Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Funabashi

For one person, living is cheaper in Funabashi: $1,152 a month against $2,821 in Melbourne, rent and utilities included – about $20,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,821
/mo nomad
Funabashi
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,152
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Melbourne and in Funabashi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Melbourne and in Funabashi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,821 in Melbourne versus $1,152 in Funabashi.

  • Melbourne $2,821
  • Funabashi $1,152

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,235 in Melbourne versus $1,766 in Funabashi.

  • Melbourne $4,235
  • Funabashi $1,766

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,650 in Melbourne versus $2,380 in Funabashi.

  • Melbourne $5,650
  • Funabashi $2,380

Living in Melbourne is roughly 145% more expensive than in Funabashi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Melbourne is 109% above, Funabashi is 15% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melbourne
Funabashi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.43 A$25.08
$6.23 ¥984
179.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 A$122
$15.55 ¥2,457
443.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.46 A$17.92
$4.95 ¥783
151.72%
Cappuccino
$4.11 A$5.91
$1.18 ¥187
248.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 A$4.40
$0.66 ¥104
363.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 A$3.62
$0.66 ¥104
281.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.80 A$14.10
$1.23 ¥194
696.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.57 A$12.33
$3.09 ¥488
177.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
Funabashi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 A$2.14
$1.42 ¥224
4.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 A$4.23
$1.67 ¥264
76.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 A$3.82
$3.55 ¥561
-25.07%
Eggs
$5.54 A$7.97
$2.00 ¥316
177.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.51 A$15.13
$10.26 ¥1,622
2.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 A$13.89
$5.90 ¥931
63.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.22 A$21.91
$14.27 ¥2,254
6.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.99 A$5.75
$5.72 ¥904
-30.24%
Banana (1kg)
$3.02 A$4.34
$2.70 ¥426
11.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 A$4.46
$2.95 ¥465
5.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.82 A$6.93
$4.12 ¥651
16.99%
Potato (1kg)
$3.03 A$4.36
$2.49 ¥394
21.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 A$3.52
$2.55 ¥402
-4.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 A$3.54
$1.24 ¥195
98.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 A$2.34
$0.67 ¥106
143.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$44.07 A$63.4
$3.74 ¥591
1078.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.70 A$18.28
$6.46 ¥1,020
96.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.54 A$7.97
$1.82 ¥287
204.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23 A$7.52
$2.09 ¥330
150.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Melbourne
Funabashi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.74 A$5.38
$1.50 ¥236
149.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$138 A$198
$54.0 ¥8,526
154.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.51 A$6.50
$2.57 ¥405
75.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 A$1.96
$2.63 ¥416
-48.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.45 A$43.81
$20.45 ¥3,231
48.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 A$2.12
$1.03 ¥163
42.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K A$41.7K
$21.3K ¥3.4M
36.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K A$38.1K
$17.9K ¥2.8M
48.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
Funabashi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$234 A$336
$132 ¥20.8K
77.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.93 A$40.19
$24.11 ¥3,809
15.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7 A$80.2
$32.62 ¥5,154
70.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
Funabashi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.40 A$71.1
$56.3 ¥8,886
-12.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.48 A$30.91
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.09 A$21.72
$12.86 ¥2,032
17.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melbourne
Funabashi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,371 A$3,412
$630 ¥99.5K
276.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.2K A$43.5K
$14.6K ¥2.3M
106.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
Funabashi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.0 A$115
$63.5 ¥10.0K
25.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7 A$73.0
$37.22 ¥5,880
36.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 A$174
$62.1 ¥9,803
94.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 A$188
$103 ¥16.2K
26.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
Funabashi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,759 A$2,531
$496 ¥78.3K
254.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,390 A$2,000
$305 ¥48.2K
355.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,494 A$5,027
$1,244 ¥196.5K
180.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,493 A$3,588
$639 ¥101.0K
290.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,926 A$9,967
$3,955 ¥624.8K
75.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,445 A$9,274
$1,716 ¥271.0K
275.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melbourne
Funabashi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,383 A$6,307
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
2.64
123.48%

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

Last update for Melbourne: October 10, 2026

Last update for Funabashi: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
$1.4K
Funabashi
$305 78% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
$384
Funabashi
$285 25.8% $99
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
$317
Funabashi
$189 40.6% $129
Eating Out
Melbourne
$315
Funabashi
$96 69.3% $218
Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
$172
Funabashi
$119 30.4% $52
Getting Around
Melbourne
$164
Funabashi
$76 53.8% $88
Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
$80
Funabashi
$82 3% $2.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,759 in Melbourne and $496 in Funabashi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Melbourne vs $16.00 in Funabashi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $384 vs $285 per month, with Funabashi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Melbourne
🇯🇵 Funabashi
🕒 Local time
07:19 7:19 AM
05:19 5:19 AM
2 h behind Melbourne
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,031,195
627,006
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Melbourne Funabashi 8,190 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Melbourne
  • Funabashi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Funabashi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Funabashi cheaper than Melbourne?
Funabashi is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 145% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,231 in Melbourne and $1,729 in Funabashi 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.
What is the rent difference between Melbourne and Funabashi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,759 in Melbourne versus $496 in Funabashi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Melbourne or in Funabashi?
Dining out is cheaper in Funabashi – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $85.0 in Melbourne. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Melbourne and in Funabashi?
All in, you'll spend $2,821 per month in Melbourne versus $1,152 in Funabashi – a 145% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Melbourne or in Funabashi?
At $1,152 in Funabashi versus $2,821 in Melbourne, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Funabashi but tight or insufficient in Melbourne. The gap between the two cities makes Funabashi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Melbourne or Funabashi more family-friendly?
For families, Funabashi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Melbourne, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Melbourne or Funabashi?
Safety-wise, Melbourne and Funabashi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Funabashi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 145% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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