Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Elk Grove, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Elk Grove, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,894 in Melbourne versus $3,117 in Elk Grove, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,377 in Melbourne versus $4,601 in Elk Grove, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,860 in Melbourne versus $6,086 in Elk Grove, CA.

Living in Melbourne costs roughly 7% less than in Elk Grove, CA, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Melbourne 111% above, Elk Grove, CA 127% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.95 A$24.91

$22.12 $22.12

-18.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 A$117

$64.5 $64.5

31.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.26 A$17.01

$12.09 $12.09

1.41%

Cappuccino

$4.22 A$5.86

$6.82 $6.82

-38.12%

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

$3.16 A$4.38

$2.11 $2.11

49.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 A$3.70

$2.63 $2.63

1.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.98 A$13.86

$10.42 $10.42

-4.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 A$12.25

$10.38 $10.38

-14.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 A$2.29

$1.56 $1.56

5.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.40 A$4.73

$4.06 $4.06

-16.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.79 A$3.87

$4.44 $4.44

-37.16%

Eggs

$5.69 A$7.89

$5.44 $5.44

4.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.30 A$15.69

$17.82 $17.82

-36.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.67 A$13.42

$11.63 $11.63

-16.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.78 A$21.90

$27.15 $27.15

-41.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.19 A$5.82

$9.49 $9.49

-55.85%

Banana (1kg)

$3.02 A$4.19

$1.69 $1.69

78.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 A$4.54

$10.17 $10.17

-67.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 A$6.68

$4.66 $4.66

3.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 A$4.52

$2.82 $2.82

15.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 A$3.61

$6.17 $6.17

-57.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 A$3.49

$3.03 $3.03

-17.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 A$2.28

$2.23 $2.23

-26.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.11 A$64.0

$13.13 $13.13

251.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.06 A$16.74

$21.37 $21.37

-43.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.48 A$7.60

$1.95 $1.95

181.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.15 A$7.15

$3.49 $3.49

47.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.83 A$5.31

$1.94 $1.94

97.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$144 A$201

$152 $152

-5.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 A$5.98

$3.03 $3.03

42.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 A$2.04

$1.79 $1.79

-17.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.02 A$43.05

$30.42 $30.42

1.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 A$2.03

$1.37 $1.37

6.57%

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

$29.5K A$41.0K

$31.0K $31.0K

-4.87%

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

$27.7K A$38.5K

$22.7K $22.7K

21.93%

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

$242 A$336

$201 $201

20.55%

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

$28.20 A$39.14

$106 $106

-73.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.2 A$79.4

$133 $133

-56.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 A$78.0

$41.63 $41.63

34.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.71 A$30.13

$24.96 $24.96

-13.02%

Cinema Ticket

$17.89 A$24.83

$18.05 $18.05

-0.89%

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

$2,443 A$3,391

$1,475 $1,475

65.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.0K A$45.8K

$23.5K $23.5K

40.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.1 A$114

$88.8 $88.8

-7.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.4 A$70.0

$40.68 $40.68

23.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 A$175

$173 $173

-26.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 A$192

$132 $132

5.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,774 A$2,462

$2,316 $2,316

-23.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 A$1,981

$1,319 $1,319

8.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,504 A$4,863

$3,296 $3,296

6.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,517 A$3,493

$2,104 $2,104

19.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,411 A$10.3K

$3,950 $3,950

87.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,718 A$9,324

$2,369 $2,369

183.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,478 A$6,215

$7,486 $7,486

-40.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.85

5.83

0.34%

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

Last update for Melbourne: August 30, 2026

Last update for Elk Grove, CA: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,774 in Melbourne and $2,316 in Elk Grove, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Elk Grove, CA pays 67% 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 $64.0 in Elk Grove, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $529, with Melbourne 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 Elk Grove, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Melbourne is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 67% lower in Elk Grove, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,774 in Melbourne versus $2,316 in Elk Grove, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Melbourne runs roughly 6% less than in Elk Grove, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,443 in Melbourne versus $1,475 in Elk Grove, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Melbourne 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 Elk Grove, CA 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 Melbourne gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Elk Grove, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.