Can I Afford to Live in Melbourne vs Cebu City on $80K?

Here's how a $80K/year salary plays out in both cities after taxes, rent, and core living expenses — based on Q1 2026 data.

Melbourne, AU
$3,200/mo take-home
Rent: $1,600/mo (50% of take-home)
Difficult
Cebu City, PH
$5,057/mo take-home
Rent: $400/mo (8% of take-home)
Very comfortable

Monthly budget breakdown

Expense
Melbourne
AU
Cebu City
PH
Monthly take-home (est.)$3,200$5,057
1BR rent$1,600$400
Groceries (est.)$380$380
Transport (est.)$150$150
Utilities$130$55
Internet$62$25
Left after essentials$878/month$4,047/month
Cebu City (Cebu) has no state income tax, boosting take-home vs Melbourne (AU rate: 45%).

Frequently asked questions

Is $80K a good salary in Melbourne?

At $80K/year in Melbourne, your estimated monthly take-home is $3,200. With 1BR rent around $1,600/month, rent takes up 50% of your take-home. That's considered difficult.

Is $80K a good salary in Cebu City?

At $80K/year in Cebu City, your estimated monthly take-home is $5,057. With 1BR rent around $400/month, rent takes up 8% of your take-home. That's considered very comfortable.

Which city is more affordable on a $80K salary?

Cebu City leaves you with more money after core expenses — $4,047/month vs $878/month in Melbourne.

Can I afford to live alone in Melbourne on $80K?

It's tight. Rent in Melbourne would take 50% of your $80K take-home pay. You may need to find roommates or look at studios to stay within the 30% rule.

Compare other salary bands — Melbourne vs Cebu City

$40K$50K$60K$75K$100K$120K$150K

See the full cost-of-living comparison

Rent, groceries, taxes, transportation, and more — side by side.

Full comparison

Take-home estimates use simplified federal/state brackets and do not account for pre-tax deductions, 401(k), or local taxes. Data: Zillow, BLS, Numbeo · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only