Melbourne most expensive city in Australia
Melbourne is officially the most expensive city in Australia to enjoy a casual meal out according to data analysed by Clipp (Clipp.co), Australia’s leading and fastest-growing mobile payment and deals app for bars, pubs and restaurants.
A casual meal for two with a couple of drinks will set Melbournians back an average of $61, while Adelaide came in as cheapest with the same meal out costing just $50.50 on average. Perth was second most expensive at an average of $57.50, while Brisbane was $55.50, and Sydney was surprisingly second cheapest at $51.60.
The findings are based on the average total price for a glass of house wine, a schooner of Carlton Draught, a burger and a small pizza. Clipp analysed data from its 650-plus merchants Australia-wide in January and February this year to compile the results.
The most expensive beer to be had in Australia is in Sydney with an average price of $6.60, with Brisbane the cheapest at $5.50, but wine is far more expensive in Brisbane, topping the nation at $9. Adelaide was cheapest at $6.50. A burger was most expensive in Melbourne at $23.50 and cheapest in Sydney at $19, while Perth and Melbourne tied with most expensive pizza at $23, and Sydney again came in cheapest at $19.
Greg Taylor, CEO and co-founder of Clipp, says: “Fifty to seventy dollars is too costly for a casual meal out, especially since we are cooking less than ever before. If we eat out three times a week, our spend is close to $200 a week,” says Taylor. “Those inside the industry know that many of the most popular restaurants are willing to offer meals for close to half the price – yet the public are often last to know about it.”
Greg recommends restaurant patrons regularly scour apps such as Clipp for deals that offer up to 40 per cent off meals and drinks at popular bars and hotels. “Aussies should take full advantage of them. The cost of living is so high in Australia’s urban areas – meals should not be among them.”
According to Taylor, Clipp has been offering last minute deals that guarantee discounted rates at bars, pubs and restaurants to its loyal Australian members since September 2015 and there’s no question that Aussies want more. “Since offering deals on our platform, customers are using offers to help them plan their night out. More than 30% of our customers are opening Clipp before 8am to secure a deal for that night, which shows how Clipp helps people plan, as well as guarantees revenue for venues. Our dinner offers typically become available mid-afternoon and we’ve seen that half of customers who take up those offers, do so within the first hour. A 40 per cent discount is quite compelling and could make a $10 steak on Tuesday be as cheap as $6.”
Our cities’ most expensive and cheapest suburbs
The data was further analysed to establish which suburbs in each city were the cheapest and most expensive, and in many cases there were few surprises in the suburbs named, but the difference in price was marked.
“It was really interesting to analyse this data as there wasn’t one city which was uniformly the most expensive for each item, with quite a big price difference between the cheapest and most expensive cities,” says Taylor. “There is an overall difference of almost 20 per cent in the cost of street prices across the board, which is huge.”
The most expensive suburb to have a night out in Sydney is Double Bay, with the same casual meal costing $68.50. Sydneysiders can expect to get the cheapest meal in St Marys at $46.25. In Melbourne, the inner-city suburb Southbank costs the most at $71 while the commuter town Werribee will set a couple back $48 for a meal. Brisbane’s CBD was the most expensive at $63.50 with Strathpine coming in cheapest at $44. In Perth, trendy Subiaco will set you back $69, with beachside city Rockingham coming in cheapest at $51.20. For Adelaide residents, a casual meal out could cost $55.20 in North Adelaide while Kilburn is the cheapest suburb at $43.70.
Cost of a night out in major Australian cities:
| Sydney | Street price (avg.) | Last minute deal price through Clipp |
| Carlton Draught (schooner, on tap) | $6.60 | $3.96 |
| House white wine | $7 | $4.20 |
| Burger | $19 | $11.40 |
| Small pizza | $19 | $11.40 |
| Total (city) | $51.60 | $30.96 |
| Most expensive suburb: Double Bay – total price | $68.50 | $41.10 |
| Cheapest suburb: St Marys – total price | $46.25 | $27.75 |
| Melbourne | Street price (avg.) | Last minute deal price through Clipp |
| Carlton Draught (schooner, on tap) | $6.50 | $3.90 |
| House white wine | $8 | $4.80 |
| Burger | $23.50 | $14.10 |
| Small pizza | $23 | $13.80 |
| Total (city) | $61 | $36.60 |
| Most expensive suburb: Southbank – total price | $71 | $42.60 |
| Cheapest suburb: Werribee – total price | $48 | $28.80 |
| Brisbane | Street price (avg.) | Last minute deal price through Clipp |
| Carlton Draught (schooner, on tap) | $5.50 | $3.30 |
| House white wine | $9 | $5.40 |
| Burger | $21 | $12.60 |
| Small pizza | $20 | $12 |
| Total (city) | $55.50 | $33.30 |
| Most expensive suburb: Brisbane – total price | $63.50 | $38.10 |
| Cheapest suburb: Strathpine – total price | $44 | $26.40 |
| Adelaide | Street price (avg.) | Last minute deal price through Clipp |
| Carlton Draught (schooner, on tap) | $6 | $3.60 |
| House white wine | $6.50 | $3.90 |
| Burger | $20 | $12 |
| Small pizza | $18 | $10.80 |
| Total (city) | $50.50 | $30.30 |
| Most expensive suburb: North Adelaide – total price | $55.20 | $33.12 |
| Cheapest suburb: Kilburn – total price | $43.70 | $26.22 |
| Perth | Street price (avg.) | Last minute deal price through Clipp |
| Carlton Draught (schooner, on tap) | $6.50 | $3.90 |
| House white wine | $7 | $4.20 |
| Burger | $21 | $12.60 |
| Small pizza | $23 | $13.80 |
| Total (city) | $57.50 | $34.50 |
| Most expensive suburb: Subiaco – total price | $69 | $41.40 |
| Cheapest suburb: Rockingham – total price | $51.20 | $30.72 |