πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $4,084 in Redondo Beach, CA versus $2,416 in Melbourne.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $5,607 in Redondo Beach, CA versus $3,579 in Melbourne.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,130 in Redondo Beach, CA versus $4,742 in Melbourne.
πLiving in Redondo Beach, CA is roughly 69% more expensive than Melbourne, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Redondo Beach, CA205% above, Melbourne80% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Redondo Beach, CA
Melbourne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22$20.22
$19.75A$27.67
2.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.8$81.8
$78.7A$110
4.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.15$12.15
$9.70A$13.60
25.26%
Cappuccino
$5.07$5.07
$3.66A$5.13
38.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52$3.52
$2.60A$3.65
35.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18$2.18
$2.34A$3.28
-6.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.13$7.13
$7.17A$10.05
-0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84$7.84
$6.99A$9.79
12.16%
π Groceries & Markets
Redondo Beach, CA
Melbourne
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12$1.12
$1.45A$2.03
-22.76%
White Bread(500g)
$4.10$4.10
$2.66A$3.73
54.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.71$4.71
$2.34A$3.27
101.28%
Eggs
$7.16$7.16
$4.80A$6.73
49.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.56$10.56
$8.77A$12.28
20.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.16$14.16
$9.44A$13.22
50.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.19$15.19
$14.42A$20.21
5.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.42$3.42
$3.33A$4.67
2.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66$1.66
$2.77A$3.89
-40.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.17$4.17
$3.00A$4.20
39.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.54$5.54
$3.95A$5.53
40.25%
Potato(1kg)
$3.31$3.31
$2.68A$3.75
23.51%
Onion(1kg)
$2.98$2.98
$2.36A$3.30
26.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40$1.40
$2.14A$2.99
-34.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12$2.12
$1.63A$2.29
30.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.79$10.79
$32.44A$45.46
-66.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.37$13.37
$14.11A$19.76
-5.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98$1.98
$4.64A$6.51
-57.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55$3.55
$5.04A$7.06
-29.56%
π Getting Around
Redondo Beach, CA
Melbourne
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95$1.95
$3.49A$4.89
-44.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$120A$168
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.52$6.52
$3.50A$4.90
86.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.00$2.00
$1.35A$1.88
48.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.47$29.47
$26.94A$37.75
9.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30$1.30
$1.19A$1.67
9.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K$23.8K
$29.4KA$41.2K
-19.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K$24.1K
$23.6KA$33.0K
2.15%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redondo Beach, CA
Melbourne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$198$198
$150A$210
32.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.3$53.3
$21.16A$29.65
151.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.6$61.6
$50.3A$70.5
22.41%
π Sport & Entertainment
Redondo Beach, CA
Melbourne
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$74.4$74.4
$49.14A$68.9
51.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.37A$22.94
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.80$13.80
$16.43A$23.03
-16.01%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Redondo Beach, CA
Melbourne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,188$1,188
$1,764A$2,471
-32.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K$23.3K
$19.2KA$26.9K
21.27%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Redondo Beach, CA
Melbourne
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.92$46.92
$68.3A$95.7
-31.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.41$33.41
$53.3A$74.7
-37.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.6$84.6
$106A$149
-20.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.2$85.2
$105A$147
-18.51%
π Accommodation & Living
Redondo Beach, CA
Melbourne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,173$3,173
$1,572A$2,203
101.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,734$2,734
$1,195A$1,674
128.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,037$5,037
$3,048A$4,270
65.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$4,376$4,376
$1,990A$2,788
119.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647$7,647
$7,387A$10.4K
3.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,441$6,441
$6,527A$9,146
-1.32%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Redondo Beach, CA
Melbourne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,773$7,773
$4,512A$6,323
72.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.64
6.19
7.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Redondo Beach, CA: May 30, 2026
Last update for Melbourne: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,173 in Redondo Beach, CA and $1,572 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Redondo Beach, CA pays 72% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $82.0 in Redondo Beach, CA vs $79.0 in Melbourne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $410 vs $354 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
Redondo Beach, CA vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Redondo Beach, CA and Melbourne?
Redondo Beach, CA and Melbourne differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($4,084 vs $2,416 including rent). Melbourne is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Redondo Beach, CA or Melbourne?
Redondo Beach, CA pays 72% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Redondo Beach, CA and Melbourne?
Rent for a central apartment: $3,173 in Redondo Beach, CA versus $1,572 in Melbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Redondo Beach, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Redondo Beach, CA or Melbourne?
All in, you'll spend $4,084 per month in Redondo Beach, CA versus $2,416 in Melbourne β a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Redondo Beach, CA and Melbourne?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Redondo Beach, CA or Melbourne safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Redondo Beach, CA 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: Redondo Beach, CA or Melbourne?
Expats usually find Melbourne gentler on the wallet β expenses run 69% less than in Redondo Beach, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Redondo Beach, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared