🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,420 in Melbourne versus $4,008 in Redondo Beach, CA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,592 in Melbourne versus $5,673 in Redondo Beach, CA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,765 in Melbourne versus $7,337 in Redondo Beach, CA.
🌍Living in Melbourne costs roughly 40% less than in Redondo Beach, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Melbourne81% above, Redondo Beach, CA200% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melbourne
Redondo Beach, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.36A$27.73
$19.82$19.82
-2.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.5A$111
$82.8$82.8
-6.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.85A$14.11
$11.86$11.86
-16.95%
Cappuccino
$3.73A$5.34
$5.09$5.09
-26.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62A$3.75
$3.58$3.58
-26.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28A$3.27
$2.21$2.21
3.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.36A$10.54
$6.87$6.87
7.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.94A$9.94
$8.14$8.14
-14.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
Redondo Beach, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50A$2.14
$1.12$1.12
33.93%
White Bread(500g)
$2.58A$3.69
$4.14$4.14
-37.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34A$3.35
$4.66$4.66
-49.79%
Eggs
$4.85A$6.95
$7.02$7.02
-30.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.72A$12.50
$10.84$10.84
-19.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.26A$13.26
$14.13$14.13
-34.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.58A$20.89
$15.16$15.16
-3.83%
Apples(1kg)
$3.32A$4.75
$3.49$3.49
-4.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.81A$4.03
$1.75$1.75
60.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.00A$4.30
$4.18$4.18
-28.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.98A$5.70
$5.69$5.69
-30.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.67A$3.82
$3.27$3.27
-18.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23A$3.20
$2.89$2.89
-22.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.19A$3.14
$1.41$1.41
55.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64A$2.35
$2.10$2.10
-21.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$31.95A$45.77
$10.93$10.93
192.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.92A$19.94
$14.81$14.81
-6.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.67A$6.69
$1.94$1.94
140.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.04A$7.22
$3.40$3.40
48.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Melbourne
Redondo Beach, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.50A$5.02
$2.02$2.02
73.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$121A$173
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.56A$5.10
$6.57$6.57
-45.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40A$2.01
$2.07$2.07
-32.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.50A$39.39
$29.46$29.46
-6.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15A$1.64
$1.22$1.22
-5.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2KA$41.8K
$23.6K$23.6K
23.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0KA$32.9K
$24.1K$24.1K
-4.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
Redondo Beach, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154A$220
$203$203
-24.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.93A$29.99
$54.7$54.7
-61.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.4A$73.7
$60.0$60.0
-14.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
Redondo Beach, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.89A$70.0
$74.2$74.2
-34.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.24A$23.27
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.97A$22.88
$14.22$14.22
12.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melbourne
Redondo Beach, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,765A$2,529
$1,195$1,195
47.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.5KA$28.0K
$23.0K$23.0K
-15.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
Redondo Beach, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0A$96.1
$46.64$46.64
43.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.5A$78.0
$33.37$33.37
63.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106A$151
$84.7$84.7
24.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104A$149
$86.0$86.0
20.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
Redondo Beach, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,575A$2,257
$3,128$3,128
-49.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,206A$1,728
$2,778$2,778
-56.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,041A$4,357
$5,111$5,111
-40.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,022A$2,897
$4,394$4,394
-53.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,077A$10.1K
$7,482$7,482
-5.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,420A$9,198
$6,519$6,519
-1.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melbourne
Redondo Beach, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,398A$6,301
$7,877$7,877
-44.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.19
6.64
-6.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Melbourne: July 14, 2026
Last update for Redondo Beach, CA: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,575 in Melbourne and $3,128 in Redondo Beach, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Redondo Beach, CA pays 79% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $77.0 in Melbourne vs $83.0 in Redondo Beach, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $413 per month, with Melbourne 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 Redondo Beach, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Melbourne and in Redondo Beach, CA?
Melbourne and Redondo Beach, CA differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($2,420 vs $4,008 including rent). Melbourne is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 79% lower in Redondo Beach, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Melbourne and in Redondo Beach, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,575 in Melbourne versus $3,128 in Redondo Beach, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Redondo Beach, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Melbourne or Redondo Beach, CA?
All in, you'll spend $2,420 per month in Melbourne versus $4,008 in Redondo Beach, CA – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Melbourne is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Melbourne and Redondo Beach, CA?
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.
Is Melbourne or Redondo Beach, CA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Melbourne and Redondo Beach, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Melbourne or Redondo Beach, CA?
Expats usually find Melbourne gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Redondo Beach, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.