Sydney vs Melbourne

Cost of living comparison — which city stretches your money further?

Sydney

Australia

79.2cost index

Sydney is 20.799999999999997% cheaper than the US average.

More Affordable

Melbourne

Australia

77.3cost index

Melbourne is 22.700000000000003% cheaper than the US average.

Price Difference

2.5%

Sydney is 2.5% pricier than Melbourne

Salary Equivalent

1.02x

If I earnin Sydney

I need approxA$97,601in Melbourne

Mirror Your Salary

Expat & Relocation Essentials

Moving between Sydney & Melbourne?

Trusted global services to manage international currency, healthcare, housing, and digital security.

Expat Account for Sydney & Melbourne

Manage expenses seamlessly with local bank details and instant transfers across Australia.

Travel Medical & Expat HealthSafetyWing

From $45/month

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance in Australia

Flexible travel medical insurance covering emergency medical expenses, hospital stays, and travel delays in Melbourne and 180+ countries. Extend or cancel anytime.

Relocation Stays & ApartmentsBooking.com

Verified Stays

Relocation Housing & Stays in Melbourne

Book verified apartments, aparthotels, or initial relocation stays in Melbourne. Flexible cancellation and best rate guarantee across Australia.

Cybersecurity & Banking AccessNordVPN

30-Day Guarantee

Secure Home Bank Access from Melbourne

Many national banks flag foreign IP logins from Australia. Maintain seamless encrypted access to your home financial accounts and bypass local geoblocking.

Understanding the Sydney vs Melbourne Comparison

The cost of living comparison between Sydney, Australia and Melbourne, Australiahighlights the economic differences between these two locations. With Sydney at an index of 79.2and Melbourne at 77.3, the data shows that Melbourne is significantly more affordable for the average resident.

When moving or traveling between these cities, it's important to adjust your salary expectations. A salary in Sydney does not have the same purchasing power as the same amount in Melbourne. Our Global Mirror tool helps you visualize this difference by "mirroring" your current lifestyle in the target city.