Cost of Living Comparison Between Redland City and Melbourne Cost of Living Comparison Between Redland City and Melbourne

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,094 in Redland City versus $2,418 in Melbourne.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,042 in Redland City versus $3,660 in Melbourne.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,991 in Redland City versus $4,902 in Melbourne.

Living in Redland City costs roughly 13% less than in Melbourne, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Redland City 56% above, Melbourne 80% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Redland City
Melbourne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.04 A$18.43
$19.16 A$27.07
-31.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.0 A$83.4
$79.0 A$112
-25.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.16 A$12.94
$10.05 A$14.19
-8.86%
Cappuccino
$3.36 A$4.75
$3.56 A$5.03
-5.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 A$3.84
$2.59 A$3.66
5.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 A$2.68
$2.39 A$3.37
-20.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.46 A$9.13
$7.54 A$10.65
-14.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94 A$8.40
$7.19 A$10.16
-17.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Redland City
Melbourne
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 A$2.08
$1.52 A$2.15
-2.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 A$3.69
$2.53 A$3.58
3.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.31 A$3.27
$2.26 A$3.19
2.21%
Eggs
$4.63 A$6.55
$4.64 A$6.56
-0.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 A$10.25
$9.04 A$12.77
-19.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.49 A$12.00
$9.51 A$13.44
-10.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.20 A$17.23
$14.73 A$20.82
-17.18%
Apples (1kg)
$3.27 A$4.62
$3.34 A$4.72
-2.10%
Banana (1kg)
$2.58 A$3.65
$2.84 A$4.01
-9.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 A$2.74
$2.89 A$4.09
-32.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.28 A$4.63
$3.95 A$5.59
-16.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.44 A$3.45
$2.77 A$3.91
-11.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.61 A$2.27
$2.35 A$3.32
-31.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 A$2.72
$2.12 A$2.99
-8.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 A$2.71
$1.58 A$2.24
21.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.35 A$44.29
$32.41 A$45.79
-3.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.11 A$15.70
$13.92 A$19.66
-20.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.59 A$6.48
$4.49 A$6.34
2.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 A$5.65
$5.21 A$7.36
-23.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Redland City
Melbourne
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.67 A$3.77
$3.67 A$5.19
-27.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.8 A$90.2
$120 A$170
-47.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.03 A$2.87
$3.52 A$4.97
-42.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 A$2.05
$1.39 A$1.96
4.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.46 A$47.28
$27.24 A$38.49
22.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 A$1.64
$1.18 A$1.67
-1.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K A$41.6K
$29.2K A$41.2K
0.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K A$31.5K
$23.5K A$33.2K
-4.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redland City
Melbourne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.7 A$118
$152 A$215
-44.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.70 A$46.20
$20.95 A$29.60
56.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.9 A$76.1
$51.3 A$72.5
5.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Redland City
Melbourne
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.39 A$69.8
$48.31 A$68.3
2.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.01 A$22.63
$15.93 A$22.51
0.50%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 A$9.29
$15.99 A$22.60
-58.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Redland City
Melbourne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$482 A$681
$1,729 A$2,443
-72.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,825 A$5,404
$19.5K A$27.5K
-80.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Redland City
Melbourne
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 A$88.2
$67.7 A$95.6
-7.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.16 A$66.6
$52.7 A$74.5
-10.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 A$125
$104 A$147
-14.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.5 A$129
$104 A$146
-11.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Redland City
Melbourne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,263 A$1,785
$1,530 A$2,162
-17.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 A$1,501
$1,230 A$1,738
-13.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 A$2,895
$2,959 A$4,181
-30.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,687 A$2,384
$1,978 A$2,795
-14.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$6,928 A$9,789
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,056 A$8,556
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Redland City
Melbourne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,479 A$6,329
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
6.19
-3.07%

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

Last update for Redland City: June 8, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,263 in Redland City and $1,530 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $59.0 in Redland City vs $79.0 in Melbourne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $353 per month, with Redland City 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
Redland City vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Redland City and Melbourne?
Redland City and Melbourne differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($2,094 vs $2,418 including rent). Redland City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Redland City compared to Melbourne?
You'd need roughly $3,141 in Redland City and $3,627 in Melbourne to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Redland City and Melbourne?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,263 in Redland City versus $1,530 in Melbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Redland City and Melbourne?
Childcare runs $482 in Redland City versus $1,729 in Melbourne. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Melbourne. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $2,094 in Redland City versus $2,418 in Melbourne, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Redland City but tight or insufficient in Melbourne. The gap between the two cities makes Redland City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Redland City and Melbourne?
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 Redland City or Melbourne safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Redland City and Melbourne 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: Redland City or Melbourne?
Expats usually find Redland City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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