Cost of living comparison

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

Melbourne is 11.3% more expensive than Wellington.

Restaurants
pay 7.1% more in Melbourne
Groceries
pay 7.1% less in Melbourne
Transportation
pay 10.5% less in Melbourne
Housing
pay 6.7% less in Melbourne
Childcare
pay 87.5% more in Melbourne
Entertainment and Sports
pay 17.0% more in Melbourne
Clothing
pay 7.9% less in Melbourne

The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, and restaurants in Melbourne are more expensive than in Wellington. Expenses including transportation, clothing, groceries, and housing are lower in Melbourne. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Melbourne.

Melbourne vs. Wellington Cost Breakdown

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

pay 7.1% more for restaurants

 
Wellington
Melbourne
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $14.93
NZ$24.83
$16.48
A$25.37
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$8.96
NZ$14.90
$9.89
A$15.22
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.57
NZ$4.28
$2.65
A$4.08

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pay 7.1% less for groceries

 
Wellington
Melbourne
Bread
1 loaf
$1.96
NZ$3.27
$2.52
A$3.89
Local cheese (8 oz) $4.15
NZ$6.90
$4.55
A$7.01
Milk (1 gallon) $6.98
NZ$11.61
$5.26
A$8.11

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pay 10.5% less for transportation

 
Wellington
Melbourne
Gasoline (1 gallon) $6.42
NZ$10.67
$4.69
A$7.22
Monthly public transit pass $127.57
NZ$212.15
$118.63
A$182.67
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $34,339.84
NZ$57,109.35
$29,276.08
A$45,081.74

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pay 6.7% less for housing

 
Wellington
Melbourne
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$54.27
NZ$90.25
$52.42
A$80.73
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,487.35
NZ$2,473.55
$1,479.56
A$2,278.35
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,335.17
NZ$2,220.48
$1,242.77
A$1,913.71

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pay 87.5% more for childcare

 
Wellington
Melbourne
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $871.44
NZ$1,449.25
$1,828.91
A$2,816.30
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $12,649.75
NZ$21,037.35
$20,887.75
A$32,164.70

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pay 17.0% more for entertainment and sports

 
Wellington
Melbourne
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $7.17
NZ$11.92
$7.91
A$12.18
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.41
NZ$5.68
$3.46
A$5.33
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$24.46
NZ$40.67
$29.66
A$45.67

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pay 7.9% less for clothing

 
Wellington
Melbourne
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$75.78
NZ$126.02
$77.15
A$118.80
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$55.09
NZ$91.62
$49.87
A$76.80
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$119.44
NZ$198.64
$107.61
A$165.71

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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: June 2025
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