Cost of Living Comparison Between Auckland and Melbourne 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Melbourne is 18.0% higher than in Auckland (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Melbourne is 22.2% higher than in Auckland | |
| Rent Prices in Melbourne are 32.8% higher than in Auckland | |
| Restaurant Prices in Melbourne are 17.4% higher than in Auckland | |
| Groceries Prices in Melbourne are 22.6% higher than in Auckland | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Melbourne is 9.1% higher than in Auckland | |
Restaurants | Auckland Edit |
Melbourne Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
25.00 NZ$ (20.70 A$) |
30.19 NZ$ (25.00 A$) |
+20.8 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
125.00 NZ$ (103.50 A$) |
144.93 NZ$ (120.00 A$) |
+15.9 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
16.80 NZ$ (13.91 A$) |
19.32 NZ$ (16.00 A$) |
+15.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
12.16 NZ$ (10.06 A$) |
15.10 NZ$ (12.50 A$) |
+24.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
12.00 NZ$ (9.94 A$) |
14.49 NZ$ (12.00 A$) |
+20.8 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
6.02 NZ$ (4.99 A$) |
6.60 NZ$ (5.46 A$) |
+9.5 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.59 NZ$ (2.97 A$) |
5.16 NZ$ (4.27 A$) |
+43.9 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
3.79 NZ$ (3.14 A$) |
4.08 NZ$ (3.38 A$) |
+7.7 % |
Markets | Auckland Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
3.13 NZ$ (2.59 A$) |
3.16 NZ$ (2.62 A$) |
+0.9 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
3.38 NZ$ (2.80 A$) |
4.74 NZ$ (3.92 A$) |
+40.0 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
1.50 NZ$ (1.24 A$) |
1.79 NZ$ (1.48 A$) |
+19.5 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
10.70 NZ$ (8.86 A$) |
10.25 NZ$ (8.48 A$) |
-4.3 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
7.06 NZ$ (5.85 A$) |
10.02 NZ$ (8.29 A$) |
+41.8 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
7.72 NZ$ (6.39 A$) |
7.70 NZ$ (6.38 A$) |
-0.2 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
12.49 NZ$ (10.34 A$) |
12.72 NZ$ (10.53 A$) |
+1.8 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
2.29 NZ$ (1.90 A$) |
3.11 NZ$ (2.58 A$) |
+35.8 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
1.59 NZ$ (1.32 A$) |
2.52 NZ$ (2.09 A$) |
+58.2 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
2.46 NZ$ (2.04 A$) |
2.39 NZ$ (1.98 A$) |
-2.7 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
3.61 NZ$ (2.99 A$) |
3.61 NZ$ (2.99 A$) |
-0.1 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
1.40 NZ$ (1.16 A$) |
2.42 NZ$ (2.01 A$) |
+72.6 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1.14 NZ$ (0.94 A$) |
2.13 NZ$ (1.76 A$) |
+87.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
3.30 NZ$ (2.73 A$) |
4.25 NZ$ (3.52 A$) |
+28.7 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
2.00 NZ$ (1.66 A$) |
2.78 NZ$ (2.31 A$) |
+39.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
17.50 NZ$ (14.49 A$) |
24.16 NZ$ (20.00 A$) |
+38.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
4.70 NZ$ (3.89 A$) |
9.45 NZ$ (7.82 A$) |
+101.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
5.73 NZ$ (4.74 A$) |
9.35 NZ$ (7.74 A$) |
+63.2 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
45.00 NZ$ (37.26 A$) |
60.39 NZ$ (50.00 A$) |
+34.2 % |
Transportation | Auckland Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
4.50 NZ$ (3.73 A$) |
6.64 NZ$ (5.50 A$) |
+47.6 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
217.39 NZ$ (179.99 A$) |
236.72 NZ$ (196.00 A$) |
+8.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
4.00 NZ$ (3.31 A$) |
6.16 NZ$ (5.10 A$) |
+54.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
5.63 NZ$ (4.66 A$) |
3.85 NZ$ (3.19 A$) |
-31.7 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
57.00 NZ$ (47.19 A$) |
50.29 NZ$ (41.64 A$) |
-11.8 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
2.77 NZ$ (2.29 A$) |
2.34 NZ$ (1.94 A$) |
-15.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
44,990.00 NZ$ (37,250.15 A$) |
49,518.99 NZ$ (41,000.00 A$) |
+10.1 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
39,559.21 NZ$ (32,753.65 A$) |
45,479.27 NZ$ (37,655.25 A$) |
+15.0 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Auckland Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
286.31 NZ$ (237.06 A$) |
372.53 NZ$ (308.44 A$) |
+30.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
51.36 NZ$ (42.53 A$) |
49.52 NZ$ (41.00 A$) |
-3.6 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
85.41 NZ$ (70.72 A$) |
93.00 NZ$ (77.00 A$) |
+8.9 % |
Sports And Leisure | Auckland Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
65.99 NZ$ (54.64 A$) |
88.72 NZ$ (73.46 A$) |
+34.4 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
29.33 NZ$ (24.29 A$) |
34.93 NZ$ (28.92 A$) |
+19.1 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
23.00 NZ$ (19.04 A$) |
30.19 NZ$ (25.00 A$) |
+31.3 % |
Childcare | Auckland Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
1,837.72 NZ$ (1,521.57 A$) |
3,985.44 NZ$ (3,299.81 A$) |
+116.9 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
32,040.31 NZ$ (26,528.26 A$) |
53,440.85 NZ$ (44,247.17 A$) |
+66.8 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Auckland Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
118.46 NZ$ (98.08 A$) |
133.14 NZ$ (110.23 A$) |
+12.4 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
76.42 NZ$ (63.27 A$) |
93.65 NZ$ (77.54 A$) |
+22.5 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
164.04 NZ$ (135.82 A$) |
217.40 NZ$ (180.00 A$) |
+32.5 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
198.05 NZ$ (163.98 A$) |
215.82 NZ$ (178.69 A$) |
+9.0 % |
Rent Per Month | Auckland Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
2,222.73 NZ$ (1,840.34 A$) |
2,964.49 NZ$ (2,454.50 A$) |
+33.4 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
1,975.58 NZ$ (1,635.71 A$) |
2,225.17 NZ$ (1,842.36 A$) |
+12.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
4,104.71 NZ$ (3,398.55 A$) |
5,740.74 NZ$ (4,753.14 A$) |
+39.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
3,057.14 NZ$ (2,531.21 A$) |
4,156.98 NZ$ (3,441.83 A$) |
+36.0 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Auckland Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,217.56 NZ$ (1,008.10 A$) |
1,187.83 NZ$ (983.48 A$) |
-2.4 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
828.73 NZ$ (686.16 A$) |
1,041.81 NZ$ (862.59 A$) |
+25.7 % |
Salaries And Financing | Auckland Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
5,466.53 NZ$ (4,526.10 A$) |
7,289.92 NZ$ (6,035.80 A$) |
+33.4 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.01 | 5.61 | -6.7 % |
| Last update: | 15 April 2026 | 14 April 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 108 | 242 | |
Moving to Auckland? Explore:
Moving to Melbourne? Explore:
Cities near Auckland: | Cost of Living in North Shore | 6.10 miles |
| Cost of Living in Manukau | 14.42 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hamilton | 78.04 miles |
| Cost of Living in Cambridge | 90.92 miles |
| Cost of Living in Whangarei | 98.49 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tauranga | 126.40 miles |
| Cost of Living in Rotorua | 141.68 miles |
| Cost of Living in Taupo | 172.85 miles |
| Cost of Living in New Plymouth | 223.66 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 |