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Cost of living in Melbourne, FL

Compared with New York. Change city

$2,046a month less for the typical home than in New York1,2

That's $24,547 a year, enough to cover 12 months of the mortgage in Melbourne. The average commute is 11 minutes shorter each way, about 1.8 hours a week back4.

Typical home $369,775 vs $742,000. 2-bedroom rent3 $1,755 vs $1,997. See the math

By Sol Lakein.Checked October 2026.How we compare costs

Melbourne Beach park on the Atlantic coast, MelbourneTruck That Beach / Unsplash
All cities
  • Job hubL3Harris Technologies corporate headquarters; Northrop Grumman, Leonardo DRS, Embraer
  • Beach or lakeIndian River Lagoon; Atlantic beaches on the barrier island
  • College townFlorida Institute of Technology

Melbourne at a glance, next to New York

5

What the median home costs each month

1,2
New York metro$4,078/mo
$742,000 typical home
Melbourne$2,032/mo
$369,775 typical home

If you rent: median 2-bedroom

3
New York metro$1,997/mo
Melbourne$1,755/mo
About $242 a month less in rent
Rent by apartment size in Melbourne

Day-to-day costs

  • Housing costs612% pricier than averageNew York: 49% above
  • Salary that matches $150,000 in New York6$133,265
  • Net move-ins from other US metros, 2024-257+9,403
Melbourne in a paragraph

The median listed home in Melbourne is $369,775 (Realtor.com, September 2026), 12% below the US median of $419,250. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest come to about $2,032 a month. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,755 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). Everyday prices index at 100.0, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $133,265 here.

Weather

9
  • 51.7°January low
  • 89.7°July high

Home prices next to New York

1
Typical home for sale
New York metro$742,000
Melbourne$369,775
50% less, a $372,225 difference
Price per square foot
New York metro$494
Melbourne$222
2.2 times the space for the money

Your New York, in Melbourne

We're matching Melbourne's parks, museums, arenas and food halls to their New York counterparts. Until then, see how it works for Raleigh.

See how Melbourne ranks for your household

Answer a few quick questions and see how Melbourne ranks against 53 other cities for your household.

See how Melbourne ranks for you

Is Melbourne a good place to live?

Melbourne fits families who want homes list 12% below the US median and people are moving in. The main trade-off is no nonstop flights to New York. Here is what you gain and what you give up.

What you gain

  • Homes list 12% below the US median$369,775 median listing against $419,250 nationally.Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026
  • People are moving in9,403 more people moved here from other US metros than left, July 2024 to July 2025.US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025
  • A real job marketL3Harris Technologies corporate headquarters; Northrop Grumman, Leonardo DRS, EmbraerSlower Sundays city profile
  • University townFlorida Institute of TechnologySlower Sundays city profile
  • Beach or lake accessIndian River Lagoon; Atlantic beaches on the barrier islandSlower Sundays city profile

What you trade

  • No nonstop flights to New YorkTrips home mean a connection or a drive to a bigger airport.Airport route page, accessed November 3, 2026

More on Melbourne and Florida

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Melbourne cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Melbourne, FL?

The median listed home in Melbourne is $369,775 (Realtor.com, September 2026), 12% below the US median of $419,250. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest come to about $2,032 a month. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,755 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). Everyday prices index at 100.0, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $133,265 here.

How much would I save moving from New York to Melbourne?

The median listed home is $369,775 in Melbourne against $742,000 in the New York metro, 50% less. On a mortgage for each median home, that is about $2,046 a month less in principal and interest (20% down, 7.32%, Freddie Mac, October 22, 2026).

How much is rent in Melbourne?

The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in the Melbourne metro is $1,755 a month, including utilities the renter pays (Census American Community Survey, 2025). In the New York metro it is $1,997, $242 more. The US median is $1,563.

What salary in Melbourne matches $150,000 in New York?

$133,265. That is $150,000 adjusted by the BEA regional price parities for both metros (100.0 in Melbourne, 112.6 in New York, 2024).

Does Melbourne pay you to move there?

None of the relocation incentive programs we track cover Melbourne as of October 2026.

What is the weather like in Melbourne?

January lows average 51.7°F and July highs 89.7°F (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Melbourne Orlando International Airport).

Notes on the numbers
  1. 1Home prices: the typical home is the median listing price, with price per square foot, from Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. The comparison metro uses the same series and month.
  2. 2Monthly cost: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
  3. 3Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities). Covers all renters, including long-time tenants, not only new leases. Census table
  4. 4Commute: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025. Hours back assume a 5-day round trip. Census table
  5. 5At a glance: a difference within 5% counts as about the same.
  6. 6Everyday prices, housing costs and the matching salary: BEA regional price parities, 2024, US = 100.
  7. 7Net move-ins: Census Vintage 2025, via Regions Financial.
  8. 8Flights: airport route pages, October 2026.
  9. 9Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Melbourne Orlando International Airport.
Sources for this page