Cost of living in Melbourne

Use this Melbourne article to identify the questions and locations worth comparing for your household. This article was published on December 20, 2023. Prices, population figures, service frequencies and market comparisons below belong to that publication context; check current information before making a housing or moving commitment. No neighbourhood description guarantees the conditions at a particular property.

The Victorian capital of Melbourne is without doubt a world-class city.

From major events to festivals, the arts, sport and top-notch food, there is always plenty to see and do.

However, be warned: Melbourne is the second-most expensive city in Australia when it comes to cost of living.

Only Sydney is a more expensive city to live in.

So just how much does it cost to live in Melbourne?

Let’s take a look.

Housing

Housing is a big reason why the cost of living in Melbourne is high.

For the December quarter of 2023, the median rent price in metropolitan Melbourne was $520 per week.

For families, the median rent price for a four-bedroom home was $560 per week.

For those looking to buy, house prices in Melbourne are very high.

The median values for the December quarter of 2023 stood at $942,750 for houses and $608,181 for units.

When it comes to cost of living calculations for Melbourne, rent is estimated to make up about 35 percent of total monthly cost.

Food and Groceries

Behind housing, food and groceries is the next biggest expense when it comes to the cost of living in Melbourne.

Studies found that in 2023, Victorian’s spent an average of $193 per person, per week on groceries – the highest amount in the country.

Other studies have shown that grocery prices in Melbourne are 0.6 per cent higher than the Australian average.

Utilities

Utility prices in Melbourne are mixed.

As of December 2023, one Canstar Blue study showed the average quarterly electricity bill in Victoria to be $320 – higher than Queensland ($315) and Western Australia ($296) but lower than the other states and territories.

However, the average quarterly gas bill in Victoria came in at $237 – the highest in the country.

By comparison, the average quarterly gas bill in Western Australia was $143 and Queensland was $179.

Average quarterly water bills in Victoria ranked mid-table compared to the rest of the country at $208.

Internet and mobile phone prices across Australian capitals are fairly standard.

Transport

Melbourne has some of the highest transport costs in the country.

Throughout 2023, Melbournians shelled out an average of 191.9 cents per litre of petrol – the second-most of any city behind Brisbane.

As of April 2024, weekday public transport fares for adults in Melbourne cost $10.60, with weekly passes available for $53.

Eating out and entertainment

Discretionary spending in Melbourne is another large expense.

In December 2023, a meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs an average of $25, while the average price of 0.5L of draught beer was $13.25 – the highest of any Australian city.

Monthly fees for gyms in Melbourne averaged around $90 in 2024.

Total cost of living in Melbourne

According to comparison website Numbeo, monthly living costs for a single person in Melbourne in 2024 sit at $1655 – excluding rent.

For a family of four, the estimated monthly costs are $5876 without rent.

Ready to move to Melbourne?

Melbourne might be a relatively expensive place to live, but moving there won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

At Fragile Removals & Storage, we offer local and interstate removalist services with the highest quality of service at very competitive prices.

Get ready for your move to Melbourne by giving us a call on 1800 500 584 to discuss all your moving needs.

Build your own Melbourne budget from the categories

Treat housing, groceries, utilities, transport and discretionary spending as separate lines. Replace an article's estimate with the amount that applies to your household rather than adding figures with different assumptions. Check whether a number is per person or per household and whether it is weekly, monthly or annual before comparing totals.

Housing is a property-specific decision. Compare the rent or purchase arrangement for the actual address and identify other costs you are responsible for. A city-wide average does not establish the cost of a particular dwelling, and a historical comparison between capitals does not establish which option is cheaper today.

For utilities, check the provider and plan available at the address and the household usage behind any estimate. Ask about connection timing and any account changes when moving. For travel, compare the route and frequency you expect to use rather than assuming every resident has the same commute or vehicle costs.

For groceries, eating out and entertainment, use your own recent spending as a starting point and adjust for the household and location. Keep optional spending separate from the essentials so the budget remains useful if circumstances change. This article does not predict future prices or guarantee a particular total.

Separate the moving budget from ongoing living costs

Request a removal quote for the inventory, addresses, dates and access. Identify packing, dismantling, storage and other services separately. A lower ongoing housing cost does not establish the cost of getting your belongings to the new property.

Use measuring furniture volume to understand the load and the detailed quote form to organise the information. If the dates do not align, include storage in the comparison rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Resolve differences before relying on a total

If the examples in this article differ from current quotations or your own spending, check their date, household size, billing period and included items. Keep the assumptions beside each number so another person can see what the budget represents. Do not select only the lowest examples from incompatible scenarios.

Revisit the budget when the address, household needs or moving date changes. Use the actual provider or property documents to settle a disputed amount. Keep the change-of-address checklist alongside the plan so bills and notices reach the right place during the transition.

For the transport stage, review Melbourne moving services and request a detailed quote. Use the moving advice index for the next preparation decision.

Are the Melbourne prices and comparisons current quotes?

No. The figures are historical examples from the dates and sources stated in the Melbourne article. They are not current provider quotations or a prediction of your household’s total. The article’s cited 2024 monthly totals exclude rent. Keep that exclusion visible and add the actual housing arrangement rather than treating a non-rent total as the complete household budget. Update each line with the relevant property, service or current spending information. Check whether the amount is per person or household, which billing period it covers and what it excludes before adding it to the budget.

What should I check for a particular address?

For the Melbourne address you are considering, check the housing payment and other charges you will be responsible for, the utility arrangements available at the address, and the trips your household makes regularly. Confirm any essential school or service access directly. A city-wide average cannot capture the cost of a particular dwelling or commute. Keep the supporting quote or agreement beside each budget line and mark anything still estimated so the total remains understandable.

What should I give the removalist after choosing a property?

Give the removalist your origin and Melbourne addresses, the inventory, dates and property access details, including lifts, stairs, parking and loading times. Request packing, dismantling, reassembly and storage explicitly where needed. If the dates do not align, obtain the storage and redelivery costs before treating the move budget as complete. Keep the removal quote separate from ongoing living expenses and update it when the address, goods or service scope changes.

How do I build a household budget for Melbourne?

Start with housing, groceries, utilities, regular transport and discretionary spending as separate categories. Use your own household size and routines, then update the article’s examples with information relevant to the chosen Melbourne address. Convert all figures to one period before adding them: for example, an annualised weekly amount uses 52 weeks, while a monthly amount uses 12 months. Keep assumptions and exclusions beside each line and review estimates after the move when actual bills become available.

What should I include in the one-off moving budget?

Include the removal quote, packing materials or packing help, any agreed furniture work, cleaning, travel and temporary accommodation. Add storage and redelivery if the old and new property dates do not align. Check connection or account-change charges directly with providers where relevant. These costs are separate from the regular Melbourne living budget, so a lower ongoing housing payment does not establish how much cash the move itself requires. Keep confirmed amounts and estimates clearly distinguished.

Why might my total differ from the article’s examples?

Your planned Melbourne household size, property type, consumption, travel habits and the date of the information can all differ. Compare one category at a time and resolve billing-period differences before deciding that a quote is inconsistent with the article. Avoid combining the lowest examples from different households as though they describe one achievable scenario. Use current documents for the actual address to settle a disputed amount, and revise the budget when your plans change.

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