Go, but pay attention.
Numbeo's Safety Index puts Melbourne at 56/100 for crime — that makes it read sketchier than Australia's national picture overall (78/100 vs 82/100).
City page · part of Australia
The one number a country page can't give you
What people who actually live in Melbourne report
Numbeo aggregates thousands of resident-submitted perception surveys into a per-city Crime Index (higher = worse) and its inverse, a Safety Index — the only real city-granularity crime signal feeding this page, alongside Australia's national advisory, political, health, and police-trust data.
Crime Index
44.3
Safety Index
55.7
The breakdown behind the number
What residents specifically worry about
Numbeo's own category breakdown — note some rows are framed as a worry/problem (higher = worse) and some as a safety rating (higher = better); read the label, not just the number.
Sub-scores
Same real inputs as Australia's national page, with crime swapped for Melbourne's own Numbeo number above.
Local know-how
Staying safe in Melbourne, specifically
- • The Australia-wide emergency number is 000, with the ambulance service, fire department and police being available through this number.
- • Walking: It is important to take care around tram lines.
- • Driving: Driving in Melbourne can be nerve-wracking due to the presence of trams.
- • Public transport: Areas near major public transport stations, such as Flinders Street and Southern Cross, can sometimes become gathering spots for homeless individuals and those affected by drugs or alcohol.
- • Protective Services Officers (PSOs) patrol Melbourne's railway stations from 5PM to the last train, with all stations possessing a 'safety zone' with increased lighting, CCTV cameras and easy access to the red emergency button.
Legal status (national law)
Always legal for women. Male legal in some states and territories since 1975, nationwide since 1997. Tasmania was the last state to legalise male homosexuality; Equal age of consent in some states and territories since 1975, nationwide since 2016.+ UN decl. sign.
Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country →Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
I · 230V
Driving side
left
Emergency
police: 000 / ambulance: 000 / fire: 000
Tipping
Tipping is not customary in Australia, although tips are somewhat accepted if you freely choose to give one; however, tips are becoming increasingly frowned upon. Restaurants are required to include the cost of service and taxes in posted prices. You may, however, choose to leave a small tip if the service was exemplary. When paying by credit card, a few restaurants give the option of adding a tip
SIM / Data
Australia has three mobile phone networks: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. All three operate LTE (4G) and 5G networks; 3G has been phased out. Generally speaking, Telstra provides the best coverage, but is the most expensive, while Vodafone often does not have coverage in rural towns, but is the cheapest. Unpopulated or sparsely populated areas away from major roads are unlikely to have service at al
Cash vs. Card
The most commonly accepted credit cards are MasterCard and Visa, including those in a digital wallet, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. American Express and Diners Club are accepted at most major supermarkets and department stores. Cards showing the Cirrus or Maestro logos can be used anywhere those logos are displayed. JCB, UnionPay, AliPay and WeChat Pay are available intermittently
How this compares to Australia
Numbeo's Safety Index puts Melbourne at 56/100 for crime — that makes it read sketchier than Australia's national picture overall (78/100 vs 82/100).
See the full Australia page and all receipts →