Calculators / Moving cost / Melbourne

Cost of moving to Melbourne

How much money to have ready before you move to Melbourne: the deposit, first month's rent, living costs until your first pay and a safety buffer, plus your own costs for the journey.

Household
Rent
Your plan
Your own costs, in Australian dollars

Money to have ready for the move

A$20,978

for one person moving to Melbourne

CostAmount
Rent deposit2 × monthly rent of A$2,441A$4,882
First month's rentUsually paid when you signA$2,441
Letting agent feeNoneA$0
Living costs until your first pay1 month of food, transport and billsA$1,583
Emergency buffer3 months of all living costsA$12,072
TotalA$20,978
  • Once you're settled, a month in Melbourne costs about A$4,024.
  • Covering that alone takes a salary of about A$56,856 a year before tax (A$4,024 a month after tax, Australia tax year 2026-27). Check take-home pay

Where the numbers come from

Rent and living costs for Melbourne come from the same prices as its city page.

Starting estimate, no reports yet.

Rent is a 1-bedroom flat in the centre. Living costs cover food, eating out, transport, bills, going out and clothes. Full method

Questions

How much money do I need to move to Melbourne?

For one person renting in the city centre, our default plan comes to about A$21,000 before travel and moving costs: a two-month deposit, the first month's rent, one month of living costs until your first pay, and a three-month emergency buffer. Change any of these to match your situation.

How big is a rent deposit?

It depends on the country and the landlord. One to three months' rent is common; some places also charge an agent fee or a non-refundable fee to the landlord. Ask for the exact amount before you sign and put it in the calculator.

Why include an emergency buffer?

Moving often costs more than planned: a later start date, a delayed first salary, or a deposit refund that takes months to arrive. A few months of living costs set aside gives you time to sort these out.

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