Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Melbourne 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Melbourne is 1.9% lower than in Sydney (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Melbourne is 10.9% lower than in Sydney | |
| Rent Prices in Melbourne are 25.8% lower than in Sydney | |
| Restaurant Prices in Melbourne are 2.0% higher than in Sydney | |
| Groceries Prices in Melbourne are 3.1% higher than in Sydney | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Melbourne is 15.9% higher than in Sydney | |
Restaurants | Sydney Edit |
Melbourne Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | A$26.00 | A$25.00 | -3.8 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | A$121.00 | A$120.00 | -0.8 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | A$15.50 | A$16.00 | +3.2 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | A$10.00 | A$13.02 | +30.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | A$10.00 | A$12.00 | +20.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | A$5.52 | A$5.59 | +1.2 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | A$3.74 | A$4.42 | +18.0 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | A$3.08 | A$3.52 | +14.2 % |
Markets | Sydney Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | A$2.70 | A$2.53 | -6.0 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | A$3.41 | A$3.95 | +15.9 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | A$1.49 | A$1.62 | +8.8 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | A$8.20 | A$8.46 | +3.2 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | A$8.89 | A$7.27 | -18.2 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | A$6.23 | A$6.18 | -0.9 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | A$9.83 | A$9.81 | -0.2 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | A$2.33 | A$2.59 | +11.0 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | A$1.97 | A$2.03 | +3.1 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | A$2.03 | A$2.12 | +4.5 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | A$3.33 | A$3.16 | -4.9 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | A$1.86 | A$2.05 | +10.3 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | A$1.51 | A$1.78 | +17.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | A$3.32 | A$3.52 | +5.8 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | A$1.70 | A$2.74 | +61.3 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | A$20.00 | A$20.00 | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | A$6.48 | A$7.54 | +16.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | A$5.71 | A$7.52 | +31.7 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | A$50.00 | A$51.50 | +3.0 % |
Transportation | Sydney Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | A$5.60 | A$5.50 | -1.8 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | A$217.39 | A$198.00 | -8.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | A$5.00 | A$5.10 | +2.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | A$4.02 | A$3.22 | -20.0 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | A$58.00 | A$43.32 | -25.3 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | A$1.94 | A$1.94 | +0.3 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | A$39,345.00 | A$40,995.00 | +4.2 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | A$38,792.94 | A$36,594.41 | -5.7 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Sydney Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | A$302.65 | A$326.67 | +7.9 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | A$33.11 | A$41.20 | +24.4 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | A$77.23 | A$77.16 | -0.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Sydney Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | A$100.26 | A$73.98 | -26.2 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | A$34.48 | A$28.33 | -17.8 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | A$25.00 | A$22.00 | -12.0 % |
Childcare | Sydney Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | A$3,199.19 | A$3,296.29 | +3.0 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | A$39,624.67 | A$46,988.11 | +18.6 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Sydney Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | A$111.09 | A$108.47 | -2.4 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | A$101.33 | A$74.10 | -26.9 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | A$155.38 | A$170.94 | +10.0 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | A$185.00 | A$185.53 | +0.3 % |
Rent Per Month | Sydney Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | A$3,466.00 | A$2,449.24 | -29.3 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | A$2,386.56 | A$1,848.53 | -22.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | A$6,837.78 | A$4,788.27 | -30.0 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | A$4,120.95 | A$3,385.46 | -17.8 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Sydney Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | A$1,546.22 | A$963.07 | -37.7 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | A$957.21 | A$845.58 | -11.7 % |
Salaries And Financing | Sydney Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | A$6,016.84 | A$6,214.13 | +3.3 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 5.81 | 5.61 | -3.4 % |
| Last update: | 15 May 2026 | 15 May 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 204 | 250 | |
Moving to Sydney? Explore:
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Cities near Sydney: | Cost of Living in Gosford | 46.31 miles |
| Cost of Living in Wollongong | 51.90 miles |
| Cost of Living in Canberra | 178.59 miles |
| Cost of Living in Queanbeyan | 178.95 miles |
| Cost of Living in Forster | 188.67 miles |
Cities near Melbourne: | Cost of Living in Doncaster | 11.49 miles |
| Cost of Living in Epping | 13.38 miles |
| Cost of Living in Dandenong | 21.97 miles |
| Cost of Living in Pakenham | 40.22 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ballarat | 71.73 miles |
| Cost of Living in Wangaratta | 149.91 miles |
| Cost of Living in Albury | 195.47 miles |