Cost of Living Comparison Between Adelaide and Melbourne 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Melbourne is 4.6% higher than in Adelaide (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Melbourne is 8.7% higher than in Adelaide | |
| Rent Prices in Melbourne are 19.3% higher than in Adelaide | |
| Restaurant Prices in Melbourne are 1.8% higher than in Adelaide | |
| Groceries Prices in Melbourne are 2.2% higher than in Adelaide | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Melbourne is 7.2% higher than in Adelaide | |
Restaurants | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | A$25.00 | A$25.00 | 0.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | A$120.00 | A$120.00 | 0.0 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | A$16.00 | A$17.00 | +6.2 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | A$11.50 | A$13.30 | +15.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | A$12.00 | A$12.00 | 0.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | A$5.75 | A$5.68 | -1.3 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | A$3.91 | A$4.50 | +15.1 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | A$3.60 | A$3.58 | -0.6 % |
Markets | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | A$3.01 | A$2.54 | -15.5 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | A$3.70 | A$3.96 | +7.3 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | A$1.44 | A$1.66 | +15.0 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | A$8.36 | A$8.42 | +0.7 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | A$6.96 | A$7.32 | +5.2 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | A$6.02 | A$6.20 | +3.0 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | A$11.22 | A$9.81 | -12.5 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | A$2.38 | A$2.69 | +12.9 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | A$1.88 | A$2.05 | +9.2 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | A$2.30 | A$2.09 | -9.2 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | A$3.10 | A$3.20 | +3.1 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | A$2.07 | A$2.05 | -1.3 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | A$1.47 | A$1.77 | +20.4 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | A$3.58 | A$3.41 | -4.8 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | A$3.05 | A$2.48 | -18.7 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | A$20.00 | A$20.00 | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | A$7.23 | A$7.58 | +4.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | A$8.12 | A$7.19 | -11.4 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | A$56.00 | A$62.00 | +10.7 % |
Transportation | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | A$4.55 | A$5.50 | +20.9 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | A$119.55 | A$197.00 | +64.8 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | A$5.00 | A$5.92 | +18.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | A$4.51 | A$3.22 | -28.6 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | A$44.60 | A$43.32 | -2.9 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | A$1.88 | A$2.02 | +7.3 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | A$38,690.00 | A$40,995.00 | +6.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | A$39,450.59 | A$38,092.08 | -3.4 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | A$263.77 | A$319.95 | +21.3 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | A$37.17 | A$41.50 | +11.7 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | A$78.61 | A$79.05 | +0.5 % |
Sports And Leisure | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | A$72.27 | A$86.22 | +19.3 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | A$19.84 | A$28.78 | +45.0 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | A$24.00 | A$25.00 | +4.2 % |
Childcare | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | A$2,993.89 | A$3,335.03 | +11.4 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | A$19,537.50 | A$46,988.11 | +140.5 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | A$102.11 | A$114.08 | +11.7 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | A$79.63 | A$68.31 | -14.2 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | A$171.50 | A$172.69 | +0.7 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | A$193.33 | A$182.59 | -5.6 % |
Rent Per Month | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | A$2,484.55 | A$2,461.80 | -0.9 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | A$1,898.00 | A$1,873.61 | -1.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | A$3,414.00 | A$4,708.57 | +37.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | A$2,689.09 | A$3,465.07 | +28.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | A$1,176.14 | A$927.03 | -21.2 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | A$802.07 | A$801.92 | -0.0 % |
Salaries And Financing | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | A$5,465.68 | A$6,366.34 | +16.5 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 5.92 | 5.62 | -5.0 % |
| Last update: | 15 June 2026 | 14 June 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 100 | 239 | |
Moving to Adelaide? Explore:
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Cities near Adelaide: | Cost of Living in Murray Bridge | 48.49 miles |
| Cost of Living in Nuriootpa | 48.77 miles |
| Cost of Living in Victor Harbor | 52.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Meningie | 92.56 miles |
| Cost of Living in Wallaroo | 98.31 miles |
| Cost of Living in Port Pirie | 139.57 miles |
| Cost of Living in Berri | 148.52 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bordertown | 168.99 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kingston South East | 183.23 miles |
| Cost of Living in Port Augusta | 191.76 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 |