Melbourne KT Mart 2026: Save on Australia Travel Costs

Save on Australia Travel Expenses: Food & Korean Marts

Melbourne KT Mart Review & Tips

Copyright © Kim Jigu. All Rights Reserved

Our Australian honeymoon was absolutely unforgettable!

Even though we ended up visiting during Australia's rainy season in 2026 and saw daily showers, our time flew by. It was such a joyful trip!

Australia is incredible in so many ways, but there's one thing that really stands out: the cost of living is no joke.

A decent meal out for two easily costs ~$51, and if you opt for something a bit more upscale, you can expect to spend upwards of ~$146.

My husband and I were planning a two-week adventure across Sydney, Melbourne, and even New Zealand's South Island. To keep our Australia travel budget in check, we decided to pack some Korean essentials!

1. Saving Money on Australia Travel Food

Half of my suitcase was dedicated to kimchi, instant rice (Hetbahn), and cup noodles. Seriously, when it comes to cutting down Australia travel expenses, bringing your own food is a game-changer.

The only real challenge is the return trip with a heavier bag, but packing light on the way out is usually easy enough.

Australia has two major supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, where you can find affordable lamb, beef, and pork. They also have convenient oven-ready chicken dishes. So, I highly recommend combining your packed instant rice, kimchi, and cup noodles with fresh ingredients from these local supermarkets to create delicious side dishes.

My husband and I prefer home-cooked meals over dining out, and honestly, Australia doesn't have a particularly famous cuisine that we felt we were missing. So, we happily shopped at the supermarkets and cooked up some delicious meals.

By eating out for lunch and cooking dinner ourselves, we significantly reduced our Australia travel costs.

Plus, grocery shopping together in Australia became a memorable part of our trip! =)

2. Melbourne KT Mart: Insider Tips

Given the large number of Korean working holiday visa holders in Australia, you'll find an abundance of Korean restaurants and, thankfully, Korean supermarkets are easy to locate.

A friend who did a working holiday in Melbourne recommended Melbourne KT Mart, saying it had a great variety of Korean food and reasonable prices. They suggested checking it out if it was close to our accommodation.

So, we made sure to visit during our trip.

They truly have everything! You'll find a lot of Koreans shopping there, but also many other international visitors.

You can even find traditional Korean rice cakes, and popular snacks like 'Ddujjeonku' (a type of Korean cookie), showing how vibrant and well-stocked the store is.

However, it is quite expensive.

If you're considering bringing kimchi, cup noodles, or other side dishes into Australia, you'll need to declare them on your arrival card to ensure a smooth entry process. But if dealing with customs declarations feels like too much hassle, then utilizing KT Mart is a fantastic alternative.

Just be prepared for the prices to be significantly higher!

A small pack of kimchi, for example, costs around ~$7.

While less popular ramen brands might be similar in price to what you'd find back home, popular varieties like Shin Ramyun or Jin Ramyun Spicy, which often contain meat ingredients, can be significantly more expensive per pack.

It's essentially paying extra for convenience.

Beyond Korean snacks, they also stock a wide array of international imported snacks.

And there are so many instant meal options! The selection of Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) is incredible, with many available as easy-to-prepare meal kits, which seems to make them very popular with international shoppers.

Again, these are typically on the pricier side.

From sauces to fermented pastes, they have everything you could need.

Personally, I'd only buy heavy items like sauces or pastes from a place like Melbourne's KT Mart and either pack lighter essentials from home or pick them up at Coles.

Even with the high cost of living, Australia is a place I'd love to visit again.

If you're looking to cut down on Australia travel expenses, definitely consider either bringing food with you or utilizing local supermarkets! =)

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