Cost of Living Comparison Between Johannesburg and Melbourne 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Melbourne is 79.5% higher than in Johannesburg (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Melbourne is 104.3% higher than in Johannesburg | |
| Rent Prices in Melbourne are 197.0% higher than in Johannesburg | |
| Restaurant Prices in Melbourne are 81.0% higher than in Johannesburg | |
| Groceries Prices in Melbourne are 138.6% higher than in Johannesburg | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Melbourne is 28.8% higher than in Johannesburg | |
Restaurants | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
R200.00 (A$17.40) |
R287.33 (A$25.00) |
+43.7 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
R750.00 (A$65.26) |
R1,379.17 (A$120.00) |
+83.9 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
R100.00 (A$8.70) |
R195.38 (A$17.00) |
+95.4 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
R40.00 (A$3.48) |
R153.13 (A$13.32) |
+282.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
R45.00 (A$3.92) |
R137.92 (A$12.00) |
+206.5 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
R39.41 (A$3.43) |
R65.33 (A$5.68) |
+65.8 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
R19.75 (A$1.72) |
R51.70 (A$4.50) |
+161.8 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
R15.54 (A$1.35) |
R41.17 (A$3.58) |
+165.0 % |
Markets | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
R22.25 (A$1.94) |
R29.25 (A$2.54) |
+31.4 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
R18.38 (A$1.60) |
R45.57 (A$3.96) |
+147.9 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
R13.31 (A$1.16) |
R19.07 (A$1.66) |
+43.2 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
R40.71 (A$3.54) |
R96.72 (A$8.42) |
+137.6 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
R66.48 (A$5.78) |
R84.11 (A$7.32) |
+26.5 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
R42.46 (A$3.69) |
R71.21 (A$6.20) |
+67.7 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
R68.75 (A$5.98) |
R112.77 (A$9.81) |
+64.0 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
R15.78 (A$1.37) |
R30.87 (A$2.69) |
+95.7 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
R14.00 (A$1.22) |
R23.54 (A$2.05) |
+68.2 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
R14.17 (A$1.23) |
R24.01 (A$2.09) |
+69.4 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
R15.22 (A$1.32) |
R36.74 (A$3.20) |
+141.3 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
R12.23 (A$1.06) |
R23.52 (A$2.05) |
+92.3 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
R12.98 (A$1.13) |
R20.40 (A$1.77) |
+57.1 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
R22.12 (A$1.93) |
R39.20 (A$3.41) |
+77.2 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
R21.31 (A$1.85) |
R28.48 (A$2.48) |
+33.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
R100.00 (A$8.70) |
R229.86 (A$20.00) |
+129.9 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
R30.79 (A$2.68) |
R87.15 (A$7.58) |
+183.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
R39.04 (A$3.40) |
R82.64 (A$7.19) |
+111.7 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
R55.50 (A$4.83) |
R712.57 (A$62.00) |
+1,183.9 % |
Transportation | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
R30.00 (A$2.61) |
R63.21 (A$5.50) |
+110.7 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
R1,500.00 (A$130.51) |
R2,264.14 (A$197.00) |
+50.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
R14.00 (A$1.22) |
R68.10 (A$5.92) |
+386.4 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
R24.14 (A$2.10) |
R36.99 (A$3.22) |
+53.2 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
R240.00 (A$20.88) |
R497.88 (A$43.32) |
+107.5 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
R23.03 (A$2.00) |
R23.17 (A$2.02) |
+0.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
R589,000.00 (A$51,248.14) |
R471,159.60 (A$40,995.00) |
-20.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
R518,161.54 (A$45,084.58) |
R437,796.09 (A$38,092.08) |
-15.5 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
R3,548.33 (A$308.74) |
R3,677.23 (A$319.95) |
+3.6 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
R625.00 (A$54.38) |
R476.96 (A$41.50) |
-23.7 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
R639.35 (A$55.63) |
R908.48 (A$79.05) |
+42.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
R615.64 (A$53.57) |
R990.89 (A$86.22) |
+61.0 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
R263.33 (A$22.91) |
R330.75 (A$28.78) |
+25.6 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
R140.00 (A$12.18) |
R287.33 (A$25.00) |
+105.2 % |
Childcare | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
R3,942.31 (A$343.02) |
R38,329.87 (A$3,335.03) |
+872.3 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
R83,183.64 (A$7,237.70) |
R540,039.02 (A$46,988.11) |
+549.2 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
R934.62 (A$81.32) |
R1,311.12 (A$114.08) |
+40.3 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
R725.25 (A$63.10) |
R785.12 (A$68.31) |
+8.3 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
R1,754.00 (A$152.61) |
R1,984.77 (A$172.69) |
+13.2 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
R1,738.00 (A$151.22) |
R2,098.50 (A$182.59) |
+20.7 % |
Rent Per Month | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
R8,621.86 (A$750.18) |
R28,293.71 (A$2,461.80) |
+228.2 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
R6,936.00 (A$603.49) |
R21,537.27 (A$1,873.93) |
+210.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
R17,907.69 (A$1,558.13) |
R54,127.80 (A$4,709.59) |
+202.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
R14,953.12 (A$1,301.05) |
R39,824.41 (A$3,465.07) |
+166.3 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
R1,603.91 (A$139.55) |
R10,654.43 (A$927.03) |
+564.3 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
R1,170.10 (A$101.81) |
R9,216.57 (A$801.92) |
+687.7 % |
Salaries And Financing | Johannesburg Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
R27,792.48 (A$2,418.19) |
R73,169.00 (A$6,366.34) |
+163.3 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 10.97 | 5.62 | -48.8 % |
| Last update: | 3 June 2026 | 12 June 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 86 | 238 | |
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 |