Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Gore

For one person, living is cheaper in Gore: $1,794 a month against $2,821 in Melbourne, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,821
/mo nomad
Gore
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$1,794
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Melbourne and in Gore

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,821 in Melbourne versus $1,794 in Gore.

  • Melbourne $2,821
  • Gore $1,794

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,235 in Melbourne versus $2,810 in Gore.

  • Melbourne $4,235
  • Gore $2,810

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,650 in Melbourne versus $3,827 in Gore.

  • Melbourne $5,650
  • Gore $3,827

Living in Melbourne is roughly 57% more expensive than in Gore, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Melbourne 109% above, Gore 33% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melbourne
Gore
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.43 A$25.08
$15.05 NZ$26.62
15.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 A$122
$64.2 NZ$114
31.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.46 A$17.92
$9.82 NZ$17.37
26.88%
Cappuccino
$4.11 A$5.91
$3.22 NZ$5.70
27.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 A$4.40
$1.98 NZ$3.49
54.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 A$3.62
$1.83 NZ$3.24
37.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.80 A$14.10
$5.60 NZ$9.91
75.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.57 A$12.33
$5.67 NZ$10.03
51.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
Gore
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 A$2.14
$1.52 NZ$2.69
-2.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 A$4.23
$1.88 NZ$3.33
56.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 A$3.82
$1.55 NZ$2.74
71.61%
Eggs
$5.54 A$7.97
$5.65 NZ$10.00
-1.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.51 A$15.13
$7.24 NZ$12.81
45.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 A$13.89
$8.98 NZ$15.88
7.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.22 A$21.91
$16.25 NZ$28.74
-6.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.99 A$5.75
$2.35 NZ$4.16
69.79%
Banana (1kg)
$3.02 A$4.34
$2.21 NZ$3.91
36.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 A$4.46
$3.18 NZ$5.62
-2.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.82 A$6.93
$5.81 NZ$10.27
-17.04%
Potato (1kg)
$3.03 A$4.36
$2.21 NZ$3.90
37.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 A$3.52
$1.52 NZ$2.69
60.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 A$3.54
$2.07 NZ$3.66
18.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 A$2.34
$1.00 NZ$1.77
63.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$44.07 A$63.4
$21.59 NZ$38.18
104.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.70 A$18.28
$7.63 NZ$13.49
66.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.54 A$7.97
$2.88 NZ$5.10
92.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23 A$7.52
$3.50 NZ$6.18
49.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Melbourne
Gore
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.74 A$5.38
$1.59 NZ$2.81
135.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$138 A$198
$81.1 NZ$143
69.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.51 A$6.50
$2.48 NZ$4.39
81.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 A$1.96
$2.06 NZ$3.64
-33.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.45 A$43.81
$28.30 NZ$50.1
7.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 A$2.12
$1.67 NZ$2.95
-11.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K A$41.7K
$26.9K NZ$47.6K
7.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K A$38.1K
$25.0K NZ$44.3K
5.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
Gore
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$234 A$336
$98.2 NZ$174
137.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.93 A$40.19
$27.12 NZ$47.96
2.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7 A$80.2
$55.4 NZ$98.0
0.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
Gore
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.40 A$71.1
$36.00 NZ$63.7
37.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.48 A$30.91
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.09 A$21.72
$9.15 NZ$16.18
64.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melbourne
Gore
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,371 A$3,412
$610 NZ$1,079
288.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.2K A$43.5K
$18.0K NZ$31.7K
68.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
Gore
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.0 A$115
$63.2 NZ$112
26.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7 A$73.0
$35.71 NZ$63.2
41.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 A$174
$102 NZ$180
18.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 A$188
$107 NZ$189
22.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
Gore
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,759 A$2,531
$941 NZ$1,664
86.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,390 A$2,000
$765 NZ$1,353
81.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,494 A$5,027
$1,836 NZ$3,248
90.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,493 A$3,588
$1,460 NZ$2,582
70.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,926 A$9,967
$4,636 NZ$8,199
49.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,445 A$9,274
$3,447 NZ$6,096
86.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melbourne
Gore
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,383 A$6,307
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
5.57
5.92%

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

Last update for Melbourne: October 10, 2026

Last update for Gore: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
$1.4K
Gore
$765 44.9% $624
Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
$384
Gore
$312 18.8% $72
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
$317
Gore
$181 43% $137
Eating Out
Melbourne
$315
Gore
$243 22.7% $71
Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
$172
Gore
$138 19.4% $33
Getting Around
Melbourne
$164
Gore
$100 38.8% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
$80
Gore
$54 31.8% $25

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,759 in Melbourne and $941 in Gore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Melbourne vs $64.0 in Gore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $384 vs $312 per month, with Gore cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Melbourne
🇳🇿 Gore
🕒 Local time
08:48 8:48 AM
10:48 10:48 AM
2 h ahead of Melbourne
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,031,195
3,100
Exchange rates and currency converter

NZD, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.77 NZD (1 NZD = 0.565 USD). 1 EUR = 1.99 NZD (1 NZD = 0.503 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Melbourne Gore 2,180 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Melbourne
  • Gore

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 Gore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Melbourne or Gore?
Gore wins on cost – living expenses run 57% lower than in Melbourne. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gore the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Melbourne and in Gore?
You'd need roughly $4,231 in Melbourne and $2,691 in Gore 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Melbourne compared to Gore?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,759 in Melbourne versus $941 in Gore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Melbourne and in Gore?
Childcare runs $2,371 in Melbourne versus $610 in Gore. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Melbourne or in Gore?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Melbourne. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Melbourne or in Gore?
At $1,794 in Gore versus $2,821 in Melbourne, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gore but tight or insufficient in Melbourne. The gap between the two cities makes Gore the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Melbourne or Gore?
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.
How safe is Melbourne compared to Gore?
Safety-wise, Melbourne and Gore 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Gore gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Melbourne vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?