Travel budget and cost of living in Melbourne (Australia) how much does a trip cost?

Melbourne travel budget

Melbourne: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Melbourne

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Melbourne for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Melbourne compared to United States in 2024

On average, the cost of living in Melbourne in 2024 is 8% higher than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Melbourne in 2024 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Melbourne by expense type

Restaurant budget in Melbourne

Lunch

$ 18/person
($ 11 to $ 35)

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14% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20

3 course dinner

$ 35/person
($ 26 to $ 63)

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10% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

McDonald's meal

$ 11/person
($ 9.5 to $ 12)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Local beer

$ 8.1 for 500ml
($ 5 to $ 11)

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37% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 5.4 for 330ml
($ 2.6 to $ 8.5)

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54% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Cappuccino

$ 3.6/cup
($ 2.7 to $ 6)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Fizzy drink

$ 2.8/can
($ 2 to $ 4.1)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 2.5/bottle
($ 1.7 to $ 3.5)

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20% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Hotel and accommodation budget in Melbourne

1-star hotel

$ 105/night
($ 59 to $ 215)

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41% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 181

2-star hotel

$ 107/night
($ 48 to $ 292)

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34% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 163

3-star hotel

$ 128/night
($ 55 to $ 558)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 239

4-star hotel

$ 146/night
($ 66 to $ 297)

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54% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 322

5-star hotel

$ 244/night
($ 124 to $ 494)

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49% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 486

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 113/month
($ 47 to $ 258)

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34% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 172

Room with kitchen

$ 142/month
($ 55 to $ 360)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 253

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 173/month
($ 63 to $ 792)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 219

Cottage or guest house

$ 157/month
($ 71 to $ 349)

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33% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 234

Family room

$ 191/month
($ 83 to $ 411)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 220

Supermarket food budget in Melbourne

Milk

$ 1.5/litre
($ 1 to $ 2.5)

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39% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Bread

$ 2.7/500g
($ 1.9 to $ 5.6)

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23% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Rice

$ 2.2/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 3.5)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 4.1/12 eggs
($ 3.1 to $ 5.7)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Chicken

$ 9.2/kg
($ 4.8 to $ 13)

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24% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 3.1/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 4.1)

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41% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 3.8/kg
($ 2 to $ 6.7)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 2.2/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 3.1)

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24% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 1.5
($ 0.6 to $ 2.7)

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34% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Public and private transport budget in Melbourne

Bus ticket

$ 3.6/ticket
($ 3.5 to $ 4.1)

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45% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 2/km
($ 1.3 to $ 2)

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20% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 1.3/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 1.6)

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38% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 3.8
($ 3.3 to $ 5.5)

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6% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Car hire

$ 37/24hrs
($ 22 to $ 72)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 71

Leisure activity budget in Melbourne

Cinema

$ 15/ticket
($ 13 to $ 22)

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8% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 17/hr
($ 13 to $ 22)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Melbourne

Cigarettes

$ 32/pack
($ 28 to $ 42)

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207% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10

Levi's jeans

$ 80
($ 55 to $ 123)

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51% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 53

Summer dress

$ 52
($ 25 to $ 82)

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16% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

Sydney → Melbourne

$ 132
(fair price: $ 111)

Auckland → Melbourne

$ 400
(fair price: $ 334)

Los Angeles → Melbourne

$ 1800
(fair price: $ 1413)

London → Melbourne

$ 1275
(fair price: $ 1117)

Toronto → Melbourne

$ 1895
(fair price: $ 1598)

Edinburgh → Melbourne

$ 1539
(fair price: $ 1289)