Cost of Living in Eastern Victoria: 2026 Election Policies Explained

Right, let’s cut through the noise and get real about what’s happening with our cost of living here in Eastern Victoria. The cost of living crisis isn’t some abstract concept talked about in Melbourne boardrooms. It’s hitting us where it hurts, from Bairnsdale to Sale, from the Gippsland coast to the high country.

With the November 2026 state election around the corner, every major party is promising to fix things. But what’s actually on offer? And more importantly, what’s this all going to mean for regional Victorians who’ve been doing it tough?

How Bad Is The Cost Of Living Crisis Actually?

Let’s not sugarcoat it. 

The Australian cost of living situation has gone from concerning to downright brutal. Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows living cost indexes rose between 2.6% and 3.9% in the year to September 2025. That’s your power bills, your grocery shop, your rent or mortgage, all climbing faster than most wages.

Housing costs have been the real killer. Over 3.3 million Australians are currently living in poverty according to the Salvation Army, with housing affordability stress being the main factor contributing to homelessness. In fact, 42% of renters say they’ll struggle to pay rent over the next three months, and half are worried about becoming homeless.

For regional Victoria, the picture is complicated. While property prices are generally lower than Melbourne, the average living expenses still bite hard, especially with limited job opportunities and essential services spread thin.

Eastern Victoria V Melbourne: The Real Comparison

Here’s where things get interesting for our region. The median house price in Melbourne sits around $1.1 million, while regional Victorian cities like Ballarat ($541,000), Bendigo ($546,000), and Geelong ($728,000) offer significantly cheaper options.

Eastern Victoria, particularly the Gippsland region, presents even more affordable alternatives. Warragul’s median property price is $647,000, while areas in the Latrobe Valley and further east offer properties well below half a million dollars.

But here’s the catch. While housing might be cheaper, regional Victorians face other challenges. Transport costs are higher without Melbourne’s extensive public transport network. Melbourne’s Myki Zone 1 fares average about $200 per month, while regional car owners shell out around $90 for fuel per tank fill-up, plus $75 monthly for registration and $100 for insurance.

The trade off? More space, cleaner air, less traffic, and a genuine sense of community that money can’t buy.

How Much Money Do You Need To Live Comfortably?

The million dollar question, right? To live comfortably in Melbourne, a single person might need a gross annual salary of around $70,000 to $90,000. For a family of four, that jumps to between $120,000 and $160,000.

In regional Victoria, you can get by on slightly less thanks to lower housing costs. However, people accessing emergency relief had just $8 a week left after essential spending, while those reliant on government payments went backwards with a negative $2 after essentials.

The harsh reality is that whether you’re in the city or the regions, wages haven’t kept pace with the rising prices. Annual wage growth reached 4.1% for the first time in 15 years, but it’s still not enough to offset the cost increases across housing, energy, and food.

What Are The Parties Actually Offering?

Labor’s Approach: Targeted Relief

The current Labor government has prioritised relief in the 2025-26 budget, focusing on lower-income households. Their Help with the Cost of Living package includes:

• $100 Power Saving Bonus for eligible concession card holders
• $859 million to continue Free Kinder, saving families up to $2,600 annually per child
• $152 million for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund
• $18 million in food relief
• $15 million for Get Active Kids vouchers

Labor sacrificed $1 billion from the surplus to fund these measures. The government argues these targeted supports help those doing it toughest while maintaining essential services.

Liberal Party: Fiscal Commission And Reform

The Victorian Liberals, now led by Jess Wilson, have shifted focus to economic management and budget repair. Wilson has confirmed the Liberals would lift the stamp duty exemption threshold for first home buyers to $1 million and is passionate about broader tax reform.

Their proposal includes a bipartisan fiscal commission to fix the debt crisis, aiming to improve economic conditions and reduce inflationary pressures through better management. The party argues Victoria’s debt trajectory will reduce capacity for household relief and investment in healthcare, policing, and energy.

The Nationals: Coalition Partnership

As the Coalition partner, the Nationals align with the Liberal Party, emphasizing fiscal responsibility to stabilize the economy and lower living costs. Their focus on regional and rural Victoria means they’re particularly attuned to issues like transport costs, agricultural challenges, and essential service access.

Greens: Systemic Change

The Greens are pushing for the most radical overhaul, focusing on reducing costs through quality job creation, affordable housing initiatives, and renewable energy to cut utility bills.

Their 2022 election platform proposed building 200,000 affordable and public homes over 20 years, including 100,000 public homes in ten years. They’re also calling for:

• A cap on rent increases in line with wage growth
• A levy on big banks (0.015% quarterly), raising around $1.4 billion over four years
• A social and affordable housing levy on developers
• Moving Victoria to 100% renewable energy by 2030

One Nation: Lower Taxes, Less Debt

One Nation seeks to reduce taxes, pay down debt, and encourage economic growth to alleviate pressures. While state-specific details are limited, their philosophy centers on smaller government, less regulation, and putting money back in people’s pockets.

Where’s The Opportunity For Improvement?

Looking at all these policies, there’s clearly room for better coordination. The ideal approach would enhance targeted subsidies for vulnerable groups while integrating with federal programs. Most experts agree we need wage support mechanisms that address root causes, not just symptoms.

Regional Victoria, particularly Eastern Victoria, needs policies that acknowledge our unique challenges. Lower property prices mean nothing if you can’t find work. Cheaper living costs don’t help if you have to drive an hour each way for medical appointments.

The Gippsland region contributes more than $24 billion to the Victorian economy annually and employs more than 147,000 workers. We’re not some backwater that needs a handout. We need smart investment in infrastructure, renewable energy jobs (we’re leading the energy transition), and recognition that regional communities deserve the same opportunities as metropolitan areas.

The Bottom Line

The cost-of-living crisis isn’t going away overnight, no matter who wins in November 2026. Each party brings different philosophies to the table. Labor focuses on targeted support and maintaining services. The Liberals push for fiscal repair and economic management. The Greens want systemic transformation through taxing big corporations and massive public investment. The Nationals emphasize regional needs within the Coalition framework. One Nation preaches smaller government and lower taxes.

For Eastern Victoria voters, the question isn’t just which policy sounds best in a press release. It’s about which approach will genuinely improve life in places like Bairnsdale, Sale, Warragul, and the dozens of smaller communities that make our region what it is.

The reality is that regional Victorians have been managing with less for years. We know how to stretch a dollar. But we also deserve policies that recognize our contribution to the state economy, our role in the energy transition, and our right to affordable, dignified living.

One thing’s certain: the cost of living will be front and center come election day. Make sure you know where each candidate stands, not just what their party promises in Melbourne. Because regional Victoria deserves more than just leftover crumbs from the capital city table.