Melbourne or San Jose

Based on 2026 cost of living data, Melbourne is more affordable than San Jose. Melbourne has a cost rating of 55/100, while San Jose has a cost rating of 84/100.

In terms of safety, Melbourne ranks higher with a safety score of 82/100, compared to San Jose at 82/100. Melbourne's safety score is 82/100 and San Jose's safety score is 82/100.

Average rent in Melbourne is typically $2,800 AUD per month, whereas typical rent in San Jose averages $2,300 - $3,100 per month.

For Melbourne, the visa process is rated as: Point-based (Competitive skilled migrant visas; Melbourne is a top priority for state sponsorship.). For San Jose, the process is rated as: World Epicenter for H-1B, O-1 & EB-1 Sponsorship (Unrivaled employer sponsorship by Nvidia, Apple, Google, Adobe, Cisco, and thousands of AI startups.).