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Cost of living in Melbourne in 2026 in dollars and euros
Do you want to live in Australia? Find out about Melbourne's cost of living in terms of accommodation, food, transport, health and leisure.
This place in south-east Australia ranks among the world’s best cities for quality of life, yet it also stands out for high housing and service costs. If you want to know the cost of living in Melbourne because you’d like to spend some time here, whether as a digital nomad, student or long-stay traveller, this article shows current prices for 2026.
The biggest monthly expense in this destination is accommodation, largely because of strong demand from international students and skilled workers. On the other hand, you can adapt your food and transport budget to your lifestyle. We’ll also review healthcare costs, internet access and the city’s main leisure activities. So, don’t miss this analysis of the main sectors shaping the cost of living in Melbourne and decide whether it’s a good place to live.
Average accommodation cost in Melbourne
The property market in this Australian city is very competitive and, in recent years, it has seen a sharp rise because many foreigners choose to stay here for a while to study, work, travel or live as a digital nomad. If that’s your case, we recommend starting your accommodation search early. Here are some current prices for different types of accommodation that affect the cost of living in Melbourne:
- Hotel: A single room at the Ibis Styles Kingsgate Hotel, in the city centre, costs $82 (€70) a night, or from $89 (€76) at the four-star Great Southern Hotel.
- Hostel: Right in the centre, you can share an eight-bed room from $33 (€28) a night at Bounce Melbourne, or $27 (€23) at Flinders Backpackers, in a six-bed room.
- Apartment: Prices depend on the area. In the centre or in well-connected areas, such as Fitzroy, Richmond or St Kilda, a studio costs between $1,735 and $2,384 (€1,470 and €2,020), while a two-bedroom apartment starts from $2,490 (€2,110).
- Coliving: If you choose a coliving space in Melbourne, the Preston area offers Together Co-Living, with prices from $324 (€275) per week, including bills.
- Airbnb: On this platform, you can find rooms in Coburg from $212 (€180) for five nights, or a city-centre apartment with a pool from $572 (€485) for the same period.
Cost of living in Melbourne: Food
Although Melbourne is one of Australia’s most expensive cities for eating out, you can reduce the cost of living by shopping in supermarkets with offers or at local markets. Many foreigners highlight the quality of fresh food, such as fruit, vegetables and meat, as well as the city’s wide multicultural food scene. One of the most popular chains is Woolworths, where average prices for some basic products are:
- Pasta (500 g): $2.00 (€1.69)
- Eggs (dozen): $5.50 (€4.66)
- Milk (1 litre): $1.70 (€1.44)
- Beef (1 kg): $16.00 (€13.55)
- Chicken breast (1 kg): $12.00 (€10.15)
- Chocolate bar (100 g): $3.50 (€2.97)
- Ground coffee (250 g): $6.50 (€5.50)
If we compare it with the cost of other cities, such as Sydney, eating out has a moderate cost, especially if you choose restaurants away from tourist areas and aimed at local residents. For example, a very popular option is Restaurant 1903, at 44 Spencer St, where you can try dishes such as these:
| Type of Meal | Dish | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Avocado toast with coffee | $15 (€13) |
| Food | Chicken parmigiana with salad or chips | $24 (€20) |
| Dinner | Fish and chips or pasta | $30 (€25) |
Typical menu at a local restaurant in Melbourne.
Transport prices in Melbourne
Transport is another sector that adds to the cost of living in Melbourne. The city has a comfortable public transport network, although prices are higher than in many European cities. Below, we explain current fares for different options, such as the metro, train, bus, taxi, bike hire, Uber or buying a new car.
Public transport
The company operating in the city is Public Transport Victoria (PTV), which runs trains, trams and buses in an efficient, punctual system with wide coverage. The payment system uses the myki card, which works across all transport options and offers these fares:
- Standard fare (urban area): $3.00 (€2.54) for a journey of up to two hours.
- Daily pass: Around $6.00 (€5.08).
- Weekly myki pass: Around $29.00 (€24.57).
Taxi and Uber
For greater comfort and speed, you can also use taxis and Uber. Taxi fares are higher than Uber fares and may include extra charges for luggage or night journeys. For example, a five-kilometre journey costs about A$11 (€10). In contrast, Uber is known for being cheaper than traditional taxis, with a fare of about A$9.45 (€8.00) for a similar trip.
Bike rentals
Do you enjoy doing sport on your way to work or university? Then you can hire a bike, since Melbourne has a wide network of safe cycle lanes and many green spaces for a ride. You can subscribe to the Bike Share system from $9.50 (€8.05) per month or pay $2.50 (€2.12) for a short trip.
New car
You can also choose to buy a new car if you plan to stay in the city for a long time and want to drive around Australia and explore the country at your own pace. Some popular models are the Mazda 3 and Hyundai i30, with prices from $20,000 (€16,945) for the basic model. Owning a car also brings extra costs that increase the cost of living in Melbourne, such as those shown below:
- Petrol (1 litre): Around $1.10–1.30 (€0.93–1.10).
- kWh price for an electric car: Between $0.20–0.30 (€0.17–0.25)
- Third-party insurance: Around $450–650 (€380–550) per year.
- Fully comprehensive insurance: Between $900–1,400 (€762–1,185)
Healthcare costs
Before you travel or move to another city abroad, it’s important to understand how its healthcare system works and how much medical services may cost as a foreigner. This is another key factor when calculating the total cost of living in Melbourne. In Australia, the Medicare system combines public and private healthcare, but foreigners can only access it if they come from countries with reciprocal healthcare agreements, such as the United Kingdom.
If your country hasn’t signed this agreement, then the best option is to take out private health insurance, so you won’t need to pay the full cost of any service, such as those shown in the following table:
| Service | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Hospitalisation | $826–2,360 (€700–2,000) |
| General medical consultation | $56–97 (€48–83) |
| Consultation with a specialist | $140–194 (€120–200) |
| Emergencies (general visit) | $118–354 (€100–300) |
| Major surgery | $2,715–8,735 (€2,300–7,400) |
| Medicines (ibuprofen or paracetamol) | $3.55-9.44 (€3.00–8.00) |
Prices for medical services in Melbourne.
Internet and call plan prices
We’re still calculating the cost of living in Melbourne, and you should also consider the prices of your internet connection. This city has an advanced digital infrastructure with wide 4G and 5G coverage, where most households use the National Broadband Network (NBN). The main providers are Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, with average prices such as these:
- Basic plan (25–50 Mbps): Between $46–64 (€38-54) per month.
- Standard plan (100 Mbps): Between $55–87 (€46-73) per month.
- Fast plan (250 Mbps or more): From $83–110 (€70-93) per month.
- Mobile plan (15 – 25 GB): From $17 (€15) per month.
- Unlimited mobile plan: From $43 (€37) per month.
If you want to work remotely with stable and secure 5G coverage from anywhere in the city, we recommend Holafly’s monthly plans. You can connect several devices at the same time with its 25 GB or unlimited data plan, from $50.50 (€46.50) per month and with no contracts. Better still, you can travel to more than 160 destinations with the same eSIM and card, which is ideal if you want to explore other nearby places. There’s also another solution for short trips: Choose the Holafly eSIM for Melbourne and browse with unlimited data for as many days as you need and with no roaming charges.
Important: If you are a frequent traveler and want to stay connected without worrying about expensive roaming or looking for a new SIM at every destination, Holafly’s subscription plans are for you. With a single eSIM, enjoy internet in more than 170 countries for a fixed price and no surprises on your bill. Travel without limits and connect easily and securely! 🚀🌍
Cost of leisure activities in Melbourne
Leisure also forms part of the cost of living in Melbourne, where you can attend concerts, museums, the zoo, the cinema, the theatre or visit the city’s most popular places. The cultural offer is very varied, aimed at both residents and tourists, and with prices that are slightly higher than in other Australian cities, such as Brisbane, Perth or Hobart. Get your calculator out and see how much you may spend each month enjoying this city:
- Cinema: A standard ticket costs from $14 (€11).
- Melbourne Zoo: From $37 (€32) for an adult.
- Theatre: From $70 (€60), depending on the performance.
- NGV, Melbourne Museum: An adult ticket costs between $14 and $23 (€11 and €19).
- Eureka Skydeck 88 (viewpoint): Going up to the city’s highest viewpoint costs $27 (€23).
- Federation Square: This square hosts free urban art exhibitions and outdoor events.
- Royal Botanic Gardens: You can walk through the botanic gardens for free.
- Great Ocean Road tours: Travel along the country’s most famous coastal route, from $110 (€93), including transport and guide.
- Streaming platforms: Enjoy films on Netflix from $8.25 (€6.99) per month.
How much does it cost to live in Melbourne?
In summary, we’ve already seen the high cost of living in Melbourne compared with other Australian cities, although it also offers an excellent quality of life, modern infrastructure and top-level services. Your monthly budget will depend on whether you travel alone, as a couple or as a family, on where you stay and on the lifestyle you choose. Below, we analyse each traveller profile with an estimated monthly budget for 2026:
- Single person: Between $2,500 and $3,500 (€2,117–2,965) per month. This includes rent for a small apartment, food, transport, leisure and internet.
- Couple: Between $4,500 and $6,000 (€3,812–5,083) per month. This covers rent for a two-bedroom apartment, food, transport, leisure and insurance.
- Family of four: Between $7,500 and $10,500 (€6,353–8,895) per month. This includes rent for an apartment or house, food, transport, healthcare, education and leisure activities.
Frequently asked questions about the cost of living in Melbourne
The most central and in-demand neighbourhoods, such as Southbank, Fitzroy or St Kilda, are usually more expensive than outer areas, such as Preston or Sunshine.
The biggest expense is rent, where an apartment in the centre costs from $1,735 – 2,384 (€1,470–2,020) per month.
Yes, living in Melbourne as a digital nomad means budgeting between $2,500 and $3,500 (€2,117–2,965) per month for rent, food, leisure, transport and internet access. However, it also offers excellent infrastructure and coworking spaces.
Yes, you can save money if you choose shared accommodation in an outer neighbourhood, shop in supermarkets with offers, cook at home, use public transport and enjoy free leisure activities.
Having a car gives you more freedom, but it will increase your monthly expenses considerably. The city has a good public transport network, so if you only need to move around the city, it isn’t necessary.
