Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Gifu

For one person, living is cheaper in Gifu: $1,312 a month against $2,821 in Melbourne, rent and utilities included – about $18,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,821
/mo nomad
Gifu
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,312
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Melbourne and in Gifu

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 Gifu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,821 in Melbourne versus $1,312 in Gifu.

  • Melbourne $2,821
  • Gifu $1,312

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,235 in Melbourne versus $2,111 in Gifu.

  • Melbourne $4,235
  • Gifu $2,111

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,650 in Melbourne versus $2,910 in Gifu.

  • Melbourne $5,650
  • Gifu $2,910

Living in Melbourne is roughly 115% more expensive than in Gifu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Melbourne is 109% above, Gifu is 3% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melbourne
Gifu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.43 A$25.08
$7.64 ¥1,207
128.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 A$122
$31.70 ¥5,008
166.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.46 A$17.92
$4.98 ¥786
150.20%
Cappuccino
$4.11 A$5.91
$2.30 ¥364
78.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 A$4.40
$1.18 ¥187
159.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 A$3.62
$0.59 ¥92.7
327.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.80 A$14.10
$2.11 ¥333
364.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.57 A$12.33
$2.37 ¥374
261.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
Gifu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 A$2.14
$1.53 ¥242
-3.27%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 A$4.23
$1.26 ¥199
133.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 A$3.82
$5.61 ¥886
-52.58%
Eggs
$5.54 A$7.97
$2.07 ¥328
167.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.51 A$15.13
$12.52 ¥1,977
-16.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 A$13.89
$9.47 ¥1,496
1.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.22 A$21.91
$32.60 ¥5,151
-53.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.99 A$5.75
$3.76 ¥594
6.12%
Banana (1kg)
$3.02 A$4.34
$2.36 ¥373
27.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 A$4.46
$6.41 ¥1,012
-51.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.82 A$6.93
$4.16 ¥657
15.87%
Potato (1kg)
$3.03 A$4.36
$3.79 ¥599
-20.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 A$3.52
$3.49 ¥552
-30.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 A$3.54
$1.24 ¥196
98.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 A$2.34
$1.00 ¥158
63.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$44.07 A$63.4
$3.38 ¥535
1203.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.70 A$18.28
$8.04 ¥1,271
57.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.54 A$7.97
$1.99 ¥314
178.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23 A$7.52
$1.50 ¥237
248.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Melbourne
Gifu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.74 A$5.38
$1.57 ¥248
138.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$138 A$198
$55.2 ¥8,727
148.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.51 A$6.50
$3.13 ¥494
44.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 A$1.96
$3.20 ¥506
-57.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.45 A$43.81
$26.12 ¥4,127
16.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 A$2.12
$1.10 ¥174
33.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K A$41.7K
$19.6K ¥3.1M
47.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K A$38.1K
$16.8K ¥2.7M
57.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
Gifu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$234 A$336
$143 ¥22.6K
63.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.93 A$40.19
$23.68 ¥3,741
17.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7 A$80.2
$43.56 ¥6,881
27.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
Gifu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.40 A$71.1
$52.3 ¥8,270
-5.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.48 A$30.91
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.09 A$21.72
$12.83 ¥2,027
17.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melbourne
Gifu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,371 A$3,412
$315 ¥49.8K
651.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.2K A$43.5K
$6,158 ¥972.8K
390.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
Gifu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.0 A$115
$49.14 ¥7,764
62.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7 A$73.0
$25.60 ¥4,045
98.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 A$174
$45.39 ¥7,171
165.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 A$188
$64.5 ¥10.2K
102.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
Gifu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,759 A$2,531
$495 ¥78.2K
255.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,390 A$2,000
$349 ¥55.1K
298.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,494 A$5,027
$1,100 ¥173.8K
217.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,493 A$3,588
$841 ¥132.9K
196.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,926 A$9,967
$4,428 ¥699.5K
56.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,445 A$9,274
$1,756 ¥277.4K
267.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melbourne
Gifu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,383 A$6,307
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
2.28
158.77%

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

Last update for Melbourne: October 10, 2026

Last update for Gifu: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
$1.4K
Gifu
$349 74.9% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
$384
Gifu
$385 0.3% $1.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
$317
Gifu
$211 33.7% $107
Eating Out
Melbourne
$315
Gifu
$126 59.9% $188
Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
$172
Gifu
$83 51.6% $89
Getting Around
Melbourne
$164
Gifu
$81 50.8% $83
Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
$80
Gifu
$78 2% $1.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,759 in Melbourne and $495 in Gifu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Melbourne vs $32.00 in Gifu. Groceries flip the comparison at $384 vs $385, with Melbourne cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Melbourne
🇯🇵 Gifu
🕒 Local time
21:44 9:44 PM
19:44 7:44 PM
2 h behind Melbourne
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,031,195
404,352
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 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 19, 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 Gifu 8,190 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Melbourne
  • Gifu

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 Gifu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gifu cheaper than Melbourne?
Gifu is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and transport. The 115% 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 $1,968 in Gifu 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 Gifu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,759 in Melbourne versus $495 in Gifu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Gifu runs roughly 149% less than in Melbourne. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $2,371 in Melbourne versus $315 in Gifu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Melbourne or in Gifu?
At $1,312 in Gifu versus $2,821 in Melbourne, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gifu but tight or insufficient in Melbourne. The gap between the two cities makes Gifu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Melbourne or in Gifu?
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.
Which city is safer, Melbourne or Gifu?
Safety-wise, Melbourne and Gifu 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 Gifu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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