Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Surfers Paradise Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Surfers Paradise

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Melbourne is 9.7% more expensive than Surfers Paradise without rent, and 27.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Melbourne is 1.4% cheaper than Surfers Paradise without rent, and 8.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Melbourne
Surfers Paradise
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.2 A$29.41
$15.97 A$24.46
20.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.6 A$120
$94.1 A$144
-16.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.02 A$15.35
$9.69 A$14.84
3.41%
Cappuccino
$3.67 A$5.62
$3.55 A$5.44
3.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 A$3.89
$2.67 A$4.09
-4.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 A$3.49
$2.23 A$3.42
2.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.28 A$11.15
$6.62 A$10.14
9.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.3 A$11.18
$8.01 A$12.27
-8.86%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
Surfers Paradise
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 A$2.2
$1.61 A$2.46
-10.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 A$4.02
$2.2 A$3.37
19.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.27 A$3.48
$2.26 A$3.46
0.44%
Eggs
$4.86 A$7.45
$4.32 A$6.61
12.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.74 A$13.39
$8.19 A$12.55
6.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.19 A$14.07
$8.25 A$12.63
11.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.95 A$22.9
$13.52 A$20.71
10.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 A$5.1
$3.49 A$5.34
-4.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 A$4.35
$2.69 A$4.13
5.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$3 A$4.6
$3.5 A$5.36
-14.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.95 A$6.05
$3.95 A$6.05
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.67 A$4.09
$2.5 A$3.83
6.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 A$3.58
$2.42 A$3.71
-3.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.15 A$3.3
$2.22 A$3.4
-3.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 A$2.5
$1.26 A$1.92
30.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$32.11 A$49.19
$32.01 A$49.04
0.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.13 A$20.11
$13.36 A$20.47
-1.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.54 A$6.96
$6.17 A$9.46
-26.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.05 A$7.74
$4.22 A$6.47
19.67%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Melbourne
Surfers Paradise
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.67 A$5.62
$2.06 A$3.16
78.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$118 A$180
$32.11 A$49.19
266.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 A$5.6
$2.07 A$3.17
76.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 A$2.05
$1.39 A$2.14
-3.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.26 A$41.77
$33.31 A$51
-18.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 A$1.82
$1.19 A$1.82
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K A$43.9K
$29.5K A$45.1K
-2.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K A$36K
$22.3K A$34.1K
5.53%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
Surfers Paradise
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 A$230
$210 A$322
-28.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.8 A$31.86
$31.1 A$47.64
-33.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51 A$78.2
$53 A$81.1
-3.63%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
Surfers Paradise
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.23 A$73.9
$61.8 A$94.7
-21.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.91 A$24.38
$13.56 A$20.78
17.33%
Cinema Ticket
$16.53 A$25.32
$13.16 A$20.16
25.61%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Melbourne
Surfers Paradise
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,730 A$2,651
$1,639 A$2,511
5.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.1K A$29.3K
$8,901 A$13.6K
115.00%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
Surfers Paradise
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8 A$104
$70.8 A$109
-4.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.7 A$82.2
$48.77 A$74.7
10.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 A$165
$94.5 A$145
13.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 A$162
$102 A$156
4.18%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
Surfers Paradise
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,548 A$2,371
$1,278 A$1,958
21.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 A$1,881
$716 A$1,097
71.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,973 A$4,555
$2,443 A$3,743
21.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,956 A$2,997
$1,771 A$2,713
10.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,110 A$10.9K
$5,561 A$8,520
27.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,790 A$8,871
$4,704 A$7,206
23.10%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Melbourne
Surfers Paradise
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,045 A$6,198
$3,095 A$4,742
30.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.19
6.3
-1.75%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Melbourne: October 28, 2025

Last update for Surfers Paradise: October 28, 2025

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