Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Takamatsu and Melbourne

For one person, living is cheaper in Takamatsu: $1,191 a month against $2,853 in Melbourne, rent and utilities included – about $19,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Takamatsu
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,191
/mo nomad
Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,853
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Takamatsu and in Melbourne

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Takamatsu and in Melbourne actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Takamatsu versus $2,853 in Melbourne.

  • Takamatsu $1,191
  • Melbourne $2,853

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,881 in Takamatsu versus $4,275 in Melbourne.

  • Takamatsu $1,881
  • Melbourne $4,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,571 in Takamatsu versus $5,697 in Melbourne.

  • Takamatsu $2,571
  • Melbourne $5,697

Living in Takamatsu costs roughly 58% less than in Melbourne, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Takamatsu is 12% below, Melbourne is 111% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Takamatsu
Melbourne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.20 ¥980
$17.20 A$24.75
-63.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.99 ¥5,054
$83.1 A$120
-61.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.12 ¥809
$12.43 A$17.88
-58.81%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥495
$4.05 A$5.82
-22.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 ¥189
$3.12 A$4.50
-61.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 ¥126
$2.46 A$3.54
-67.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.60 ¥410
$9.52 A$13.71
-72.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 ¥508
$8.16 A$11.74
-60.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Takamatsu
Melbourne
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 ¥238
$1.56 A$2.25
-3.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 ¥252
$2.90 A$4.18
-44.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 ¥278
$2.66 A$3.82
-33.83%
Eggs
$2.29 ¥361
$5.37 A$7.72
-57.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.37 ¥1,639
$10.67 A$15.36
-2.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.60 ¥1,043
$9.85 A$14.17
-32.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.83 ¥2,659
$15.36 A$22.11
9.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 ¥583
$4.17 A$6.00
-11.51%
Banana (1kg)
$2.28 ¥360
$3.15 A$4.53
-27.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.90 ¥458
$3.26 A$4.69
-11.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.24 ¥671
$4.76 A$6.85
-10.92%
Potato (1kg)
$2.48 ¥391
$3.06 A$4.41
-18.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 ¥389
$2.47 A$3.55
-0.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 ¥201
$2.45 A$3.52
-48.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ¥124
$1.63 A$2.34
-51.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.67 ¥580
$45.17 A$65.0
-91.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.63 ¥1,048
$12.68 A$18.25
-47.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 ¥298
$5.69 A$8.18
-66.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 ¥333
$5.23 A$7.53
-59.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Takamatsu
Melbourne
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.46 ¥231
$3.87 A$5.57
-62.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.3 ¥8,414
$142 A$204
-62.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 ¥503
$4.54 A$6.53
-29.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.79 ¥442
$1.42 A$2.04
96.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.60 ¥2,938
$30.59 A$44.01
-39.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 ¥168
$1.47 A$2.11
-27.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K ¥3.4M
$28.9K A$41.5K
-25.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.1K ¥2.4M
$25.9K A$37.3K
-41.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Takamatsu
Melbourne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$137 ¥21.6K
$235 A$338
-41.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.78 ¥3,757
$27.45 A$39.51
-13.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.79 ¥4,865
$56.1 A$80.8
-45.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Takamatsu
Melbourne
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.7 ¥8,161
$50.1 A$72.1
3.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.11 ¥491
$21.49 A$30.93
-85.53%
Cinema Ticket
$11.79 ¥1,862
$17.76 A$25.56
-33.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Takamatsu
Melbourne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$521 ¥82.3K
$2,385 A$3,432
-78.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ¥2.0M
$29.7K A$42.7K
-57.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Takamatsu
Melbourne
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.96 ¥7,736
$79.2 A$114
-38.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.24 ¥4,936
$49.49 A$71.2
-36.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.1 ¥9,499
$118 A$170
-49.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.5 ¥14.3K
$132 A$190
-31.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Takamatsu
Melbourne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$529 ¥83.6K
$1,763 A$2,537
-70.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$334 ¥52.8K
$1,411 A$2,031
-76.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,089 ¥172.0K
$3,522 A$5,069
-69.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$735 ¥116.1K
$2,525 A$3,634
-70.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,144 ¥654.7K
$7,136 A$10.3K
-41.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,783 ¥281.6K
$6,355 A$9,144
-71.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Takamatsu
Melbourne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,761 ¥278.1K
$4,258 A$6,128
-58.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.21
5.9
-62.54%

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

Last update for Takamatsu: October 20, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Takamatsu
$334
Melbourne
$1.4K 322% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Takamatsu
$280
Melbourne
$388 38.5% $108
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Takamatsu
$191
Melbourne
$319 66.6% $127
Eating Out
Takamatsu
$130
Melbourne
$310 138% $180
Clothing & Footwear
Takamatsu
$104
Melbourne
$171 64.3% $67
Getting Around
Takamatsu
$76
Melbourne
$169 122% $93
Sport & Entertainment
Takamatsu
$75
Melbourne
$86 13.8% $10

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $529 in Takamatsu and $1,763 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Melbourne pays 142% 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: $32.00 in Takamatsu vs $83.0 in Melbourne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $280 vs $388 per month, with Takamatsu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Takamatsu
🇦🇺 Melbourne
🕒 Local time
12:30 12:30 PM
14:30 2:30 PM
2 h ahead of Takamatsu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
426,514
5,031,195
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Takamatsu Melbourne 8,100 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Takamatsu
  • Melbourne

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Takamatsu vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Takamatsu and in Melbourne?
Takamatsu and Melbourne differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($1,191 vs $2,853 including rent). Takamatsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 142% lower in Melbourne. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Takamatsu and in Melbourne?
Rent for a central apartment: $529 in Takamatsu versus $1,763 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 Takamatsu and Melbourne?
Childcare runs $521 in Takamatsu versus $2,385 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 38% higher in Melbourne. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,191 in Takamatsu versus $2,853 in Melbourne, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Takamatsu but tight or insufficient in Melbourne. The gap between the two cities makes Takamatsu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Takamatsu 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 Takamatsu or Melbourne safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Takamatsu 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: Takamatsu or Melbourne?
Expats usually find Takamatsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 139% less than in Melbourne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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