Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Ipswich Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Ipswich

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,420 per month in Melbourne vs $2,106 in Ipswich, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,592 per month in Melbourne vs $3,059 in Ipswich, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,765 per month in Melbourne vs $4,012 in Ipswich, rent included.

Melbourne costs about 15% more than Ipswich, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Melbourne and Ipswich sit above the global median – Melbourne by 81%, Ipswich by 58%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.36 A$27.73

$15.98 A$22.89

21.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.5 A$111

$76.6 A$110

1.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 A$14.11

$9.58 A$13.73

2.82%

Cappuccino

$3.73 A$5.34

$3.38 A$4.85

10.36%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 A$3.75

$2.59 A$3.70

1.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 A$3.27

$2.20 A$3.15

3.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.36 A$10.54

$6.55 A$9.39

12.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 A$9.94

$6.99 A$10.01

-0.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 A$2.14

$1.48 A$2.13

1.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.58 A$3.69

$2.34 A$3.35

10.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 A$3.35

$2.02 A$2.89

15.84%

Eggs

$4.85 A$6.95

$4.31 A$6.18

12.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.72 A$12.50

$8.51 A$12.19

2.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.26 A$13.26

$8.51 A$12.19

8.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.58 A$20.89

$13.87 A$19.87

5.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 A$4.75

$3.20 A$4.59

3.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.81 A$4.03

$2.73 A$3.91

2.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 A$4.30

$2.92 A$4.18

2.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 A$5.70

$4.08 A$5.84

-2.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 A$3.82

$2.43 A$3.48

9.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 A$3.20

$2.17 A$3.11

2.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 A$3.14

$2.07 A$2.96

5.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 A$2.35

$1.52 A$2.17

7.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$31.95 A$45.77

$38.89 A$55.7

-17.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.92 A$19.94

$21.43 A$30.71

-35.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.67 A$6.69

$4.63 A$6.63

0.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.04 A$7.22

$5.38 A$7.71

-6.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.50 A$5.02

$2.67 A$3.83

31.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$121 A$173

$65.1 A$93.3

85.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 A$5.10

$2.07 A$2.96

71.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 A$2.01

$1.44 A$2.06

-2.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.50 A$39.39

$33.37 A$47.80

-17.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 A$1.64

$1.13 A$1.61

1.77%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.2K A$41.8K

$28.3K A$40.6K

3.00%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.0K A$32.9K

$22.2K A$31.7K

3.60%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$154 A$220

$187 A$267

-17.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.93 A$29.99

$28.69 A$41.11

-27.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.4 A$73.7

$53.6 A$76.8

-4.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.89 A$70.0

$48.62 A$69.7

0.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.24 A$23.27

$15.54 A$22.26

4.50%

Cinema Ticket

$15.97 A$22.88

$12.80 A$18.34

24.77%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,765 A$2,529

$1,635 A$2,342

7.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.5K A$28.0K

$12.3K A$17.6K

59.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 A$96.1

$67.2 A$96.3

-0.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.5 A$78.0

$49.55 A$71.0

9.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 A$151

$98.0 A$140

7.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 A$149

$106 A$152

-2.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 A$2,257

$973 A$1,394

61.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,206 A$1,728

$953 A$1,365

26.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,041 A$4,357

$1,279 A$1,833

137.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,022 A$2,897

$1,307 A$1,873

54.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,077 A$10.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,420 A$9,198

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,398 A$6,301

$4,161 A$5,961

5.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.19

3.17%

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

Last update for Melbourne: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ipswich: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,575 in Melbourne versus $973 in Ipswich. 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 $77.0 in Melbourne versus $77.0 in Ipswich. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $353 vs $353 – making Melbourne the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ipswich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Melbourne is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,630 per month in Melbourne and $3,160 in Ipswich. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ipswich, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,420 in Melbourne and $2,106 in Ipswich. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 85% less in Ipswich. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Ipswich, where all-in costs run around $2,106, than in Melbourne at $2,420. In Ipswich it covers expenses comfortably, while in Melbourne it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ipswich – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Ipswich. 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.