😐A single person spends $2,465 per month in Melbourne vs $2,130 in Goulburn, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,636 per month in Melbourne vs $3,173 in Goulburn, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,806 per month in Melbourne vs $4,216 in Goulburn, rent included.
😐Melbourne costs about 16% more than Goulburn, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Melbourne and Goulburn sit above the global median – Melbourne by 84%, Goulburn by 59%.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Melbourne
Goulburn
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.34A$27.07
$17.65A$24.71
9.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.4A$110
$95.1A$133
-17.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.03A$14.04
$8.01A$11.22
25.22%
Cappuccino
$3.62A$5.07
$2.94A$4.12
23.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61A$3.66
$2.87A$4.02
-9.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31A$3.23
$2.11A$2.96
9.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.43A$10.40
$6.42A$8.98
15.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20A$10.07
$6.60A$9.24
9.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
Goulburn
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46A$2.04
$1.09A$1.53
33.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.66A$3.72
$2.34A$3.27
13.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.32A$3.25
$2.21A$3.09
4.98%
Eggs
$4.68A$6.56
$3.78A$5.29
23.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20A$12.87
$9.41A$13.17
-2.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36A$13.10
$7.78A$10.89
20.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.69A$20.56
$14.22A$19.91
3.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.21A$4.49
$3.11A$4.35
3.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.78A$3.90
$2.16A$3.02
28.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.96A$4.14
$1.58A$2.22
87.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.09A$5.73
$3.69A$5.16
10.84%
Potato(1kg)
$2.70A$3.78
$2.38A$3.33
13.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.35A$3.29
$1.28A$1.79
83.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.21A$3.10
$1.33A$1.86
66.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66A$2.32
$0.95A$1.33
74.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$32.79A$45.91
$29.85A$41.79
9.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.59A$20.42
$8.61A$12.05
69.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.72A$6.61
$4.04A$5.65
16.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09A$7.13
$3.07A$4.30
65.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Melbourne
Goulburn
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.61A$5.05
$2.56A$3.59
41.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$118A$165
$66.2A$92.7
77.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.68A$5.15
$2.30A$3.22
60.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39A$1.95
$1.61A$2.25
-13.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.58A$38.61
$38.34A$53.7
-28.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19A$1.66
$1.12A$1.57
6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3KA$41.0K
$28.7KA$40.2K
1.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KA$33.2K
$21.7KA$30.4K
8.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
Goulburn
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$152A$212
$96.3A$135
57.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.15A$29.62
$29.43A$41.20
-28.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.94A$69.9
$56.0A$78.4
-10.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
Goulburn
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.19A$68.9
$49.73A$69.6
-1.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.15A$22.62
$15.44A$21.61
4.60%
Cinema Ticket
$15.99A$22.38
$7.90A$11.06
102.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melbourne
Goulburn
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,756A$2,458
$908A$1,271
93.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.2KA$26.9K
$12.0KA$16.8K
60.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
Goulburn
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.9A$93.6
$74.9A$105
-10.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.9A$75.5
$44.97A$63.0
19.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106A$148
$90.6A$127
17.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103A$144
$109A$152
-5.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
Goulburn
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,568A$2,196
$1,285A$1,800
22.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,183A$1,656
$1,054A$1,475
12.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,038A$4,254
$2,017A$2,824
50.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,022A$2,831
$1,703A$2,384
18.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,557A$10.6K
$6,278A$8,790
20.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,527A$9,138
$5,437A$7,611
20.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melbourne
Goulburn
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,490A$6,287
$4,256A$5,958
5.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.19
6.75
-8.30%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Melbourne: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Goulburn: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,568 in Melbourne versus $1,285 in Goulburn. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 6% higher in Melbourne, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Melbourne versus $95.0 in Goulburn. Groceries tell a different story – $357 in Melbourne vs $291 in Goulburn – so Goulburn wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Melbourne vs Goulburn: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Goulburn cheaper than Melbourne?
Yes – Melbourne is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,698 per month in Melbourne and $3,194 in Goulburn. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Goulburn, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Melbourne and Goulburn?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Melbourne, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Melbourne or Goulburn?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Melbourne and $95.0 in Goulburn. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Melbourne or Goulburn?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Goulburn, where all-in costs run around $2,130, than in Melbourne at $2,465. In Goulburn it covers expenses comfortably, while in Melbourne it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Melbourne or Goulburn more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Goulburn – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Melbourne or Goulburn?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Goulburn. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Melbourne makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Melbourne vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado