Cost of Living Comparison Between Williamsburg, VA and Melbourne Cost of Living Comparison Between Williamsburg, VA and Melbourne

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,889 in Williamsburg, VA versus $2,482 in Melbourne.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,188 in Williamsburg, VA versus $3,689 in Melbourne.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,487 in Williamsburg, VA versus $4,896 in Melbourne.

Living in Williamsburg, VA is roughly 16% more expensive than Melbourne, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Williamsburg, VA 116% above, Melbourne 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$19.24 A$26.94

2.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.7 $80.7

$78.5 A$110

2.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.40 $13.40

$9.58 A$13.41

39.87%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$3.63 A$5.09

50.96%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.51 A$3.52

10.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.39 A$3.34

-10.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$7.11 A$9.96

-14.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.39 $7.39

$7.23 A$10.12

2.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.51 A$2.11

-39.07%

White Bread (500g)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.62 A$3.66

20.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$2.34 A$3.28

65.81%

Eggs

$3.46 $3.46

$4.67 A$6.54

-25.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.32 $13.32

$8.86 A$12.40

50.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.13 $8.13

$9.34 A$13.08

-12.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.18 $15.18

$14.80 A$20.73

2.57%

Apples (1kg)

$6.64 $6.64

$3.30 A$4.63

101.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$2.87 A$4.02

-52.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$2.95 A$4.12

55.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$4.05 A$5.67

-16.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.68 A$3.75

27.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.33 A$3.26

18.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 $1.60

$2.22 A$3.11

-27.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.63 A$2.28

7.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.53 $6.53

$33.09 A$46.32

-80.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 $10.32

$14.28 A$19.99

-27.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$4.67 A$6.54

-41.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 $3.70

$5.29 A$7.40

-30.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.51 A$4.91

-42.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$121 A$169

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.50 A$4.91

2.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.38 A$1.93

83.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.11 $29.11

$27.53 A$38.55

5.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.17 A$1.64

-30.77%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.2K $29.2K

$29.4K A$41.2K

-0.71%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.3K $26.3K

$23.7K A$33.2K

10.88%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$189 $189

$153 A$214

23.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$55.7 $55.7

$21.03 A$29.44

165.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.7 $66.7

$50.2 A$70.3

32.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.7 $94.7

$50.0 A$70.0

89.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.03 $25.03

$16.24 A$22.74

54.13%

Cinema Ticket

$14.99 $14.99

$16.14 A$22.60

-7.13%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,740 $1,740

$1,768 A$2,476

-1.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$19.2K A$26.8K

25.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.04 $37.04

$68.4 A$95.8

-45.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.31 $34.31

$52.8 A$73.9

-34.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.8 $98.8

$107 A$150

-7.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$152 $152

$105 A$147

45.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,410 $2,410

$1,560 A$2,184

54.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,560 $1,560

$1,213 A$1,699

28.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,644 $2,644

$3,010 A$4,213

-12.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,541 $2,541

$1,984 A$2,778

28.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,158 $2,158

$7,460 A$10.4K

-71.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,727 $1,727

$6,569 A$9,197

-73.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,351 $4,351

$4,305 A$6,027

1.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.19

6.62%

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

Last update for Williamsburg, VA: April 20, 2026

Last update for Melbourne: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,410 in Williamsburg, VA and $1,560 in Melbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Williamsburg, VA pays 1% 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: $81 in Williamsburg, VA vs $78 in Melbourne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $358 vs $356 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

Williamsburg, VA vs Melbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Williamsburg, VA and Melbourne differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($2,889 vs $2,482 including rent). Melbourne is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Williamsburg, VA pays 1% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,410 in Williamsburg, VA versus $1,560 in Melbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Williamsburg, VA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,889 per month in Williamsburg, VA versus $2,482 in Melbourne – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

Safety-wise, Williamsburg, VA 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.

Expats usually find Melbourne gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Williamsburg, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.