Feeling the pinch like never before? We’ve pulled together a bunch of cheaper-than-cheap eats, drink deals and fun activities that will cost you a mere $5 or less. 

$4 meals

$5 cookies

$2.50 coffee

$5 karaoke

$2 snacks

Lunchtime Concerts by donation

$2.50 ice cream

$4 feeds, Heart of Carlton 

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a decent feed for $4, which is why Heart of Carlton really is the low-price gem of ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s inner north. The husband-wife duo behind this local spot is here to serve you big bowls of pasta, homemade soups and hearty curries for under a fiver. The atmosphere is priceless too, with live music on the piano and a cosy fireplace to keep you warm. 

Magazines and a sweet treat, $5

Looking for a little time-out from screens? Head to City Library and browse the collection of magazines. You can borrow a whole stack for free. Revisit your favourite nostalgic print title, picking up the latest issue or a vintage edition. Then head next door to flip through the pages over a chunky $5 cookie at Dukes Coffee Roasters. Just watch those crumbs!

³Ô¹ÏÍø's cheapest coffee from $2.50, various locations

We've scoured the streets and laneways for the cheapest coffee in town. Head to Butchers Diner for a cup $2.50 freshly-ground filter coffee. Otherside has kept its prices low at $4.90 across all small coffees. That means no extra cash needed for alt milks or an extra shot! At ³Ô¹ÏÍø's adorable Tram Cafe, the prices are as retro as the tram itself, starting at $3.80. Or try where your favourite fix starts at $3 for a long black, including iced! More of a matcha fan? Head to the cute Flying Turtle vending machine on Swanston Street to get $5 matcha all through March.

$5 karaoke, Kono 

Private karaoke rooms and the odd open mic night are pretty well-known in ³Ô¹ÏÍø. Mini coin-operated singing booths? Not so common. Enter Kono, a hidden gem lined with disco-lit nooks perfect for solo or small group singing. $5 gets you three songs. Regulars can be heard singing along to BUZZ ballads in perfect Korean, but there’s a bumper book of English tunes to pick from, too.

Cheap street food from $2, various locations

Need a snack but only got a fiver? in Queensberry Street is slinging $2.75 hashbrowns. Crispy, crunchy and the perfect little pick-me-up. Make it a Carlton cheap eats crawl with $5 tacos at La Cabra. They're available every taco Tuesday from 5pm. Tuck into $1 wings smothered in Buffalo or Alabama sauce at Heartbreaker on wing Wednesdays. Or head to Arbory Bar for $2 oysters by the water on Thursdays.

Lunchtime concerts, donation

Fill your lunch break with the sounds of live music in one of ³Ô¹ÏÍø's most beautiful buildings. Every Wednesday St Paul's Cathedral hosts a half-hour recital with a lineup of local musicians. Expect classical pianists, ensembles and even school music classes. Entry is by donation, so dig into your purse for those gold coins.

Ice cream and milkshakes from $2.50, Mixue

Viral ice cream shop Mixue is ready to dish out budget-friendly soft serve. Deliciously creamy, this popular dessert is only $2.50 and comes in a king-size cone. If you’re still hungry, grab a strawberry sundae for $4.50. Best of all, it's open until 11pm or midnight every day to cater to your late-night sugar cravings.

Information correct at time of writing - always check ahead with the venue to confirm costs.