🇦🇺 ABS Data · Feb 2026
Melbourne
Cost of Living
Real ABS data on what it costs to live in Melbourne. CPI, wages, jobs, earnings, and property — no spin.
7th most expensive
of 8 capital cities by CPI inflation0.0%
CPI Inflation (YoY)
vs
+3.7%
National Average
101.4
CPI Index
📊 Source: ABS Consumer Price Index (6401.0)
CPI Trend
Melbourne CPI over time
All Groups CPI index for Melbourne vs the national average. Higher = more expensive. Hover for detail.
Melbourne
National (dashed)
Inflation Breakdown
What's getting more expensive in Melbourne?
Year-on-year inflation by CPI subcategory. Red = prices rising fast. Green = prices falling.
Electricity
+23.8%
Beef and veal
+13.6%
Utilities
+12.5%
Coffee, tea and cocoa
+11.6%
Gas and other household fuels
+5.7%
Housing
+5.3%
Alcohol and tobacco
+4.5%
Take away and fast foods
+4.5%
Medical and hospital services
+3.9%
Milk
+3.5%
Meals out and take away foods
+3.5%
Food and non-alcoholic beverages
+3.1%
Water and sewerage
+3.1%
Rents
+3.1%
Restaurant meals
+2.8%
Eggs
+2.5%
Motor vehicles
+1.3%
Communication
+0.8%
Bread
+0.7%
Private motoring
+0.1%
Cheese
+0.0%
Transport
-0.1%
Poultry
-1.2%
Pharmaceutical products
-1.7%
Automotive fuel
-6.1%
City Comparison
Cost of living vs other cities
All Groups CPI YoY inflation across capital cities. Higher = prices rising faster.
#1
Perth
+4.9%
#2
Hobart
+4.0%
#3
Sydney
+3.8%
#4
Brisbane
+3.7%
#5
Canberra
+3.5%
#6
Adelaide
+3.4%
#7
Melbourne you are here
+3.3%
#8
Darwin
+3.2%
Wage Price Index
Wages in VIC
WPI measures wage growth. VIC vs national. Are wages keeping up with Melbourne inflation?
159.7
Latest WPI Index
+3.2%
VIC WPI YoY
+3.4%
National WPI YoY
-0.1%
Real Wage Growth
VIC WPI
National (dashed)
Job Market
Employment in VIC
Unemployment rate and labour force participation for Victoria.
4.7%
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
National Unemployment
67.6%
Participation Rate
66.9%
National Participation
VIC Unemployment
National (dashed)
Average Weekly Earnings
What VIC earns
Full-time adult average weekly earnings for Victoria. ABS Cat. 6302.0.
$2,080
Weekly (VIC)
$108,139
Annual (VIC)
$2,129
National Weekly
13.8%
Gender Pay Gap
$2,199/wk
Males
$1,896/wk
Females
Property Market
Housing in VIC
Mean dwelling price and affordability for Victoria. ABS Cat. 6432.0.
$933,100
Mean Dwelling Price
▲ 3.4% YoY
$1,074,700
National Average
8.6x
Price / Annual Earnings
9.7x
National Ratio
VIC Mean Price
National (dashed)
Dwelling Prices by State
New South Wales $1,301,100
Queensland $1,066,000
Western Australia $1,014,200
Australian Capital Territory $973,800
South Australia $938,100
Victoria $933,100
Tasmania $703,800
Northern Territory $580,000
Explore
Other capital cities
Compare the cost of living across Australia.