Cost of Living Comparison Between Fairfax, VA and Melbourne 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Melbourne is 2.2% higher than in Fairfax, VA (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Melbourne is 2.8% lower than in Fairfax, VA | |
| Rent Prices in Melbourne are 12.5% lower than in Fairfax, VA | |
| Restaurant Prices in Melbourne are 2.0% lower than in Fairfax, VA | |
| Groceries Prices in Melbourne are 2.6% lower than in Fairfax, VA | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Melbourne is 18.6% lower than in Fairfax, VA | |
Restaurants | Fairfax, VA Edit |
Melbourne Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
$19.00 (A$26.88) |
$17.67 (A$25.00) |
-7.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
$75.00 (A$106.12) |
$84.81 (A$120.00) |
+13.1 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
$13.00 (A$18.39) |
$12.02 (A$17.00) |
-7.6 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
$5.50 (A$7.78) |
$9.40 (A$13.30) |
+70.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
$8.00 (A$11.32) |
$8.48 (A$12.00) |
+6.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
$6.00 (A$8.49) |
$4.01 (A$5.68) |
-33.1 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
$2.75 (A$3.89) |
$3.18 (A$4.50) |
+15.6 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
$2.40 (A$3.40) |
$2.53 (A$3.58) |
+5.5 % |
Markets | Fairfax, VA Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
$1.08 (A$1.53) |
$1.80 (A$2.54) |
+66.5 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
$3.74 (A$5.29) |
$2.80 (A$3.96) |
-25.0 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
$2.38 (A$3.36) |
$1.17 (A$1.66) |
-50.6 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
$5.46 (A$7.73) |
$5.95 (A$8.42) |
+8.9 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
$8.67 (A$12.26) |
$5.17 (A$7.32) |
-40.3 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
$6.67 (A$9.43) |
$4.38 (A$6.20) |
-34.3 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
$8.00 (A$11.32) |
$6.93 (A$9.81) |
-13.3 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.50 (A$3.54) |
$1.90 (A$2.69) |
-24.1 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.05 (A$1.48) |
$1.45 (A$2.05) |
+38.2 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$3.67 (A$5.19) |
$1.48 (A$2.09) |
-59.7 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$3.67 (A$5.19) |
$2.26 (A$3.20) |
-38.4 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$2.50 (A$3.54) |
$1.45 (A$2.05) |
-42.1 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.83 (A$2.59) |
$1.25 (A$1.77) |
-31.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
$2.33 (A$3.30) |
$2.41 (A$3.41) |
+3.3 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
$3.25 (A$4.60) |
$1.75 (A$2.48) |
-46.1 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
$14.00 (A$19.81) |
$14.14 (A$20.00) |
+1.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
$2.29 (A$3.25) |
$5.36 (A$7.58) |
+133.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
$4.25 (A$6.01) |
$5.08 (A$7.19) |
+19.6 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
$10.00 (A$14.15) |
$43.82 (A$62.00) |
+338.2 % |
Transportation | Fairfax, VA Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
$5.00 (A$7.07) |
$3.89 (A$5.50) |
-22.3 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
$69.57 (A$98.43) |
$139.23 (A$197.00) |
+100.1 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
$3.00 (A$4.24) |
$4.19 (A$5.92) |
+39.6 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
$2.33 (A$3.30) |
$2.27 (A$3.22) |
-2.4 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
$22.50 (A$31.83) |
$30.62 (A$43.32) |
+36.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
$0.93 (A$1.32) |
$1.43 (A$2.02) |
+53.2 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
$36,227.00 (A$51,257.00) |
$28,974.11 (A$40,995.00) |
-20.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
$25,537.30 (A$36,132.32) |
$26,922.41 (A$38,092.08) |
+5.4 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Fairfax, VA Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
$103.63 (A$146.63) |
$226.13 (A$319.95) |
+118.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
$48.33 (A$68.39) |
$29.33 (A$41.50) |
-39.3 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
$60.83 (A$86.07) |
$55.87 (A$79.05) |
-8.2 % |
Sports And Leisure | Fairfax, VA Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
$74.80 (A$105.83) |
$60.93 (A$86.22) |
-18.5 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
$25.00 (A$35.37) |
$20.34 (A$28.78) |
-18.6 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
$18.00 (A$25.47) |
$17.67 (A$25.00) |
-1.8 % |
Childcare | Fairfax, VA Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
$1,900.00 (A$2,688.28) |
$2,357.11 (A$3,335.03) |
+24.1 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
$32,326.67 (A$45,738.48) |
$33,209.87 (A$46,988.11) |
+2.7 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Fairfax, VA Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
$53.75 (A$76.05) |
$80.63 (A$114.08) |
+50.0 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
$55.00 (A$77.82) |
$48.28 (A$68.31) |
-12.2 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
$83.75 (A$118.50) |
$122.05 (A$172.69) |
+45.7 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
$130.00 (A$183.93) |
$129.05 (A$182.59) |
-0.7 % |
Rent Per Month | Fairfax, VA Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
$2,194.00 (A$3,104.26) |
$1,739.93 (A$2,461.80) |
-20.7 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
$1,838.33 (A$2,601.03) |
$1,324.22 (A$1,873.61) |
-28.0 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
$3,222.50 (A$4,559.46) |
$3,327.88 (A$4,708.57) |
+3.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
$2,846.00 (A$4,026.76) |
$2,449.01 (A$3,465.07) |
-13.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Fairfax, VA Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
$515.00 (A$728.66) |
$655.20 (A$927.03) |
+27.2 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
$380.00 (A$537.65) |
$566.78 (A$801.92) |
+49.2 % |
Salaries And Financing | Fairfax, VA Edit |
Melbourne Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
$5,684.67 (A$8,043.15) |
$4,499.55 (A$6,366.34) |
-20.8 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.34 | 5.62 | -11.3 % |
| Last update: | 10 June 2026 | 14 June 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 24 | 239 | |
Moving to Fairfax, VA? Explore:
Moving to Melbourne? Explore:
Cities near Fairfax, VA: | Cost of Living in Springfield, Virginia | 9.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Herndon, Virginia | 12.29 miles |
| Cost of Living in Arlington, Virginia | 13.50 miles |
| Cost of Living in Washington, District of Columbia | 18.18 miles |
| Cost of Living in Chevy Chase, Maryland | 19.99 miles |
| Cost of Living in Rockville, Maryland | 22.61 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fredericksburg, Virginia | 44.99 miles |
| Cost of Living in Baltimore, Maryland | 56.71 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lexington Park, Maryland | 74.09 miles |
| Cost of Living in Richmond, Virginia | 99.37 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 |