Cost of Living Comparison Between Adelaide and Melbourne 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Melbourne is 3.1% higher than in Adelaide (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Melbourne is 11.0% higher than in Adelaide | |
| Rent Prices in Melbourne are 33.6% higher than in Adelaide | |
| Restaurant Prices in Melbourne are 3.0% lower than in Adelaide | |
| Groceries Prices in Melbourne are 3.7% higher than in Adelaide | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Melbourne is 14.5% higher than in Adelaide | |
Restaurants | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 25.00 A$ | 25.00 A$ | 0.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 134.50 A$ | 120.00 A$ | -10.8 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 15.00 A$ | 15.00 A$ | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 11.00 A$ | 12.00 A$ | +9.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 12.00 A$ | 12.00 A$ | 0.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 5.53 A$ | 5.60 A$ | +1.3 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.81 A$ | 4.08 A$ | +7.1 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 3.45 A$ | 3.70 A$ | +7.2 % |
Markets | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 2.66 A$ | 2.53 A$ | -4.8 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 3.77 A$ | 3.75 A$ | -0.6 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 1.45 A$ | 1.58 A$ | +8.6 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 7.53 A$ | 8.25 A$ | +9.4 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 6.74 A$ | 6.56 A$ | -2.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 5.61 A$ | 6.28 A$ | +12.0 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 10.15 A$ | 9.95 A$ | -2.0 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.01 A$ | 2.34 A$ | +16.1 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 1.81 A$ | 2.03 A$ | +12.0 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.02 A$ | 2.11 A$ | +4.3 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 2.95 A$ | 2.86 A$ | -3.2 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.87 A$ | 1.96 A$ | +4.9 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.48 A$ | 1.71 A$ | +15.7 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 3.49 A$ | 3.36 A$ | -3.5 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.46 A$ | 2.57 A$ | +4.7 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 20.00 A$ | 20.00 A$ | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 6.77 A$ | 6.88 A$ | +1.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 8.58 A$ | 7.43 A$ | -13.4 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 47.50 A$ | 50.00 A$ | +5.3 % |
Transportation | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 4.40 A$ | 5.50 A$ | +25.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 115.50 A$ | 194.55 A$ | +68.4 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 6.25 A$ | 5.92 A$ | -5.2 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 5.63 A$ | 3.22 A$ | -42.9 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 65.50 A$ | 43.32 A$ | -33.9 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 1.76 A$ | 1.82 A$ | +3.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 44,423.00 A$ | 44,423.00 A$ | 0.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 36,152.33 A$ | 36,220.68 A$ | +0.2 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 296.22 A$ | 272.08 A$ | -8.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 38.08 A$ | 39.20 A$ | +2.9 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 80.76 A$ | 78.28 A$ | -3.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 57.10 A$ | 76.61 A$ | +34.2 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 10.71 A$ | 28.24 A$ | +163.5 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 22.00 A$ | 25.00 A$ | +13.6 % |
Childcare | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 1,337.40 A$ | 3,095.45 A$ | +131.5 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 10,666.67 A$ | 34,255.88 A$ | +221.1 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 103.59 A$ | 106.95 A$ | +3.2 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 82.92 A$ | 79.42 A$ | -4.2 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 164.74 A$ | 161.04 A$ | -2.2 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 158.62 A$ | 170.86 A$ | +7.7 % |
Rent Per Month | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,028.00 A$ | 2,371.55 A$ | +16.9 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 1,765.75 A$ | 1,798.41 A$ | +1.8 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,916.67 A$ | 4,759.17 A$ | +63.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 2,422.56 A$ | 3,268.96 A$ | +34.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 1,221.00 A$ | 977.69 A$ | -19.9 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 812.23 A$ | 808.86 A$ | -0.4 % |
Salaries And Financing | Adelaide Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 4,993.38 A$ | 6,344.32 A$ | +27.1 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.39 | 6.01 | -6.0 % |
| Last update: | 9 November 2025 | 8 November 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 152 | 356 |
Moving to Adelaide? Explore:
Moving to Melbourne? Explore:
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 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 |