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Melbourne vs Sydney cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฆ๐บ Melbourne
๐ฆ๐บ Sydney
At a glance
- Where Sydney is clearly cheaper: Transit (42%โ), Local meal (17%โ)
- Where Melbourne is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (23%โ), Scooter rental (20%โ), Entry ticket (16%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Sydney is easier to travel (1.4 vs 1.6). Biggest gap: getting around โ Melbourne 2 vs Sydney 1. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Melbourne | Sydney | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | A$ 24$16 | A$ 20$13.3 | Sydney โ17% |
| Street food1 item | A$ 15$10 | A$ 14$9.33 | Sydney โ7% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | A$ 55$36.7 | A$ 60$40 | Melbourne โ8% |
| Coffeeone cup | A$ 5.6$3.73 | A$ 5.5$3.67 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | A$ 14$9.33 | A$ 12$8 | Sydney โ14% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | A$ 20$13.3 | A$ 22$14.7 | Melbourne โ9% |
| Bottled water | A$ 4$2.67 | A$ 3.5$2.33 | Sydney โ12% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | A$ 4.8$3.2 | A$ 4.5$3 | Sydney โ6% |
| Taxi5 km in town | A$ 18$12 | A$ 19$12.7 | Melbourne โ5% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | A$ 11$7.33 | A$ 12$8 | Melbourne โ8% |
| Transitone ride | A$ 5.7$3.8 | A$ 3.3$2.2 | Sydney โ42% |
| Scooter rentalper day | A$ 40$26.7 | A$ 50$33.3 | Melbourne โ20% |
| Hotel night3-star | A$ 190$127 | A$ 220$147 | Melbourne โ14% |
| Studio rent (month) | A$ 2,150$1,433 | A$ 2,800$1,867 | Melbourne โ23% |
| Laundry | A$ 7.5$5 | A$ 7.5$5 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | A$ 30$20 | A$ 30$20 | similar |
| Haircutcut | A$ 38$25.3 | A$ 40$26.7 | Melbourne โ5% |
| Massage1 hour | A$ 85$56.7 | A$ 90$60 | Melbourne โ6% |
| Half-day tourper person | A$ 90$60 | A$ 100$66.7 | Melbourne โ10% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | A$ 38$25.3 | A$ 45$30 | Melbourne โ16% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Melbourne or Sydney?
Melbourne is 11% cheaper than Sydney. Daily budget $255 vs $274; a month $5,229 vs $6,088.
Which is easier to travel, Melbourne or Sydney?
Sydney is easier: Sydney 1.4/5 vs Melbourne 1.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Melbourne and Sydney?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Melbourne is about $5,229 and Sydney about $6,088 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.