Cost of living comparison

compared to

Melbourne vs. Toronto Cost of Living Summary

Melbourne is 16.3% more expensive than Toronto.

Restaurants
pay 22.3% more in Melbourne
Groceries
pay 23.8% more in Melbourne
Transportation
pay 14.4% less in Melbourne
Housing
pay 33.1% more in Melbourne
Childcare
pay 2.3% less in Melbourne
Entertainment and Sports
pay 0.4% less in Melbourne
Clothing
pay 20.4% more in Melbourne

The cost of housing, groceries, restaurants, and clothing in Melbourne are more expensive than in Toronto. Expenses including transportation, childcare, and entertainment and sports are lower in Melbourne.

Melbourne vs. Toronto Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Melbourne instead of Toronto, you would:

pay 22.3% more for restaurants

 
Toronto
Melbourne
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $17.53
CA$24.75
$25.50
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.52
CA$14.85
$10.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.08
CA$2.93
$3.02
 

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pay 23.8% more for groceries

 
Toronto
Melbourne
Bread
1 loaf
$2.74
CA$3.87
$4.26
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $4.56
CA$6.44
$6.57
 
Milk (1 gallon) $9.44
CA$13.33
$3.20
 

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pay 14.4% less for transportation

 
Toronto
Melbourne
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.68
CA$6.60
$3.84
 
Monthly public transit pass $109.41
CA$154.46
$42.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $27,760.48
CA$39,188.08
$36,928.80
 

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pay 33.1% more for housing

 
Toronto
Melbourne
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$47.87
CA$67.57
$76.67
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,584.56
CA$2,236.84
$2,035.00
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,416.89
CA$2,000.15
$1,865.00
 

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pay 2.3% less for childcare

 
Toronto
Melbourne
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $824.14
CA$1,163.40
$900.00
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $23,500.21
CA$33,174.07
$20,535.00
 

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pay 0.4% less for entertainment and sports

 
Toronto
Melbourne
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $6.31
CA$8.91
$5.25
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.97
CA$5.61
$5.10
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$14.03
CA$19.80
$9.58
 

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pay 20.4% more for clothing

 
Toronto
Melbourne
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$51.64
CA$72.90
$74.75
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$39.51
CA$55.77
$57.45
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$98.10
CA$138.48
$116.67
 

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated November 2026). How we calculate this

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