Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Redland City Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Redland City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,905 in Melbourne versus $2,102 in Redland City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,310 in Melbourne versus $2,984 in Redland City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,714 in Melbourne versus $3,867 in Redland City.

Living in Melbourne is roughly 38% more expensive than in Redland City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Melbourne 112% above, Redland City 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.12 A$25.45

$15.50 A$21.76

16.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.8 A$119

$64.1 A$90.0

32.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 A$17.00

$9.89 A$13.88

22.45%

Cappuccino

$4.12 A$5.79

$3.88 A$5.46

6.19%

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

$3.21 A$4.51

$2.83 A$3.98

13.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 A$3.58

$2.09 A$2.94

22.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.77 A$13.72

$7.87 A$11.05

24.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.55 A$12.01

$6.37 A$8.95

34.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 A$2.28

$1.70 A$2.39

-4.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.19 A$4.47

$2.69 A$3.78

18.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.85 A$4.00

$2.50 A$3.51

14.00%

Eggs

$5.83 A$8.18

$4.97 A$6.98

17.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 A$15.44

$8.43 A$11.84

30.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.03 A$14.08

$9.21 A$12.93

8.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.45 A$21.69

$15.22 A$21.37

1.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 A$6.17

$3.62 A$5.09

21.55%

Banana (1kg)

$3.17 A$4.45

$2.85 A$4.00

11.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 A$4.61

$2.09 A$2.93

56.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 A$6.85

$3.51 A$4.93

39.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 A$4.37

$2.67 A$3.75

16.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 A$3.70

$1.74 A$2.45

51.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 A$3.50

$2.11 A$2.97

18.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 A$2.36

$2.16 A$3.04

-22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$45.87 A$64.4

$34.75 A$48.80

32.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.66 A$17.78

$11.65 A$16.35

8.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.61 A$7.88

$4.89 A$6.87

14.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.29 A$7.43

$4.41 A$6.19

19.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.89 A$5.46

$0.34 A$0.48

1044.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 A$197

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.65 A$6.53

$2.17 A$3.04

114.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 A$1.98

$1.68 A$2.35

-16.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.65 A$43.04

$37.04 A$52.0

-17.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 A$1.94

$1.31 A$1.84

5.34%

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

$28.9K A$40.6K

$28.1K A$39.5K

2.86%

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

$27.2K A$38.2K

$34.0K A$47.7K

-19.95%

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

$238 A$334

$91.0 A$128

161.48%

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

$27.90 A$39.18

$30.70 A$43.11

-9.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.7 A$81.0

$54.3 A$76.3

6.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 A$77.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.31 A$31.33

Cinema Ticket

$17.87 A$25.09

$7.09 A$9.95

152.05%

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

$2,450 A$3,440

$538 A$755

355.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.1K A$45.0K

$4,317 A$6,062

643.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.3 A$114

$76.8 A$108

5.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 A$72.8

$56.2 A$78.9

-7.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 A$168

$104 A$146

15.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 A$189

$99.2 A$139

36.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 A$2,479

$1,558 A$2,188

13.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 A$2,008

$1,132 A$1,589

26.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,441 A$4,832

$1,884 A$2,645

82.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,562 A$3,598

$1,548 A$2,173

65.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,336 A$10.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,900 A$9,688

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,352 A$6,111

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.89

5.73

2.79%

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

Last update for Melbourne: September 14, 2026

Last update for Redland City: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,766 in Melbourne and $1,558 in Redland City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Melbourne vs $64.0 in Redland City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $400 vs $354 per month, with Redland City cheaper across the board.

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 Redland City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Melbourne and Redland City differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($2,905 vs $2,102 including rent). Redland City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,358 in Melbourne and $3,152 in Redland City 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,766 in Melbourne versus $1,558 in Redland City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Melbourne. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,905 per month in Melbourne versus $2,102 in Redland City – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Redland City is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Melbourne and Redland City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Redland City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.