Melbourne vs Brisbane: Which Is Cheaper in 2026?
Detailed cost of living comparison between Melbourne, Australia and Brisbane, Australia. Brisbane is more affordable with an Anchor Cost Index of 86/100 compared to Melbourne's 87/100.
Quick Summary
Rent is
$210/mo cheaper
in Brisbane
Food is
0% more
in Brisbane
Transport is
+6% more
in Melbourne
📊Anchor Prices
| Item | Melbourne | Brisbane | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🍔Big Mac(20%) | $5.21 | $5.21 | 0% |
| 🏠1BR Rent(30%) | $1,785.00/mo | $1,575.00/mo | +13% |
| 🚗Uber 5km(20%) | $9.00 | $8.50 | +6% |
| ☕Starbucks Latte(15%) | $7.00 | $6.60 | +6% |
| 📺YouTube Premium(15%) | $14.99 | $14.99 | 0% |
| 📐 Anchor Cost Index | 87 | 86 | +1% |
📉Visual Comparison
📋Extended Costs
| Item | Melbourne | Brisbane | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (City Center) | $2,380.00/mo | $2,100.00/mo | +13% |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside Center) | $1,190.00/mo | $1,050.00/mo | +13% |
| 3BR Apartment (City Center) | $4,760.00/mo | $4,200.00/mo | +13% |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside Center) | $2,720.00/mo | $2,400.00/mo | +13% |
| Price per m² (Buy, City) | $15,600.00/m² | $14,000.00/m² | +11% |
| Price per m² (Buy, Outside) | $9,500.00/m² | $8,500.00/m² | +12% |
| Airbnb (1BR, Monthly) | $3,060.00/mo | $2,700.00/mo | +13% |
| Coliving Space | $1,530.00/mo | $1,350.00/mo | +13% |
| Hostel/Dormitory | $44.00/night | $40.00/night | +10% |
| Item | Melbourne | Brisbane | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $21.60 | $19.80 | +9% |
| Meal (Mid-range, 2 people) | $108.00 | $99.00 | +9% |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $13.00 | $12.10 | +7% |
| Domestic Beer (Restaurant) | $8.90 | $8.30 | +7% |
| Imported Beer (Restaurant) | $11.90 | $11.00 | +8% |
| Cappuccino | $7.00 | $6.60 | +6% |
| Coca-Cola (0.33L) | $3.00 | $2.80 | +7% |
| Water (0.33L, Restaurant) | $2.40 | $2.20 | +9% |
| Item | Melbourne | Brisbane | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk (1L) | $2.15 | $2.15 | 0% |
| Bread (500g) | $2.15 | $2.15 | 0% |
| Rice (1kg) | $2.04 | $2.04 | 0% |
| Eggs (12) | $2.15 | $2.15 | 0% |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | $2.15 | $2.15 | 0% |
| Beef Round (1kg) | $2.04 | $2.04 | 0% |
| Apples (1kg) | $2.15 | $2.15 | 0% |
| Banana (1kg) | $1.83 | $1.83 | 0% |
| Tomato (1kg) | $1.83 | $1.83 | 0% |
| Potato (1kg) | $2.04 | $2.04 | 0% |
| Onion (1kg) | $2.15 | $2.15 | 0% |
| Lettuce (1 head) | $3.00 | $2.80 | +7% |
| Water (1.5L) | $2.15 | $2.15 | 0% |
| Wine (Mid-range) | $20.00 | $19.00 | +5% |
| Domestic Beer (0.5L, Store) | $2.15 | $2.15 | 0% |
| Cigarettes (Marlboro) | $15.60 | $14.30 | +9% |
| Item | Melbourne | Brisbane | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way Ticket | $3.40 | $3.10 | +10% |
| Monthly Pass | $132.00/mo | $120.00/mo | +10% |
| Taxi Start | $5.40 | $5.00 | +8% |
| Taxi (1km) | $3.10/km | $2.80/km | +11% |
| Taxi 1hr Waiting | $49.00 | $45.00 | +9% |
| Gasoline (1L) | $1.85 | $1.75 | +6% |
| Parking (Monthly, City) | $420.00/mo | $380.00/mo | +11% |
| Car Insurance (Annual) | $2,300.00/yr | $2,100.00/yr | +10% |
| Item | Melbourne | Brisbane | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Utilities (85m²) | $250.00/mo | $230.00/mo | +9% |
| Gas (Monthly) | $85.00/mo | $78.00/mo | +9% |
| Mobile Phone (10GB+) | $66.00/mo | $60.00/mo | +10% |
| Internet (60 Mbps+) | $71.00/mo | $65.00/mo | +9% |
| Item | Melbourne | Brisbane | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness Club | $127.00/mo | $116.00/mo | +9% |
| Tennis Court (1hr) | $39.00 | $36.00 | +8% |
| Cinema Ticket | $24.00 | $22.00 | +9% |
| Netflix (Standard) | $18.00/mo | $18.00/mo | 0% |
| Spotify Premium | $13.00/mo | $12.00/mo | +8% |
| Coworking (Daily) | $48.00/day | $44.00/day | +9% |
| Coworking (Monthly) | $506.00/mo | $462.00/mo | +10% |
| Item | Melbourne | Brisbane | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeans (Levi's 501) | $100.00 | $94.00 | +6% |
| Summer Dress (Zara/H&M) | $56.00 | $52.00 | +8% |
| Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas) | $133.00 | $127.00 | +5% |
| Business Shoes (Leather) | $174.00 | $165.00 | +5% |
| Item | Melbourne | Brisbane | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool | $1,365.00/mo | $1,235.00/mo | +11% |
| International School | $57,200.00/yr | $52,000.00/yr | +10% |
| Private Tutoring (1hr) | $114.00 | $104.00 | +10% |
| Item | Melbourne | Brisbane | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor Visit (15 min) | $70.00 | $63.00 | +11% |
| Dentist Visit | $100.00 | $90.00 | +11% |
| Prescription Medicine | $20.00 | $18.00 | +11% |
| Item | Melbourne | Brisbane | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Salary (After Tax) | $6,825.00/mo | $6,175.00/mo | +11% |
| Mortgage Rate | 4.6% | 6.1% | +33% |
💵Budget Scenarios
| Scenario | Melbourne | Brisbane | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🎒Backpacker | $3,422/mo | $3,126/mo | $296/mo in Brisbane |
| 💻Digital Nomad | $4,479/mo | $4,053/mo | $426/mo in Brisbane |
| 👨👩👧Small Family | $7,291/mo | $6,607/mo | $684/mo in Brisbane |
| 🏢Expat Professional | $5,314/mo | $4,813/mo | $501/mo in Brisbane |
📈Key Metrics
| Metric | Melbourne | Brisbane |
|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Rent Burden | 26% | 26% |
| 🍽️ Food Affordability | 9% | 10% |
| 💻 Nomad Score | 75/100 | 76/100 |
| 👨👩👧 Family Score | 80/100 | 80/100 |
✅Verdict: Melbourne vs Brisbane
Brisbane is the more affordable city overall, with an Anchor Cost Index of 86/100 compared to Melbourne's 87/100.
Housing: Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,785.00/month in Melbourne vs $1,575.00/month in Brisbane — a difference of $210.00/month.
Food: A Big Mac costs $5.21 in Melbourne and $5.21 in Brisbane, indicating food prices are 0% higher in Brisbane.
Digital Nomad Budget: A digital nomad can expect to spend approximately $4,479/month in Melbourne vs $4,053/month in Brisbane.
Data sources: Big Mac Index, Numbeo, World Bank. Updated 2026.
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❓Frequently Asked Questions
Is Melbourne cheaper than Brisbane?
Brisbane is more affordable than Melbourne. Brisbane has an Anchor Cost Index of 86/100 while Melbourne scores 87/100. Average rent in Brisbane is $1,575.00/month compared to $1,785.00/month in Melbourne.
What is the biggest cost difference between Melbourne and Brisbane?
Housing is typically the biggest cost difference. Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment is $1,785.00/month in Melbourne vs $1,575.00/month in Brisbane, a difference of $210.00/month.
How is the Anchor Cost Index calculated?
Our Anchor Cost Index is a weighted average of 5 standardized items: 1BR Rent (30%), Big Mac (20%), Uber 5km (20%), Starbucks Latte (15%), and YouTube Premium (15%). Scores range from 0 (most affordable) to 100 (most expensive) across 160+ cities worldwide.