Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Toms River, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Toms River, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,416 in Melbourne versus $2,817 in Toms River, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,579 in Melbourne versus $4,299 in Toms River, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,742 in Melbourne versus $5,782 in Toms River, NJ.

Living in Melbourne costs roughly 14% less than in Toms River, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Melbourne 80% above, Toms River, NJ 110% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.75 A$27.67

$18.02 $18.02

9.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.7 A$110

$81.1 $81.1

-3.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.70 A$13.60

$11.37 $11.37

-14.69%

Cappuccino

$3.66 A$5.13

$5.00 $5.00

-26.80%

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

$2.60 A$3.65

$2.37 $2.37

9.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 A$3.28

$1.26 $1.26

85.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.17 A$10.05

$5.09 $5.09

40.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.99 A$9.79

$6.43 $6.43

8.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 A$2.03

$1.29 $1.29

12.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 A$3.73

$4.99 $4.99

-46.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 A$3.27

$2.33 $2.33

0.43%

Eggs

$4.80 A$6.73

$4.46 $4.46

7.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.77 A$12.28

$17.12 $17.12

-48.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 A$13.22

$16.72 $16.72

-43.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.42 A$20.21

$16.29 $16.29

-11.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 A$4.67

$5.91 $5.91

-43.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.77 A$3.89

$1.36 $1.36

103.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 A$4.20

$5.16 $5.16

-41.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 A$5.53

$6.55 $6.55

-39.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 A$3.75

$1.58 $1.58

69.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 A$3.30

$2.71 $2.71

-12.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 A$2.99

$2.55 $2.55

-16.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 A$2.29

$2.04 $2.04

-20.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.44 A$45.46

$10.17 $10.17

218.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.11 A$19.76

$9.80 $9.80

43.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.64 A$6.51

$3.02 $3.02

53.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.04 A$7.06

$3.87 $3.87

30.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.49 A$4.89

$2.05 $2.05

70.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$120 A$168

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 A$4.90

$4.95 $4.95

-29.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 A$1.88

$2.15 $2.15

-37.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.94 A$37.75

$42.83 $42.83

-37.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 A$1.67

$0.80 $0.80

48.75%

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

$29.4K A$41.2K

$34.4K $34.4K

-14.41%

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

$23.6K A$33.0K

$28.5K $28.5K

-17.27%

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

$150 A$210

$178 $178

-15.92%

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

$21.16 A$29.65

$29.73 $29.73

-28.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.3 A$70.5

$62.1 $62.1

-19.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.14 A$68.9

$29.43 $29.43

66.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.37 A$22.94

Cinema Ticket

$16.43 A$23.03

$14.75 $14.75

11.39%

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

$1,764 A$2,471

$3,158 $3,158

-44.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.2K A$26.9K

$56.8K $56.8K

-66.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.3 A$95.7

$66.0 $66.0

3.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.3 A$74.7

$48.87 $48.87

9.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 A$149

$112 $112

-4.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 A$147

$173 $173

-39.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 A$2,203

$1,666 $1,666

-5.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,195 A$1,674

$1,473 $1,473

-18.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,048 A$4,270

$2,833 $2,833

7.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,990 A$2,788

$2,854 $2,854

-30.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,387 A$10.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,527 A$9,146

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,512 A$6,323

$4,769 $4,769

-5.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.19

6.44

-3.88%

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

Last update for Melbourne: May 31, 2026

Last update for Toms River, NJ: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,572 in Melbourne and $1,666 in Toms River, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toms River, NJ pays 6% 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: $79.0 in Melbourne vs $81.0 in Toms River, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $452 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 Toms River, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Melbourne and Toms River, NJ differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($2,416 vs $2,817 including rent). Melbourne is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Toms River, NJ earns 6% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,572 in Melbourne versus $1,666 in Toms River, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Toms River, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,416 per month in Melbourne versus $2,817 in Toms River, NJ – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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 Toms River, NJ 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 Melbourne gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Toms River, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.