London vs Melbourne: Which City Is Better for Expats?
These two cities score within a few points of each other across 16 factors. The better choice depends on your priorities.
Updated June 2026
Factor Breakdown
| Metric | 🇬🇧 London | 🇦🇺 Melbourne | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of Life | 69 | 84 | Melbourne |
| Safety | 39 | 54 | Melbourne |
| Healthcare | 59 | 71 | Melbourne |
| Climate | 53 | 93 | Melbourne |
| Pollution | 72 | 82 | Melbourne |
| Nightlife | 97 | 67 | London |
| English Spoken | 98 | 96 | Too close to call |
| Foreigner Friendly | 65 | 74 | Melbourne |
| Expat Community | 67 | 42 | London |
| Family Friendly | 71 | 68 | Too close to call |
| LGBTQ+ Safety | 91 | 85 | London |
| Coworking Spaces | 85 | 95 | Melbourne |
| Startup Ecosystem | 40 | 50 | Melbourne |
| Property Affordability | 91 | 88 | Too close to call |
| LGBTQ+ Friendliness | 71 | 80 | Melbourne |
Cost Breakdown
Lower = cheaper. The number is roughly the share of New York City's everyday expenses you'd pay there (so 60 ≈ 60% of NYC). The gap between two columns is roughly how much cheaper one place is than the other.
| Category | London | Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 87.5 | 70.8 |
| Rent | 70.1 | 39.7 |
| Groceries | 68.9 | 79.5 |
| Restaurants | 89.7 | 66.7 |
| Purchasing Power | 117.5 | 144 |
Based on aggregated cost-of-living data from multiple public sources, 2026.
Language Requirements
Melbourne
Frequently Asked Questions
Is London or Melbourne cheaper to live in?
Melbourne is roughly 19% cheaper than London overall (70.8 vs 87.5 on our cost of living index, where lower = cheaper). This covers rent, groceries, restaurants, and overall purchasing power.
Which city is safer, London or Melbourne?
Melbourne scores higher on safety at 54 vs 39. This factors in crime rates, personal safety perceptions, and walking-alone-at-night metrics.
Is English widely spoken in London and Melbourne?
London rates higher for English speakers (98 vs 96). Scores reflect how easily you can get by day-to-day in English, based on expat community reports.
Which city has better nightlife, London or Melbourne?
London edges out on nightlife with a score of 97 vs 67, based on aggregated nightlife and entertainment ratings.
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How we compare cities
City scores are normalized to 0-100 from multiple publicly available datasets covering cost of living, safety, healthcare, climate, quality of life, pollution, property prices, commute times, nightlife, English proficiency, expat friendliness, and LGBTQ+ friendliness.