Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Toowoomba Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Toowoomba

😐 Solo nomad: Melbourne is 17.6% more expensive than Toowoomba without rent, and 28.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Melbourne is 32% more expensive than Toowoomba without rent, and 38.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melbourne
Toowoomba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.2 A$29.41
$14.65 A$22.44
31.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.6 A$120
$59.1 A$90.5
32.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.02 A$15.35
$8.97 A$13.74
11.71%
Cappuccino
$3.67 A$5.62
$3.22 A$4.93
13.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 A$3.89
$2.54 A$3.89
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 A$3.49
$2.07 A$3.18
10.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.28 A$11.15
$6.21 A$9.51
17.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.3 A$11.18
$6.43 A$9.85
13.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
Toowoomba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 A$2.2
$1.48 A$2.27
-2.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 A$4.02
$1.91 A$2.92
37.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.27 A$3.48
$1.61 A$2.46
40.99%
Eggs
$4.86 A$7.45
$4.03 A$6.17
20.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.74 A$13.39
$7.36 A$11.28
18.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.19 A$14.07
$7.82 A$11.98
17.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.95 A$22.9
$12.57 A$19.26
18.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 A$5.1
$3.01 A$4.62
10.63%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 A$4.35
$2.2 A$3.38
29.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$3 A$4.6
$2.44 A$3.74
22.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.95 A$6.05
$2.55 A$3.91
54.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.67 A$4.09
$2.19 A$3.35
21.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 A$3.58
$2.31 A$3.54
1.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.15 A$3.3
$1.93 A$2.96
11.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 A$2.5
$2.22 A$3.4
-26.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$32.11 A$49.19
$25.97 A$39.78
23.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.13 A$20.11
$9.64 A$14.77
36.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.54 A$6.96
$4.16 A$6.38
9.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.05 A$7.74
$6.42 A$9.83
-21.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Melbourne
Toowoomba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.67 A$5.62
$2.55 A$3.91
43.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$118 A$180
$66.1 A$101
78.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 A$5.6
$1.97 A$3.02
85.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 A$2.05
$1.38 A$2.11
-2.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.26 A$41.77
$33.01 A$50.6
-17.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 A$1.82
$1.15 A$1.76
3.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K A$43.9K
$25K A$38.2K
14.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K A$36K
$20.7K A$31.7K
13.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
Toowoomba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 A$230
$75.8 A$116
98.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.8 A$31.86
$32.42 A$49.66
-35.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51 A$78.2
$46.22 A$70.8
10.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
Toowoomba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.23 A$73.9
$31.49 A$48.25
53.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.91 A$24.38
$15.93 A$24.4
-0.13%
Cinema Ticket
$16.53 A$25.32
$12.94 A$19.82
27.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melbourne
Toowoomba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,730 A$2,651
$495 A$759
249.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.1K A$29.3K
$6,980 A$10.7K
174.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
Toowoomba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8 A$104
$61.6 A$94.4
10.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.7 A$82.2
$48.71 A$74.6
10.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 A$165
$78.7 A$121
36.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 A$162
$123 A$189
-13.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
Toowoomba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,548 A$2,371
$977 A$1,497
58.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 A$1,881
$920 A$1,409
33.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,973 A$4,555
$1,443 A$2,210
106.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,956 A$2,997
$1,184 A$1,813
65.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,110 A$10.9K
$4,537 A$6,951
56.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,790 A$8,871
$3,465 A$5,309
67.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melbourne
Toowoomba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,045 A$6,198
$3,001 A$4,598
34.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.19
6.5
-4.77%

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

Last update for Melbourne: October 28, 2025

Last update for Toowoomba: October 27, 2025

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