Melbourne vs Sydney
Salary & cost of living comparison
Metric
Melbourne
Sydney
Median Salary
$58,000
↓
$62,000
↑
Rent (1BR)
$1,700
↓
$2,200
↑
Rent (2BR)
$2,400
↓
$3,100
↑
CoL Index
70
↓
80
↑
Groceries
80
↓
85
↑
Transport
$130
↓
$140
↑
Tax Rate
30%
↓
30.5%
↑
Tech Hub
6/10
↓
7/10
↑
Cost of Living Ratio
1.14
Sydney is more expensive
Rent Ratio
1.29
Salary Equivalent Ratio
1.14
💰 Salary Equivalents
Enter your salary to see the equivalent:
$
in Melbourne
=
—
in Sydney
Common salary equivalents:
$50k in Melbourne
=
$57k in Sydney
$80k in Melbourne
=
$91k in Sydney
$100k in Melbourne
=
$114k in Sydney
$120k in Melbourne
=
$137k in Sydney
$150k in Melbourne
=
$171k in Sydney
$200k in Melbourne
=
$228k in Sydney
📈 Monthly Budget Breakdown
Melbourne
$4,057/mo net
Rent $1,700
Groceries $360
Transport $130
Utilities $105
Leisure $175
Savings $1,587
Sydney
$4,282/mo net
Rent $2,200
Groceries $383
Transport $140
Utilities $120
Leisure $200
Savings $1,239
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sydney cheaper than Melbourne?
No, Sydney is approximately 14% more expensive than Melbourne based on overall cost of living index.
What salary do I need in Sydney to match $100k in Melbourne?
To maintain the same standard of living as a $100,000 salary in Melbourne, you would need approximately $114,000 in Sydney.
Which city has lower taxes, Melbourne or Sydney?
Melbourne has a lower effective tax rate. Melbourne has an effective rate of 30% while Sydney has 30.5%.
Is Melbourne or Sydney better for tech workers?
Sydney ranks higher for tech workers with a tech hub score of 7/10 compared to 6/10.