Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Forster Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Forster

😐 Solo nomad: Melbourne is 23.6% more expensive than Forster without rent, and 16.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Melbourne is 19.1% more expensive than Forster without rent, and 13.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melbourne
Forster
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.2 A$29.41
$16.04 A$24.57
19.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.6 A$120
$77.4 A$119
1.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.02 A$15.35
$8.18 A$12.53
22.49%
Cappuccino
$3.67 A$5.62
$3.27 A$5.01
12.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 A$3.89
$2.48 A$3.81
2.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 A$3.49
$2.01 A$3.08
13.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.28 A$11.15
$6.34 A$9.71
14.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.3 A$11.18
$5.1 A$7.82
43.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
Forster
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 A$2.2
$1 A$1.53
44.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 A$4.02
$2.67 A$4.09
-1.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.27 A$3.48
$2.34 A$3.58
-2.99%
Eggs
$4.86 A$7.45
$2.89 A$4.42
68.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.74 A$13.39
$8.97 A$13.74
-2.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.19 A$14.07
$6.36 A$9.74
44.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.95 A$22.9
$13.83 A$21.19
8.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 A$5.1
$2.85 A$4.37
16.84%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 A$4.35
$1.97 A$3.02
44.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$3 A$4.6
$1.97 A$3.02
52.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.95 A$6.05
$4.46 A$6.83
-11.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.67 A$4.09
$1.6 A$2.46
66.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 A$3.58
$0.94 A$1.44
148.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.15 A$3.3
$1.94 A$2.97
10.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 A$2.5
$1.3 A$2
26.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$32.11 A$49.19
$32.8 A$50.3
-2.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.13 A$20.11
$13.15 A$20.15
-0.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.54 A$6.96
$4.66 A$7.14
-2.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.05 A$7.74
$5.5 A$8.42
-8.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Melbourne
Forster
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.67 A$5.62
$2.67 A$4.09
37.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$118 A$180
$64.5 A$98.8
82.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 A$5.6
$3.85 A$5.9
-5.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 A$2.05
$1.62 A$2.48
-17.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.26 A$41.77
$52.7 A$80.7
-48.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 A$1.82
$1.14 A$1.74
4.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K A$43.9K
$29.1K A$44.6K
-1.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K A$36K
$22.8K A$34.9K
3.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
Forster
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 A$230
$66.2 A$101
127.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.8 A$31.86
$24.01 A$36.79
-13.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51 A$78.2
$51.9 A$79.5
-1.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
Forster
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.23 A$73.9
$49.31 A$75.5
-2.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.91 A$24.38
$15.68 A$24.02
1.47%
Cinema Ticket
$16.53 A$25.32
$12.3 A$18.85
34.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melbourne
Forster
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,730 A$2,651
$330 A$506
424.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.1K A$29.3K
$3,865 A$5,921
395.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
Forster
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8 A$104
$65.5 A$100
3.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.7 A$82.2
$58.3 A$89.3
-7.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 A$165
$95.7 A$147
12.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 A$162
$133 A$204
-20.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
Forster
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,548 A$2,371
$1,247 A$1,911
24.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 A$1,881
$1,071 A$1,640
14.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,973 A$4,555
$2,027 A$3,106
46.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,956 A$2,997
$1,668 A$2,555
17.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,110 A$10.9K
$5,680 A$8,702
25.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,790 A$8,871
$4,550 A$6,970
27.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melbourne
Forster
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,045 A$6,198
$3,233 A$4,953
25.12%
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 Forster: October 28, 2025

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