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.

Low budget
(backpacker)

Daily budget:

  • $ 73 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 17 per person
  • $ 14 per person
  • Free activities

Total budget:

$ 1857* (2940 $)

Average budget
(traveller)

Daily budget:

  • $ 111 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 42 per person
  • $ 20 per person
  • $ 16 per person

Total budget:

$ 3690* (5852 $)

High budget
(tourist)

Daily budget:

  • $ 127 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 73 per person
  • $ 31 per person
  • $ 31 per person

Total budget:

$ 5517* (8736 $)

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



Cost of living in Melbourne compared to United States in 2024

Compare with the average cost of living in:

On average, the cost of living in Melbourne in 2024 is 7% 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

On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in Melbourne is essentially the same as in the United States (USA).
Lunch
Lunch
$ 17/person
($ 12 to $ 33)

17% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20
3 course dinner
3 course dinner
$ 36/person
($ 26 to $ 53)

5% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 37
McDonald's meal
McDonald's meal
$ 10/person
($ 9 to $ 12)

10% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11
Local beer
Local beer
$ 7.1 for 500ml
($ 4.5 to $ 11)

21% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.9
Imported beer
Imported beer
$ 5.1 for 330ml
($ 2.6 to $ 7.8)

48% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
$ 3.5/cup
($ 2.6 to $ 4.2)

32% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Fizzy drink
Fizzy drink
$ 2.6/can
($ 2 to $ 3.3)

5% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 2.2/bottle
($ 1.6 to $ 3.3)

12% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Hotel and accommodation budget in Melbourne

On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Melbourne is 36% cheaper than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
1-star hotel
$ 100/night
($ 54 to $ 204)

39% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 164
2-star hotel
2-star hotel
$ 102/night
($ 44 to $ 281)

32% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 152
3-star hotel
3-star hotel
$ 119/night
($ 53 to $ 452)

46% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 222
4-star hotel
4-star hotel
$ 135/night
($ 63 to $ 251)

55% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 305
5-star hotel
5-star hotel
$ 230/night
($ 119 to $ 469)

49% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 457
Hostel/Youth Hostel
Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 104/month
($ 44 to $ 236)

35% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 162
Room with kitchen
Room with kitchen
$ 131/month
($ 52 to $ 293)

44% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 236
Hotel with swimming pool
Hotel with swimming pool
$ 164/month
($ 60 to $ 733)

18% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 202
Cottage or guest house
Cottage or guest house
$ 157/month
($ 72 to $ 330)

29% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 222
Family room
Family room
$ 173/month
($ 77 to $ 343)

13% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 200

Supermarket food budget in Melbourne

On average, the price of supermarket food in Melbourne is 18% cheaper than in the United States (USA).
Milk
Milk
$ 1.4/litre
($ 0.9 to $ 2.3)

37% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1
Bread
Bread
$ 2.5/500g
($ 1.6 to $ 5.1)

29% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Rice
Rice
$ 2.3/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 3.3)

49% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5
Eggs
Eggs
$ 4.2/12 eggs
($ 2.6 to $ 6.2)

17% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6
Chicken
Chicken
$ 8.7/kg
($ 5.1 to $ 12)

25% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12
Apples
Apples
$ 3.1/kg
($ 1.6 to $ 3.9)

38% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
$ 3.7/kg
($ 2 to $ 5.1)

24% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8
Potatoes
Potatoes
$ 2.4/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 3.3)

18% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 1.4
($ 0.5 to $ 2.9)

35% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Public and private transport budget in Melbourne

On average, the price of transport in Melbourne is essentially the same as in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
Bus ticket
$ 3.5/ticket
($ 3.3 to $ 3.9)

40% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4
Taxi (per km)
Taxi (per km)
$ 1.5/km
($ 1.3 to $ 2)

15% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7
Petrol
Petrol
$ 1.3/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.5)

30% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 3.6
($ 3.1 to $ 6.5)

1% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6
Car hire
Car hire
$ 33/24hrs
($ 20 to $ 193)

53% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 70

Leisure activity budget in Melbourne

On average, budget for leisure activities in Melbourne is 6% cheaper than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
Cinema
$ 16/ticket
($ 12 to $ 20)

11% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14
Tennis
Tennis
$ 17/hr
($ 11 to $ 20)

23% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Melbourne

On average, shopping budget in Melbourne is 99% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
Cigarettes
$ 33/pack
($ 27 to $ 39)

230% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10
Levi's jeans
Levi's jeans
$ 76
($ 33 to $ 108)

47% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 52
Summer dress
Summer dress
$ 51
($ 24 to $ 78)

19% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 42

Plane ticket budget

Sydney → Melbourne
Sydney → Melbourne
Sydney → Melbourne
$ 120
(fair price: $ 102)
Auckland → Melbourne
Auckland → Melbourne
Auckland → Melbourne
$ 371
(fair price: $ 306)
Toronto → Melbourne
Toronto → Melbourne
Toronto → Melbourne
$ 1782
(fair price: $ 1525)
Edinburgh → Melbourne
Edinburgh → Melbourne
Edinburgh → Melbourne
$ 1438
(fair price: $ 1216)
London → Melbourne
London → Melbourne
London → Melbourne
$ 1182
(fair price: $ 1022)
Los Angeles → Melbourne
Los Angeles  → Melbourne
Los Angeles  → Melbourne
$ 1690
(fair price: $ 1312)



About this information on the cost of living in Melbourne

The information about the cost of living in Melbourne shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including: Numbeo, Skyscanner and Hotels.com.

The information about the cost of living in Melbourne was updated on 12-11-2024.

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