Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Forbes Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Forbes

😐 Solo nomad: Melbourne is 23.1% more expensive than Forbes without rent, and 8.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Melbourne is 3.2% more expensive than Forbes without rent, and 11.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.2 A$29.41

$16.4 A$25.12

17.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.6 A$120

$78.3 A$120

0.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.02 A$15.35

$9.94 A$15.23

0.80%

Cappuccino

$3.67 A$5.62

$3.49 A$5.35

5.16%

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

$2.54 A$3.89

$2.53 A$3.88

0.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 A$3.49

$2.2 A$3.37

3.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.28 A$11.15

$6.62 A$10.14

9.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.3 A$11.18

$6.95 A$10.65

5.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 A$2.2

$1.42 A$2.18

1.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 A$4.02

$2.37 A$3.63

10.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 A$3.48

$2.01 A$3.08

12.94%

Eggs

$4.86 A$7.45

$4.26 A$6.52

14.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.74 A$13.39

$8.71 A$13.34

0.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.19 A$14.07

$8.55 A$13.09

7.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.95 A$22.9

$13.72 A$21.03

8.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 A$5.1

$3.34 A$5.11

-0.30%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 A$4.35

$2.73 A$4.18

4.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$3 A$4.6

$2.98 A$4.56

0.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 A$6.05

$4.17 A$6.38

-5.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 A$4.09

$2.4 A$3.68

11.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 A$3.58

$2.17 A$3.32

7.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.15 A$3.3

$2.17 A$3.33

-0.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 A$2.5

$1.51 A$2.32

8.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.11 A$49.19

$30.39 A$46.56

5.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.13 A$20.11

$11.66 A$17.86

12.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.54 A$6.96

$4.55 A$6.97

-0.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.05 A$7.74

$5.45 A$8.35

-7.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.67 A$5.62

$2.64 A$4.04

39.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$118 A$180

$64.9 A$99.4

81.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 A$5.6

$3.48 A$5.33

4.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 A$2.05

$1.56 A$2.39

-14.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.26 A$41.77

$33.47 A$51.3

-18.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 A$1.82

$1.19 A$1.83

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

$28.6K A$43.9K

$29.4K A$45.1K

-2.66%

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

$23.5K A$36K

$22.6K A$34.6K

3.92%

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

$150 A$230

$187 A$286

-19.41%

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

$20.8 A$31.86

$27.19 A$41.65

-23.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51 A$78.2

$52.1 A$79.8

-2.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.23 A$73.9

$48.43 A$74.2

-0.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.91 A$24.38

$15.76 A$24.15

0.95%

Cinema Ticket

$16.53 A$25.32

$12.77 A$19.56

29.44%

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

$1,730 A$2,651

$1,637 A$2,509

5.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.1K A$29.3K

$12K A$18.4K

59.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.8 A$104

$68 A$104

-0.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.7 A$82.2

$51.4 A$78.8

4.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 A$165

$100 A$154

7.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 A$162

$108 A$165

-1.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 A$2,371

$1,273 A$1,950

21.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,228 A$1,881

$1,053 A$1,613

16.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,973 A$4,555

$2,025 A$3,102

46.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,956 A$2,997

$1,666 A$2,552

17.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,110 A$10.9K

$4,779 A$7,321

48.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,790 A$8,871

$5,104 A$7,819

13.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,045 A$6,198

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.19

6.34

-2.37%

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

Last update for Melbourne: October 28, 2025

Last update for Forbes: October 29, 2025

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