Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Legazpi

For one person, living is cheaper in Legazpi: $723 a month against $2,821 in Melbourne, rent and utilities included – about $25,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,821
/mo nomad
Legazpi
🇵🇭 Philippines
$723
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Melbourne and in Legazpi

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

A single person spends $2,821 per month in Melbourne vs $723 in Legazpi, rent included.

  • Melbourne $2,821
  • Legazpi $723

A couple spends around $4,235 per month in Melbourne vs $1,106 in Legazpi, rent included.

  • Melbourne $4,235
  • Legazpi $1,106

A family of three spends $5,650 per month in Melbourne vs $1,490 in Legazpi, rent included.

  • Melbourne $5,650
  • Legazpi $1,490

Melbourne costs about 290% more than Legazpi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Melbourne sits 109% above the global median, while Legazpi is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melbourne
Legazpi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.43 A$25.08
$3.93 ₱247
343.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 A$122
$16.45 ₱1,036
413.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.46 A$17.92
$2.76 ₱174
351.45%
Cappuccino
$4.11 A$5.91
$2.28 ₱143
80.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 A$4.40
$0.62 ₱39.20
393.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 A$3.62
$0.31 ₱19.29
712.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.80 A$14.10
$1.16 ₱73.0
744.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.57 A$12.33
$1.99 ₱126
330.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
Legazpi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 A$2.14
$1.60 ₱101
-7.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 A$4.23
$1.16 ₱73.2
153.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 A$3.82
$0.90 ₱56.9
195.56%
Eggs
$5.54 A$7.97
$2.75 ₱173
101.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.51 A$15.13
$5.66 ₱356
85.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 A$13.89
$4.10 ₱258
135.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.22 A$21.91
$6.96 ₱438
118.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.99 A$5.75
$2.44 ₱154
63.52%
Banana (1kg)
$3.02 A$4.34
$1.58 ₱99.7
91.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 A$4.46
$2.36 ₱148
31.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.82 A$6.93
$1.13 ₱71.4
326.55%
Potato (1kg)
$3.03 A$4.36
$2.01 ₱127
50.75%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 A$3.52
$2.00 ₱126
22.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 A$3.54
$0.97 ₱61.1
153.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 A$2.34
$0.55 ₱34.66
196.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$44.07 A$63.4
$2.95 ₱186
1393.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.70 A$18.28
$7.62 ₱480
66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.54 A$7.97
$1.01 ₱63.8
448.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23 A$7.52
$1.94 ₱122
169.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Melbourne
Legazpi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.74 A$5.38
$0.22 ₱13.88
1600.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$138 A$198
$10.95 ₱690
1155.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.51 A$6.50
$0.74 ₱46.46
509.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 A$1.96
$0.23 ₱14.44
491.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.45 A$43.81
$1.93 ₱121
1477.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 A$2.12
$1.17 ₱73.9
25.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K A$41.7K
$20.1K ₱1.3M
44.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K A$38.1K
$21.1K ₱1.3M
25.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
Legazpi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$234 A$336
$122 ₱7,697
91.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.93 A$40.19
$14.86 ₱935
87.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7 A$80.2
$30.81 ₱1,940
80.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
Legazpi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.40 A$71.1
$31.98 ₱2,013
54.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.48 A$30.91
$4.42 ₱279
385.97%
Cinema Ticket
$15.09 A$21.72
$5.12 ₱322
194.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melbourne
Legazpi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,371 A$3,412
$132 ₱8,292
1700.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.2K A$43.5K
$8,019 ₱504.9K
276.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
Legazpi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.0 A$115
$32.94 ₱2,074
142.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7 A$73.0
$19.55 ₱1,231
159.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 A$174
$94.6 ₱5,954
27.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 A$188
$56.5 ₱3,555
130.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
Legazpi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,759 A$2,531
$195 ₱12.3K
801.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,390 A$2,000
$145 ₱9,114
860.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,494 A$5,027
$519 ₱32.7K
573.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,493 A$3,588
$315 ₱19.9K
690.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,926 A$9,967
$2,202 ₱138.6K
214.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,445 A$9,274
$913 ₱57.5K
606.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melbourne
Legazpi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,383 A$6,307
$272 ₱17.1K
1511.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
10.12
-41.70%

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

Last update for Melbourne: October 10, 2026

Last update for Legazpi: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
$1.4K
Legazpi
$145 89.6% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
$384
Legazpi
$182 52.6% $202
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
$317
Legazpi
$168 47.1% $149
Eating Out
Melbourne
$315
Legazpi
$81 74.4% $234
Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
$172
Legazpi
$92 46.7% $80
Getting Around
Melbourne
$164
Legazpi
$14 91.6% $150
Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
$80
Legazpi
$42 47% $37

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,759 in Melbourne versus $195 in Legazpi. 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 1512% 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 $85.0 in Melbourne versus $16.00 in Legazpi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $384 vs $182 – making Legazpi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Melbourne
🇵🇭 Legazpi
🕒 Local time
14:22 2:22 PM
11:22 11:22 AM
3 h behind Melbourne
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,031,195
209,533
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Melbourne Legazpi 6,080 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Melbourne
  • Legazpi

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 Legazpi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Melbourne and in Legazpi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,821 in Melbourne, $723 in Legazpi – roughly 290% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Melbourne compared to Legazpi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,231 per month in Melbourne and $1,084 in Legazpi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Melbourne and Legazpi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Legazpi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Melbourne or Legazpi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,821 in Melbourne and $723 in Legazpi. That's a gap of about 290%.
How do commuting costs compare in Melbourne and in Legazpi?
Public transport costs about 1156% less in Legazpi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Legazpi, where all-in costs run around $723, than in Melbourne at $2,821. In Legazpi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Melbourne it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Melbourne or Legazpi?
Families tend to lean toward Legazpi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Melbourne or Legazpi safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Melbourne and Legazpi?
If budget matters most, go with Legazpi. 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.

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