Cost of living in Melbourne

Australia · Oceania · AUD · Moderate

For long-stay travellers and remote workers in Melbourne, the realistic monthly figure is roughly $9,246 all-in. That assumes a long-stay rental (~60% of nightly mid-range accommodation), local food prices, public transit and miscellaneous — but excludes flights, visas, and tourist-style activities. For a comparable short-trip figure, see the Melbourne travel cost page.

Monthly breakdown

Line itemMonthly (USD)
Long-stay rent equivalent$4,356
Food (eating out + groceries mix)$2,970
Local transport$930
Miscellaneous$990
All-in monthly$9,246

Local currency: AUD. FX snapshot: 2025-05.

Short-trip context

For comparison, a week-long tourist visit at the mid-range tier in shoulder season runs roughly $3,297 for one person — a much higher per-day rate than the long-stay number above, because hotels charge nightly rates, tourists rely on taxis more, and short-trip activities are bundled into every day.

  • Tourist day rate (mid-range, shoulder): $471/day
  • Long-stay implied day rate: $308/day

Comparable cities

  • Cheaper alternative: Auckland — ~$8,400/mo
  • Similar cost: Copenhagen — ~$9,246/mo
  • Pricier alternative: Paris — ~$10,092/mo