Cost of living comparison

 Christchurch, New Zealand
compared to
 Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne vs. Christchurch Cost of Living Summary

Melbourne is 33.3% more expensive than Christchurch.

Restaurants
pay 4.9% more in Melbourne
Groceries
pay 7.1% less in Melbourne
Transportation
pay 45.6% more in Melbourne
Housing
pay 9.7% more in Melbourne
Childcare
pay 2.5 times more in Melbourne
Entertainment and Sports
pay 25.2% more in Melbourne
Clothing
pay 7.7% more in Melbourne

The cost of childcare, transportation, entertainment and sports, housing, clothing, and restaurants in Melbourne are more expensive than in Christchurch. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Melbourne.

Melbourne vs. Christchurch Cost Breakdown

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

pay 4.9% more for restaurants

 
Christchurch
Melbourne
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $17.32
NZ$29.72
$16.48
A$26.21
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.75
NZ$18.45
$9.89
A$15.73
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.41
NZ$4.14
$2.65
A$4.21

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pay 7.1% less for groceries

 
Christchurch
Melbourne
Bread
1 loaf
$2.00
NZ$3.42
$2.52
A$4.02
Local cheese (8 oz) $4.24
NZ$7.28
$4.55
A$7.25
Milk (1 gallon) $7.24
NZ$12.43
$5.26
A$8.38

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pay 45.6% more for transportation

 
Christchurch
Melbourne
Gasoline (1 gallon) $6.28
NZ$10.78
$4.69
A$7.46
Monthly public transit pass $41.68
NZ$71.52
$118.63
A$188.74
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $26,874.66
NZ$46,120.94
$29,276.08
A$46,580.88

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pay 9.7% more for housing

 
Christchurch
Melbourne
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$48.71
NZ$83.59
$52.42
A$83.41
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,329.40
NZ$2,281.45
$1,479.56
A$2,354.11
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,214.34
NZ$2,083.98
$1,242.77
A$1,977.35

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pay 2.5 times more for childcare

 
Christchurch
Melbourne
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $634.54
NZ$1,088.97
$1,828.91
A$2,909.96
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $10,158.62
NZ$17,433.72
$20,887.75
A$33,234.29

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pay 25.2% more for entertainment and sports

 
Christchurch
Melbourne
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $6.57
NZ$11.27
$7.91
A$12.58
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.34
NZ$5.74
$3.46
A$5.50
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$23.59
NZ$40.48
$29.66
A$47.19

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pay 7.7% more for clothing

 
Christchurch
Melbourne
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$79.03
NZ$135.63
$77.15
A$122.76
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$38.35
NZ$65.82
$49.87
A$79.35
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$85.40
NZ$146.56
$107.61
A$171.22

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: April 2025
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