Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Kansas City, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Kansas City, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,416 per month in Melbourne vs $2,355 in Kansas City, MO, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,579 per month in Melbourne vs $3,504 in Kansas City, MO, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,742 per month in Melbourne vs $4,654 in Kansas City, MO, rent included.

Melbourne costs about 3% more than Kansas City, MO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Melbourne and Kansas City, MO sit above the global median – Melbourne by 80%, Kansas City, MO by 76%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.75 A$27.52

$20.47 $20.47

-3.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.7 A$110

$80.4 $80.4

-2.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.70 A$13.52

$12.13 $12.13

-20.03%

Cappuccino

$3.66 A$5.11

$4.93 $4.93

-25.76%

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

$2.60 A$3.63

$2.29 $2.29

13.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 A$3.26

$1.93 $1.93

21.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.17 A$10.00

$6.09 $6.09

17.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.99 A$9.73

$7.20 $7.20

-2.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 A$2.02

$1.17 $1.17

23.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 A$3.71

$3.45 $3.45

-22.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 A$3.26

$4.86 $4.86

-51.85%

Eggs

$4.80 A$6.69

$3.74 $3.74

28.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.77 A$12.21

$13.64 $13.64

-35.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 A$13.15

$10.40 $10.40

-9.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.42 A$20.09

$13.05 $13.05

10.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 A$4.64

$4.49 $4.49

-25.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.77 A$3.87

$1.45 $1.45

91.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 A$4.18

$6.42 $6.42

-53.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 A$5.50

$6.65 $6.65

-40.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 A$3.73

$3.61 $3.61

-25.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 A$3.28

$3.61 $3.61

-34.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 A$2.98

$2.29 $2.29

-6.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 A$2.27

$2.68 $2.68

-39.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.44 A$45.21

$7.06 $7.06

359.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.11 A$19.66

$15.08 $15.08

-6.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.64 A$6.47

$1.93 $1.93

140.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.04 A$7.02

$5.36 $5.36

-5.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.49 A$4.87

$2.05 $2.05

70.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$120 A$167

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 A$4.88

$2.43 $2.43

44.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 A$1.87

$2.18 $2.18

-38.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.94 A$37.55

$20.76 $20.76

29.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 A$1.66

$0.83 $0.83

43.37%

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

$29.4K A$41.0K

$35.8K $35.8K

-17.85%

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

$23.6K A$32.9K

$25.6K $25.6K

-8.05%

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

$150 A$209

$216 $216

-30.50%

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

$21.16 A$29.49

$61.2 $61.2

-65.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.3 A$70.1

$54.6 $54.6

-7.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.14 A$68.5

$58.0 $58.0

-15.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.37 A$22.82

$30.34 $30.34

-46.04%

Cinema Ticket

$16.43 A$22.90

$15.26 $15.26

7.67%

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

$1,764 A$2,458

$1,388 $1,388

27.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.2K A$26.7K

$29.2K $29.2K

-34.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.3 A$95.2

$52.9 $52.9

29.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.3 A$74.3

$42.46 $42.46

25.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 A$148

$105 $105

1.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 A$146

$128 $128

-18.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 A$2,191

$1,330 $1,330

18.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,195 A$1,665

$1,043 $1,043

14.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,048 A$4,247

$2,335 $2,335

30.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,990 A$2,772

$1,690 $1,690

17.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,387 A$10.3K

$2,570 $2,570

187.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,527 A$9,095

$1,891 $1,891

245.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,512 A$6,288

$3,890 $3,890

16.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.19

6.5

-4.77%

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

Last update for Melbourne: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kansas City, MO: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,572 in Melbourne versus $1,330 in Kansas City, MO. 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 16% 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 $79.0 in Melbourne versus $80.0 in Kansas City, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $354 vs $413 – 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 Kansas City, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,416 in Melbourne, $2,355 in Kansas City, MO – roughly 3% apart. Melbourne costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,624 per month in Melbourne and $3,532 in Kansas City, MO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kansas City, MO, 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 $2,416 in Melbourne and $2,355 in Kansas City, MO. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,764 per month in Melbourne and $1,388 in Kansas City, MO. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,416 in Melbourne and $2,355 in Kansas City, MO. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Kansas City, MO has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,355 in Kansas City, MO to $2,416 in Melbourne. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Kansas City, MO. 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.