Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Townsville Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Townsville

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Melbourne is 1.4% more expensive than Townsville without rent, and 9.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Melbourne is 23.7% more expensive than Townsville without rent, and 8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Melbourne
Townsville
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.2 A$29.41
$11.56 A$17.71
66.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.6 A$120
$60.8 A$93.1
29.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.02 A$15.35
$9.6 A$14.71
4.38%
Cappuccino
$3.67 A$5.62
$3.18 A$4.87
15.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 A$3.89
$2.39 A$3.67
6.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 A$3.49
$2.22 A$3.4
2.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.28 A$11.15
$6.49 A$9.94
12.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.3 A$11.18
$5.09 A$7.8
43.42%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
Townsville
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 A$2.2
$1.46 A$2.23
-1.37%
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 A$4.02
$2.15 A$3.29
22.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.27 A$3.48
$1.67 A$2.56
35.93%
Eggs
$4.86 A$7.45
$4.05 A$6.21
20.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.74 A$13.39
$7.46 A$11.43
17.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.19 A$14.07
$8.36 A$12.81
9.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.95 A$22.9
$11.78 A$18.04
26.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 A$5.1
$3.72 A$5.69
-10.48%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 A$4.35
$2.95 A$4.53
-3.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$3 A$4.6
$3.32 A$5.08
-9.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.95 A$6.05
$4.23 A$6.48
-6.62%
Potato (1kg)
$2.67 A$4.09
$2.56 A$3.93
4.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 A$3.58
$2.49 A$3.81
-6.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.15 A$3.3
$2.11 A$3.24
1.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 A$2.5
$2.02 A$3.1
-18.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$32.11 A$49.19
$24.03 A$36.81
33.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.13 A$20.11
$10.76 A$16.48
22.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.54 A$6.96
$3.27 A$5.01
38.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.05 A$7.74
$7.56 A$11.59
-33.20%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Melbourne
Townsville
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.67 A$5.62
$2.08 A$3.18
76.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$118 A$180
$73.3 A$112
60.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 A$5.6
$3.6 A$5.51
1.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 A$2.05
$1.44 A$2.2
-6.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.26 A$41.77
$48.45 A$74.2
-43.74%
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
$23.2K A$35.5K
23.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K A$36K
$19.7K A$30.2K
19.12%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
Townsville
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 A$230
$150 A$230
0.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.8 A$31.86
$35.23 A$54
-40.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51 A$78.2
$58.6 A$89.8
-12.95%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
Townsville
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.23 A$73.9
$41.83 A$64.1
15.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.91 A$24.38
$14.35 A$21.98
10.87%
Cinema Ticket
$16.53 A$25.32
$15.54 A$23.8
6.37%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Melbourne
Townsville
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,730 A$2,651
$1,149 A$1,760
50.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.1K A$29.3K
$12.1K A$18.5K
58.62%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
Townsville
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8 A$104
$95.3 A$146
-28.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.7 A$82.2
$59.9 A$91.7
-10.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 A$165
$99.3 A$152
8.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 A$162
$119 A$182
-10.65%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
Townsville
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,548 A$2,371
$1,229 A$1,882
25.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 A$1,881
$1,063 A$1,629
15.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,973 A$4,555
$2,363 A$3,620
25.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,956 A$2,997
$1,909 A$2,925
2.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,110 A$10.9K
$3,938 A$6,032
80.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,790 A$8,871
$3,351 A$5,133
72.81%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Melbourne
Townsville
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,045 A$6,198
$4,160 A$6,373
-2.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.19
6.06
2.15%

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

Last update for Melbourne: October 28, 2025

Last update for Townsville: October 28, 2025

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