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The cost of living in Melbourne is one of the most commonly discussed topics every day, whether that’s you just chatting with mates, or pundits on the news. And the high cost of living’s effect on the hospitality industry is also regularly covered. So we thought we’d take a look at how much Melburnians are paying for typical dishes – we analysed 150 pub and club menus across Melbourne (and another 150 in Sydney), looking at the average prices of the most commonly served meals (Time Out’s Price of a Parma 2026 project).
How much should you actually expect to pay for these pub staples? While some of the results won't come as a surprise, others might make you wince.
At the budget-friendly end of the scale, a bowl of chips or fries comes in at an average of $11.82, making it the cheapest item on our list. Not exactly a meal, though.
Chicken wings – which also often appear on the starters section of a menu – average $18.54, while a Margherita pizza will set you back $21.43. Then there’s nachos, which comes in at an average of $21.99.
Moving up to the $25ish section of the menu, you’re looking at spending an average of $25.41 for salt and pepper calamari (AKA squid). Caesar salad also sits in that price zone on Melbourne menus, averaging $25.83 (so you won’t save much by making friends with salad).
Spaghetti or penne Bolognese is the most common pasta on Melbourne pub menus, and you’ll get a bowl of it for an average of $26.19. That’s priced similarly to a cheese burger, which averages $26.57 (usually with chips included, of course). It seems Melburnians take both their spag bol and their cheese burgers a fair bit more seriously than Sydneysiders do, where these dishes ranked as two of the most affordable common menu items – bolognese comes for an average of just $20.47 and cheese burgers for $21.58.
At the more expensive end of Melbourne pub menus, bangers and mash averages $27.23, while a chicken schnitzel will cost you $28.13 ($25.44 in Sydney). A steak sandwich pushes that average up to $29.81, with chicken parma coming in at a steep $30.49 (how is it still so popular??).
If you baulked at those prices, fish and chips in Melbourne pubs is even pricier, averaging $30.59. But, taking out the title of most expensive meal on our list is the steak, with rump steaks setting you back an average of $37.32.
So, if you're craving a relatively affordable pub meal, check out the Margherita pizza and nachos (or stick with chips!) – and steer well clear of the steak.
Here are the average prices of 14 classic meals across Melbourne – from cheapest to most expensive:
- Bowl of chips/fries: $11.82
- Chicken wings: $18.54
- Margherita pizza: $21.43
- Nachos: $21.99
- Salt & pepper calamari (AKA squid): $25.41
- Caesar salad: $25.83
- Spaghetti/penne Bolognese: $26.19
- Cheese burger: $26.57
- Bangers & mash: $27.23
- Chicken schnitzel: $28.13
- Steak sandwich: $29.81
- Chicken Parmigiana: $30.49
- Fish & chips: $30.59
- Rump steak: $37.32
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