Cost of living
Melbourne vs Sydney: cost of living compared
Compare monthly rent, groceries, transport, dining, and utilities in Melbourne and Sydney using cited SetTern cost bands — planning only.
Using cited SetTern catalog midpoints, Sydney is about 12% cheaper per month overall. The breakdown below compares rent, groceries, transport, dining, and utilities. These are planning bands, not live listings — confirm with the linked official cost sources.
Sydney is ~12% cheaper overall
| Monthly | Melbourne | Sydney |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1br, catalog) | $1,700 | $1,900 |
| Groceries (band mid) | $325 | $442 |
| Transport (band mid) | $130 | $153 |
| Dining out (band mid) | $310 | $374 |
| Utilities (band mid) | $170 | $221 |
| Living cost avg (catalog) | $3,800 | $3,400 |
Side-by-side uses cited SetTern catalog midpoints for each city — not live listings. Individual costs vary by neighbourhood and lifestyle; confirm with the linked sources.