9,407

9.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,900 A$9,688

$5,412 A$7,600

27.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,352 A$6,111

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 Eden NSW: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,766 in Melbourne and $1,599 in Eden NSW. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Melbourne vs $93.0 in Eden NSW. Groceries flip the comparison at $400 vs $359, with Eden NSW 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 Eden NSW: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Eden NSW is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,358 in Melbourne and $3,822 in Eden NSW to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,766 in Melbourne versus $1,599 in Eden NSW. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Eden NSW – a meal for two runs $93.0 versus $85.0 in Melbourne. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,905 per month in Melbourne versus $2,548 in Eden NSW – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Eden NSW 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 Eden NSW 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 Eden NSW gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.