Cost of Living: Canberra vs Melbourne

Monthly Cost Comparison — Canberra vs Melbourne (2026)

Category	Canberra	Melbourne
Accommodation (3BR outside ÷ 3)	₹60,533	₹61,426
Food	₹33,627	₹39,007
Utilities	₹28,416	₹21,465
Transport	₹0	₹0
Total / month	₹1,22,576	₹1,21,898
Total / year	₹14,70,909	₹14,62,779

Note: Budget preset: shared 3BR outside city centre ÷ 3 people, 5 meals/week, basic utilities. Comfortable preset: 1BR city centre, daily restaurant meals, full utilities, gym.

Which City is Cheaper for Indian Students?

Melbourne is 1% cheaper than Canberra per month — saving approximately ₹677 every month or ₹8,124 annually on a budget lifestyle.

Canberra ₹1,22,576

Melbourne ₹1,21,898

Cost of Living in Canberra vs India

Accommodation Type	Canberra	India (metro avg)
1BR, city centre (full cost)	₹1,66,952	₹35,000
1BR, outside centre (full cost)	₹1,21,730	₹25,000
3BR, city centre ÷ 3 people	₹95,607	₹21,000
3BR, outside centre ÷ 3 people	₹60,532	₹15,000

Note: 3BR costs shown per person ÷ 3 occupants by default. Use the calculator to adjust the split.

Explore Each City in Detail

Full Canberra Breakdown

Moderate

From

₹122,575/mo

View full breakdown

Full Melbourne Breakdown

Moderate

From

₹121,898/mo

View full breakdown

Financial Planning Tool

Education Loan

Find best education loan in shortest time

15+ banks. Starts at just 9.25%

Check your eligibility

Admission

Well-researched guide on how to study abroad

6 simple steps: A complete guide

Talk to a counselor

Scholarship

Search, filter & apply to scholarships in minutes

Save up to 100% on tuition fees

Find scholarship

FAQ's

Is Canberra or Melbourne cheaper for students?

Melbourne is 1% cheaper than Canberra per month — saving approximately ₹677 every month or ₹8,124 annually on a budget lifestyle.

How much more expensive is Canberra vs Melbourne?

Check the monthly comparison table and the savings block for the latest difference per month and per year in INR.

Which city is better for Indian students — Canberra or Melbourne?

That depends on your university shortlist, rent tolerance, and funding plan. This page is designed to make the living-cost tradeoff obvious.

Do these comparison totals include tuition fees for Canberra or Melbourne?

No. The compare page covers recurring living costs only, so tuition and one-time destination expenses still need to be added separately.

What education loan do I need after using this comparison?

Use the cheaper-vs-costlier view here as your living-cost input, then combine it with tuition to estimate the total funding requirement before checking loan eligibility.

These figures are planning estimates and can vary by lifestyle, location within city, and market conditions.