Cost of Living Comparison Between Johannesburg and Melbourne 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Melbourne is 89.7% higher than in Johannesburg (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Melbourne is 115.0% higher than in Johannesburg | |
| Rent Prices in Melbourne are 204.0% higher than in Johannesburg | |
| Restaurant Prices in Melbourne are 86.6% higher than in Johannesburg | |
| Groceries Prices in Melbourne are 146.1% higher than in Johannesburg | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Melbourne is 28.2% higher than in Johannesburg | |
Restaurants | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
200.00 R (17.04 A$) |
293.36 R (25.00 A$) |
+46.7 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
700.00 R (59.65 A$) |
1,408.13 R (120.00 A$) |
+101.2 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
97.50 R (8.31 A$) |
187.75 R (16.00 A$) |
+92.6 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
40.00 R (3.41 A$) |
152.55 R (13.00 A$) |
+281.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
45.00 R (3.83 A$) |
140.81 R (12.00 A$) |
+212.9 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
39.45 R (3.36 A$) |
63.72 R (5.43 A$) |
+61.5 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
18.77 R (1.60 A$) |
51.01 R (4.35 A$) |
+171.8 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
14.71 R (1.25 A$) |
40.67 R (3.47 A$) |
+176.6 % |
Markets | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
21.37 R (1.82 A$) |
30.28 R (2.58 A$) |
+41.7 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
17.79 R (1.52 A$) |
46.14 R (3.93 A$) |
+159.4 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
13.90 R (1.18 A$) |
17.56 R (1.50 A$) |
+26.4 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
39.09 R (3.33 A$) |
101.00 R (8.61 A$) |
+158.4 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
67.36 R (5.74 A$) |
97.47 R (8.31 A$) |
+44.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
40.83 R (3.48 A$) |
74.01 R (6.31 A$) |
+81.2 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
57.86 R (4.93 A$) |
124.38 R (10.60 A$) |
+115.0 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
14.82 R (1.26 A$) |
30.04 R (2.56 A$) |
+102.6 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
13.49 R (1.15 A$) |
24.20 R (2.06 A$) |
+79.4 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
13.10 R (1.12 A$) |
24.09 R (2.05 A$) |
+83.9 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
14.32 R (1.22 A$) |
35.81 R (3.05 A$) |
+150.1 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
12.45 R (1.06 A$) |
23.67 R (2.02 A$) |
+90.1 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
12.70 R (1.08 A$) |
20.78 R (1.77 A$) |
+63.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
20.86 R (1.78 A$) |
41.27 R (3.52 A$) |
+97.8 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
18.36 R (1.56 A$) |
27.05 R (2.31 A$) |
+47.3 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
100.00 R (8.52 A$) |
234.69 R (20.00 A$) |
+134.7 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
26.73 R (2.28 A$) |
91.81 R (7.82 A$) |
+243.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
32.61 R (2.78 A$) |
90.82 R (7.74 A$) |
+178.5 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
55.00 R (4.69 A$) |
586.72 R (50.00 A$) |
+966.8 % |
Transportation | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
30.00 R (2.56 A$) |
64.54 R (5.50 A$) |
+115.1 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
1,350.00 R (115.05 A$) |
2,299.95 R (196.00 A$) |
+70.4 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
16.00 R (1.36 A$) |
59.85 R (5.10 A$) |
+274.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
24.14 R (2.06 A$) |
37.39 R (3.19 A$) |
+54.9 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
240.00 R (20.45 A$) |
488.62 R (41.64 A$) |
+103.6 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
22.42 R (1.91 A$) |
22.75 R (1.94 A$) |
+1.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
589,000.00 R (50,194.15 A$) |
481,111.87 R (41,000.00 A$) |
-18.3 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
491,755.26 R (41,907.02 A$) |
441,863.11 R (37,655.25 A$) |
-10.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
2,523.78 R (215.08 A$) |
3,619.42 R (308.44 A$) |
+43.4 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
607.69 R (51.79 A$) |
481.11 R (41.00 A$) |
-20.8 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
627.59 R (53.48 A$) |
903.55 R (77.00 A$) |
+44.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
599.62 R (51.10 A$) |
861.97 R (73.46 A$) |
+43.8 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
233.33 R (19.88 A$) |
339.40 R (28.92 A$) |
+45.5 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
145.00 R (12.36 A$) |
293.36 R (25.00 A$) |
+102.3 % |
Childcare | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
3,602.38 R (306.99 A$) |
38,354.81 R (3,268.57 A$) |
+964.7 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
89,668.00 R (7,641.44 A$) |
519,215.53 R (44,247.17 A$) |
+479.0 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
953.77 R (81.28 A$) |
1,293.51 R (110.23 A$) |
+35.6 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
765.00 R (65.19 A$) |
909.91 R (77.54 A$) |
+18.9 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
1,663.00 R (141.72 A$) |
2,112.20 R (180.00 A$) |
+27.0 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
1,404.21 R (119.67 A$) |
2,096.80 R (178.69 A$) |
+49.3 % |
Rent Per Month | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
8,018.18 R (683.30 A$) |
28,789.74 R (2,453.44 A$) |
+259.1 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
6,705.38 R (571.43 A$) |
21,612.50 R (1,841.80 A$) |
+222.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
19,700.00 R (1,678.82 A$) |
55,758.93 R (4,751.74 A$) |
+183.0 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
13,778.85 R (1,174.22 A$) |
40,369.33 R (3,440.24 A$) |
+193.0 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,603.91 R (136.68 A$) |
11,535.04 R (983.01 A$) |
+619.2 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,170.10 R (99.71 A$) |
10,116.81 R (862.15 A$) |
+764.6 % |
Salaries And Financing | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
26,010.82 R (2,216.62 A$) |
71,721.60 R (6,112.06 A$) |
+175.7 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 11.07 | 5.61 | -49.3 % |
| Last update: | 17 April 2026 | 20 April 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 82 | 248 | |
Moving to Melbourne? Explore:
Cities near Johannesburg: | Cost of Living in Randburg | 9.14 miles |
| Cost of Living in Sandton | 13.65 miles |
| Cost of Living in Boksburg | 15.07 miles |
| Cost of Living in Benoni | 19.17 miles |
| Cost of Living in Krugersdorp | 20.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Centurion (Verwoerdburg) | 28.17 miles |
| Cost of Living in Springs | 30.38 miles |
| Cost of Living in Diepsloot | 30.88 miles |
| Cost of Living in Westonaria | 34.82 miles |
| Cost of Living in Pretoria | 36.05 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 |