SEO in Melbourne typically costs AUD $1,500–$5,000 per month for local or mid-sized businesses, while enterprise campaigns can run $8,000–$20,000+ monthly. Hourly rates for Melbourne consultants range from $150–$300 AUD, and project-based audits or migrations start around $2,500–$8,000. These figures mirror what you'd see in other major metros like Sydney, Toronto, or Ottawa once you adjust for currency and market size. Monthly retainers bundle strategy, on-page optimization, content development, link building, and reporting. A plumber or accountant targeting "near me" keywords in inner suburbs might pay $1,500–$2,500, while a national e-commerce retailer with thousands of SKUs and competitive SERPs will push into five figures. The pricing spread reflects keyword difficulty, site complexity, and how aggressive the competitive landscape is in your vertical. Project-based work—technical audits, site migrations, penalty recovery—usually lands between $2,500 and $8,000 depending on site size and scope. Hourly consulting at $150–$300 AUD makes sense for one-off fixes or strategy sessions, but retainer models typically deliver better ROI because SEO compounds over time. You need sustained link acquisition, fresh content, and ongoing technical maintenance to hold rankings in competitive markets like Melbourne's CBD or Southbank. Watch out for packages under $1,000 per month; those often rely on thin content, low-quality link farms, or automated tools that burn through your domain authority. Melbourne's a mature market with strong agencies, so rock-bottom pricing usually means outsourced, cookie-cutter work. At Ottawa SEO, we run a similar retainer structure—starting around CAD $2,000–$4,000 for local campaigns—and we see the same dynamic: serious results require dedicated hours each month for link outreach, content planning, and technical iteration. If a Melbourne agency quotes you $800 monthly for twenty competitive keywords, they're either losing money or cutting corners you'll regret six months in.