City in Victoria, Australia
Melbourne
Australia's coffee, art and live-music capital, with trams, laneways and a big student and working-holiday scene. Cheaper than Sydney, but the weather swings through four seasons in a day.
At a glance
- Safety4/5Safe with normal careDetails
- Monthly budget$3,340–4,520Comfortable, one person · A$4,800–6,500Details
- Value for money13/100Better value than 12% of places we coverDetails
- Best time to goMar–Apr, Oct–NovWarmest: Jan, 26°CDetails
- Air quality7.9 µg/m³PM2.5 annual average (2024) · Fairly cleanDetails
- Internet174 MbpsFixed broadband, Australia medianDetails
- Tap waterYes, drinkableMelbourne's tap water is among Australia's best.Details
- LGBTQ+5/5Very welcomingDetails
- Solo travel5/5English: spoken almost everywhereDetails
- Doctor's visit$59–111Private clinic, without insuranceDetails
- Getting aroundUberVery walkableDetails
- Cash or cardPractically cashlessTap-to-pay everywhere, including trams; some cafés and bars are card-only.Details
Where to stay in Melbourne
Areas visitors base themselves in.
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| CBD and Southbank | Short stays, trams and laneways; convenient but busy |
| Fitzroy–Collingwood | Cafés, bars, live music and street art |
| St Kilda | Beach, backpackers and a relaxed coastal feel |
| Carlton–Brunswick | Students, Italian food, cheaper shared houses |
| South Yarra–Prahran | Upscale, restaurants and good tram links |
Apps that work in Melbourne
Ride-hailing
- Maps: Google Maps
- Messaging: WhatsApp, iMessage/SMS
- BOM Weather: Official forecasts and storm, heat, fire warnings
- Emergency+: Calls 000 and reads out your GPS location
- Taxis: Taxis use meters and accept cards. Airport rides add a fee; Uber has surge pricing on weekend nights and event days.
Cash, cards and tipping
What to carry and how to pay. Money in Australia.
- Practically cashless Tap-to-pay everywhere, including trams; some cafés and bars are card-only. Carry a little cash for markets only.
- Currency: Dollar (AUD). US$1 ≈ A$1.44 on 03 Oct 2026.
- ATMs: ATMs are everywhere in towns; independent machines in pubs and shops charge about A$3–4. Decline the ATM's currency conversion.
- Tipping: Not expected; wages are high. Rounding up or about 10% for great restaurant service is appreciated. Weekend and public-holiday surcharges (10–15%) remain legal.
- Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay work almost everywhere, including contactless transit fares in Sydney and Brisbane.
Before you go
Visa and entry
- Most visitors need an ETA, applied for only in the Australian ETA app (A$20 service charge), or a free eVisitor for EU and UK passports.
- Visitor visas don't allow work for Australian businesses; 18–30-year-olds (up to 35 for some nationalities) can apply for a Working Holiday visa.
- Biosecurity is strict: declare all food, plant and animal products on arrival; bags are X-rayed and false declarations bring fines or visa cancellation.
Emergency numbers
Police 000 · Ambulance 000 · Fire 000 · All emergencies 000
Plugs
Type I · 230 V, 50 Hz. Do I need an adapter?
SIM and eSIM
Prepaid SIMs from airports, supermarkets and post offices, about A$30–50 for 28 days; passport ID check at activation. Telstra covers the outback best. eSIMs work for visitors.
More places in Australia
Going to Melbourne solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Melbourne meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Prices are SoloSquare estimates; climate, air, safety and visa figures come from the sources listed. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.