Cost of living comparison
Brisbane is 2.9% more expensive than Melbourne.
If you lived in Brisbane instead of Melbourne, you would:
pay 6.7% more for restaurants
Melbourne
|
Brisbane
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.68
A$25.53
|
$16.68
A$25.53
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.01
A$15.32
|
$10.01
A$15.32
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.60
A$3.98
|
$2.89
A$4.43
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.33
A$3.57
|
$2.38
A$3.64
|
|
pay 1.1% less for groceries
Melbourne
|
Brisbane
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.36
A$3.61
|
$2.44
A$3.74
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.34
A$8.17
|
$5.18
A$7.92
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.82
A$8.90
|
$5.87
A$8.98
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.63
A$5.56
|
$3.71
A$5.68
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.98
A$6.09
|
$3.82
A$5.85
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.46
A$2.24
|
$1.46
A$2.23
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.16
A$1.78
|
$1.16
A$1.78
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.28
A$1.95
|
$1.55
A$2.38
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.37
A$3.63
|
$2.11
A$3.22
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.25
A$1.91
|
$1.08
A$1.65
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.03
A$1.58
|
$0.95
A$1.45
|
|
pay 7.5% more for transportation
Melbourne
|
Brisbane
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.31
A$8.13
|
$5.35
A$8.18
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$108.09
A$165.42
|
$139.24
A$213.10
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$23,352.00
A$35,738.02
|
$24,352.80
A$37,269.65
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.15
A$24.71
|
$15.59
A$23.85
|
|
pay 17.2% more for housing
Melbourne
|
Brisbane
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$54.16
A$82.89
|
$60.21
A$92.14
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,443.82
A$2,209.63
|
$1,623.70
A$2,484.92
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,158.41
A$1,772.84
|
$1,391.31
A$2,129.27
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$129.23
A$197.77
|
$161.51
A$247.17
|
|
pay 21.2% less for childcare
Melbourne
|
Brisbane
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,718.67
A$2,630.26
|
$1,838.51
A$2,813.66
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$20,591.46
A$31,513.27
|
$10,398.31
A$15,913.63
|
|
pay 2.5% less for entertainment and sports
Melbourne
|
Brisbane
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$8.01
A$12.25
|
$7.34
A$11.23
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.49
A$5.35
|
$3.58
A$5.47
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$26.69
A$40.84
|
$26.69
A$40.84
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$47.87
A$73.26
|
$51.35
A$78.59
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.01
A$22.97
|
$13.34
A$20.42
|
|
pay 13.5% more for clothing
Melbourne
|
Brisbane
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$84.72
A$129.66
|
$96.99
A$148.43
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$54.48
A$83.38
|
$61.03
A$93.40
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$119.46
A$182.83
|
$143.78
A$220.04
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$127.69
A$195.42
|
$136.71
A$209.21
|
|
Change currency:
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Brisbane or Melbourne. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.