Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Town and Melbourne 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Melbourne is 76.9% higher than in Cape Town (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Melbourne is 80.1% higher than in Cape Town | |
| Rent Prices in Melbourne are 87.6% higher than in Cape Town | |
| Restaurant Prices in Melbourne are 71.1% higher than in Cape Town | |
| Groceries Prices in Melbourne are 124.8% higher than in Cape Town | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Melbourne is 36.8% higher than in Cape Town | |
Restaurants | Cape Town Edit |
Melbourne Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
182.50 R (16.59 A$) |
274.95 R (25.00 A$) |
+50.7 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
800.00 R (72.74 A$) |
1,319.76 R (120.00 A$) |
+65.0 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
91.00 R (8.27 A$) |
175.97 R (16.00 A$) |
+93.4 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
50.00 R (4.55 A$) |
131.98 R (12.00 A$) |
+164.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
50.00 R (4.55 A$) |
131.98 R (12.00 A$) |
+164.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
39.20 R (3.56 A$) |
61.07 R (5.55 A$) |
+55.8 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
21.43 R (1.95 A$) |
44.75 R (4.07 A$) |
+108.8 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
17.00 R (1.55 A$) |
38.40 R (3.49 A$) |
+125.9 % |
Markets | Cape Town Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
20.83 R (1.89 A$) |
29.73 R (2.70 A$) |
+42.7 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
17.36 R (1.58 A$) |
43.01 R (3.91 A$) |
+147.7 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
16.76 R (1.52 A$) |
17.10 R (1.56 A$) |
+2.1 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
43.03 R (3.91 A$) |
98.47 R (8.95 A$) |
+128.8 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
69.35 R (6.31 A$) |
94.13 R (8.56 A$) |
+35.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
44.17 R (4.02 A$) |
68.94 R (6.27 A$) |
+56.1 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
59.79 R (5.44 A$) |
107.91 R (9.81 A$) |
+80.5 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
13.80 R (1.25 A$) |
25.46 R (2.32 A$) |
+84.5 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
13.10 R (1.19 A$) |
22.99 R (2.09 A$) |
+75.4 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
12.97 R (1.18 A$) |
22.26 R (2.02 A$) |
+71.6 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
13.81 R (1.26 A$) |
32.48 R (2.95 A$) |
+135.2 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
11.44 R (1.04 A$) |
21.33 R (1.94 A$) |
+86.4 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
10.80 R (0.98 A$) |
19.02 R (1.73 A$) |
+76.2 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
20.13 R (1.83 A$) |
38.00 R (3.46 A$) |
+88.8 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
19.61 R (1.78 A$) |
28.19 R (2.56 A$) |
+43.7 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
107.50 R (9.77 A$) |
219.96 R (20.00 A$) |
+104.6 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
23.06 R (2.10 A$) |
74.99 R (6.82 A$) |
+225.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
33.45 R (3.04 A$) |
81.73 R (7.43 A$) |
+144.3 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
55.00 R (5.00 A$) |
549.90 R (50.00 A$) |
+899.8 % |
Transportation | Cape Town Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
17.00 R (1.55 A$) |
60.49 R (5.50 A$) |
+255.8 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
995.00 R (90.47 A$) |
2,166.61 R (197.00 A$) |
+117.7 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
20.00 R (1.82 A$) |
58.29 R (5.30 A$) |
+191.4 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
28.97 R (2.63 A$) |
35.40 R (3.22 A$) |
+22.2 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
82.50 R (7.50 A$) |
457.96 R (41.64 A$) |
+455.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
21.82 R (1.98 A$) |
20.19 R (1.84 A$) |
-7.4 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
589,000.00 R (53,555.08 A$) |
465,106.42 R (42,290.00 A$) |
-21.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
498,395.65 R (45,316.84 A$) |
404,974.72 R (36,822.50 A$) |
-18.7 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Cape Town Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
2,069.93 R (188.21 A$) |
3,336.14 R (303.34 A$) |
+61.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
568.33 R (51.68 A$) |
468.13 R (42.57 A$) |
-17.6 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
702.67 R (63.89 A$) |
857.85 R (78.00 A$) |
+22.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Cape Town Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
828.75 R (75.35 A$) |
816.19 R (74.21 A$) |
-1.5 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
158.75 R (14.43 A$) |
320.32 R (29.12 A$) |
+101.8 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
135.00 R (12.27 A$) |
269.45 R (24.50 A$) |
+99.6 % |
Childcare | Cape Town Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
4,280.16 R (389.18 A$) |
35,535.37 R (3,231.07 A$) |
+730.2 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
95,501.82 R (8,683.54 A$) |
483,038.27 R (43,920.46 A$) |
+405.8 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Cape Town Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
958.10 R (87.12 A$) |
1,209.06 R (109.93 A$) |
+26.2 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
606.82 R (55.18 A$) |
857.39 R (77.96 A$) |
+41.3 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
2,028.57 R (184.45 A$) |
1,839.42 R (167.25 A$) |
-9.3 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
1,535.71 R (139.64 A$) |
1,965.21 R (178.69 A$) |
+28.0 % |
Rent Per Month | Cape Town Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
15,392.50 R (1,399.57 A$) |
27,142.80 R (2,467.97 A$) |
+76.3 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
10,336.47 R (939.85 A$) |
20,135.27 R (1,830.81 A$) |
+94.8 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
27,950.00 R (2,541.37 A$) |
52,411.60 R (4,765.55 A$) |
+87.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
20,100.00 R (1,827.60 A$) |
38,726.30 R (3,521.21 A$) |
+92.7 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Cape Town Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
3,240.97 R (294.69 A$) |
10,760.55 R (978.41 A$) |
+232.0 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
2,157.32 R (196.15 A$) |
9,297.75 R (845.40 A$) |
+331.0 % |
Salaries And Financing | Cape Town Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
27,766.26 R (2,524.66 A$) |
68,421.53 R (6,221.26 A$) |
+146.4 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 11.33 | 5.68 | -49.9 % |
| Last update: | 9 January 2026 | 13 January 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 104 | 242 | |
Moving to Cape Town? Explore:
Moving to Melbourne? Explore:
Cities near Cape Town: | Cost of Living in Durbanville | 18.43 miles |
| Cost of Living in Somerset West | 27.94 miles |
| Cost of Living in Paarl | 38.17 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 |