Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026
Overall, Toronto is approximately 9% cheaper than Melbourne based on our cost of living index. Melbourne has a COLI of 68.2 (ranked #27 of 113 cities), while Toronto has a COLI of 62.3 (ranked #40).
When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Melbourne averages $1,800/month compared to $2,000/month in Toronto. That makes Melbourne approximately 10% cheaper for rent alone.
Melbourne has lower total deductions (17.3%) compared to Toronto (31.6%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Melbourne. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.
Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.
Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.
If you earn A$106,570 in Melbourne, you would need approximately C$92,759 in Toronto to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 9% less thanks to lower cost of living.
COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalents of New York mid-range salaries — not local market pay. For verified/OECD local-market figures see salary pages.
| Job Title | Melbourne (AUD) | Toronto (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | A$174,434 | C$151,828 |
| Software Engineer | A$82,372 | C$71,697 |
| Product Manager | A$96,908 | C$84,349 |
| Lawyer | A$96,908 | C$84,349 |
| Data Scientist | A$92,062 | C$80,131 |
| Marketing Manager | A$69,774 | C$60,731 |
| Teacher | A$46,516 | C$40,487 |
| Nurse | A$56,206 | C$48,922 |
These are COLI lifestyle equivalents of the New York mid baseline, not typical local market pay. See methodology and profession×city salary pages for market figures with source badges.
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Toorak | 1.30x (+30%) |
| South Yarra | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Brighton | 1.22x (+22%) |
| CBD | 1.20x (+20%) |
| Albert Park | 1.15x (+15%) |
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Yorkville | 1.30x (+30%) |
| Forest Hill | 1.28x (+28%) |
| King West | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Downtown Core | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Distillery District | 1.15x (+15%) |
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Open Salary ConverterMelbourne is more expensive overall. Melbourne has a COLI of 68.2 while Toronto has a COLI of 62.3, making Toronto approximately 9% cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living as A$106,570 in Melbourne, you would need approximately C$92,759 in Toronto.
Average one-bedroom rent in Melbourne is $1,800/month compared to $2,000/month in Toronto. Melbourne has lower rent by approximately 10%.
Melbourne has lower total deductions (17.3%) compared to Toronto (31.6%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Melbourne.
Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.
Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.
Last updated: 2026-08-31. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.