Cost of Living in Balga - Updated Prices & Insights

Monthly Cost of Living

Living costs for one person come to about $2,270 monthly including rent, or $1,145 excluding housing.

Estimated monthly costs for a couple: $3,310 with rent, or $1,888 without housing.

Monthly costs for a family of three come to about $4,351 including rent, or $2,631 for daily expenses alone.

Balga sits 52–69% above the global median across household types. Within Oceania, costs are 16% above average – pricier than most cities in the region.

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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.46 A$23.43
$9.88 A$14.07
$32.93 A$46.87
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.3 A$113
$59.5 A$84.7
$119 A$169
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.39 A$14.80
$9.75 A$13.87
$12.99 A$18.49
Cappuccino
$3.64 A$5.18
$2.89 A$4.12
$5.70 A$8.11
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 A$3.55
$1.93 A$2.75
$3.22 A$4.58
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 A$2.75
$1.60 A$2.28
$2.56 A$3.64
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.88 A$11.21
$5.91 A$8.41
$9.20 A$13.09
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.44 A$9.17
$5.15 A$7.34
$9.67 A$13.77
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 A$2.01
$0.97 A$1.38
$2.57 A$3.66
White Bread (500g)
$2.32 A$3.30
$1.38 A$1.96
$3.78 A$5.39
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.00 A$2.85
$1.18 A$1.68
$3.27 A$4.65
Eggs
$4.45 A$6.33
$3.09 A$4.40
$5.80 A$8.25
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.70 A$12.39
$6.18 A$8.80
$19.93 A$28.37
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.21 A$11.69
$5.08 A$7.23
$9.53 A$13.56
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.57 A$19.32
$8.29 A$11.79
$20.41 A$29.05
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 A$4.79
$1.90 A$2.70
$4.74 A$6.75
Banana (1kg)
$2.90 A$4.13
$2.19 A$3.12
$4.45 A$6.33
Oranges (1kg)
$2.86 A$4.07
$1.61 A$2.29
$5.77 A$8.22
Tomato (1kg)
$4.71 A$6.70
$2.45 A$3.49
$5.87 A$8.36
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 A$3.61
$1.33 A$1.90
$3.33 A$4.74
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 A$2.51
$1.12 A$1.59
$2.56 A$3.65
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 A$2.83
$0.79 A$1.12
$2.63 A$3.75
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 A$2.06
$0.51 A$0.72
$3.18 A$4.53
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.24 A$44.47
$25.50 A$36.29
$38.25 A$54.5
Wine (Bottle)
$12.61 A$17.94
$8.75 A$12.46
$17.50 A$24.91
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.87 A$5.50
$2.48 A$3.53
$5.89 A$8.38
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 A$5.96
$2.62 A$3.73
$6.56 A$9.33
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 A$3.66
$1.87 A$2.66
$3.21 A$4.58
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.3 A$93.0
$22.86 A$32.53
$65.3 A$93.0
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.92 A$5.59
$3.85 A$5.49
$7.71 A$10.97
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 A$3.06
$1.54 A$2.19
$3.08 A$4.38
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$48.92 A$69.6
$37.33 A$53.1
$64.4 A$91.6
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 A$1.58
$1.02 A$1.45
$1.27 A$1.81
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K A$41.5K
$25.7K A$36.6K
$29.6K A$42.1K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K A$34.4K
$19.4K A$27.6K
$29.0K A$41.3K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$159 A$227
$99.2 A$141
$298 A$424
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.69 A$39.42
$16.04 A$22.83
$44.92 A$63.9
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.6 A$79.1
$48.93 A$69.7
$68.5 A$97.5
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.67 A$69.3
$19.47 A$27.72
$58.4 A$83.2
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.48 A$22.04
$7.70 A$10.96
$15.48 A$22.04
Cinema Ticket
$16.51 A$23.50
$13.21 A$18.81
$18.49 A$26.32
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,806 A$2,570
$1,050 A$1,495
$2,417 A$3,441
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K A$17.3K
$6,554 A$9,329
$17.7K A$25.2K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.0 A$98.2
$38.32 A$54.6
$95.8 A$136
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.15 A$67.1
$19.13 A$27.23
$76.5 A$109
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 A$143
$63.8 A$90.9
$140 A$200
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 A$151
$65.2 A$92.8
$195 A$278
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,247 A$1,775
$1,027 A$1,462
$1,316 A$1,874
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 A$1,513
$662 A$942
$1,184 A$1,685
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 A$2,875
$1,629 A$2,318
$2,476 A$3,524
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,706 A$2,428
$1,322 A$1,881
$1,982 A$2,822
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,462 A$7,774
$4,395 A$6,255
$5,650 A$8,043
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,105 A$7,266
$3,462 A$4,929
$5,574 A$7,934
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,321 A$4,727
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
5.8
7.25

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Expect to pay about $1,247 for a central one-bedroom, or $1,063 outside the center. At 38% of the average salary ($3,321), housing is the biggest financial pressure.

Average take-home pay sits at $3,321, while typical expenses reach $2,270. This leaves some room for savings, though a comfortable buffer starts closer to $3,404.

Expect to spend about $330 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant costs roughly $79.0 for two – above the Oceanian average of $56.0.

Public transport is priced at around $65.3 per month – roughly in line with the Oceanian average of $57.0.

Cost Highlights

Balga has the 6th most expensive local beer in Oceania

Balga has the 10th most expensive preschool or kindergarten, full day, private, 1 child in Oceania

Gasoline is cheaper than 96% of cities in Oceania

Balga Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms

Fixed Broadband

Download
Mbps
Upload
Mbps
Latency
ms
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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Cost of Living in Balga - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Balga a good value for long stays or for travelers, expats, and digital nomads seeking balance between cost and lifestyle?
Balga offers a practical balance: you get roomier housing and quieter streets than central Perth, with straightforward access to the CBD and regional attractions via car or bus. The vibe is solidly suburban - pine-green parks, local shops, and family-friendly services - making it a friendly base for settling in. While amenities may be more limited than inner-city pockets, the trade-off is savings on rent and daily costs. For many, Balga is an economical launchpad for broader Western Australia explorations. Cost of Living in Balga, Australia is typically viewed as moderate within the Perth metro, with room to tailor your lifestyle. Tip: plan a weekly routine to maximize transit days and cheap grocery runs.
What does a typical day look like in Balga in terms of housing search, food options, transport, co-working, and errands?
Daily life in Balga centers on practical routines rather than nightlife. When you're house-hunting, start with rental listings in surrounding suburbs and scan local community boards; consider proximity to bus routes to the CBD and to shopping centres. Food options are convenient: multicultural cafes, supermarkets, and fresh markets nearby let you cook most days; you'll likely mix cafe lunches with occasional takeaways. For work or study, reliable internet is common in many cafes and there are shared workspaces within a short ride. Balga living cost is a useful shorthand when budgeting across rent, groceries, and transport; compare neighborhoods by commute time and amenity mix. Tip: test a few different transit combinations in your first week.
How can you gauge quality of life, plan a budgeting framework, and choose a neighborhood that fits your rhythm in Balga?
Quality of life in Balga comes from a calm pace, reliable amenities, and a sense of community. A practical budgeting approach helps you allocate money for housing, utilities, and groceries while leaving room for occasional travel. Use a simple framework like a flexible 50/30/20 split, but adjust for Perth's warm summers by planning energy-saving habits. Neighborhood fit depends on your needs: proximity to schools, parks, and bus routes; quiet street vs. nearby shopping hubs; access to co-working or library spaces can boost productivity. Seasonal shifts mainly show up in energy use and outdoor activities; you’ll enjoy sunny days most of the year. Tip: map a recurring weekly routine that minimizes back-and-forth trips.
Is rent in Balga too high relative to local incomes?
With 38% of the average paycheck going to rent, Balga is on the expensive side for housing. Many locals cope by sharing apartments, moving to outer neighborhoods, or downsizing to keep things manageable.
What are typical monthly expenses for a single person in Balga?
All in, Balga runs about $2,270 monthly with rent, or $1,145 without it. These numbers assume a moderate lifestyle – comfortable but not lavish. Choosing a cheaper neighborhood and cooking at home are the easiest ways to spend less.
How does the average salary in Balga compare to the cost of living?
At $3,321 take-home, most residents in Balga can cover the $2,270 monthly cost of living. Those earning $3,404 or more have room to save; below-average earners will find things noticeably tighter.
What does a one-bedroom apartment cost in Balga per month?
Where you live in Balga makes all the difference. Central one-bedrooms cost about $1,247; commute-friendly outer districts come in around $1,063. Overall, the market runs from $1,063 to $1,247 depending on size, location, and apartment condition.
Is public transport affordable in Balga?
A monthly transit pass in Balga runs about $65.3, with good coverage across residential and business areas. It's entirely feasible to live car-free here for daily commuting and errands.
What should I budget for groceries in Balga?
At about $330 monthly, food costs in Balga sit in moderate territory. A mix of local markets and supermarkets covers most needs at fair prices, and most residents eat well without having to pinch pennies.
Does $3,000 cover living expenses in Balga?
Living on $3,000 in Balga means careful planning, since monthly costs average $2,270. It works with a cheap apartment and disciplined spending, but expect trade-offs on where you live, how often you eat out, and entertainment.
What are the pros and cons of living in Balga?
Balga offers genuinely appealing day-to-day living. Residents value fast internet, low crime rates, clean air, and at around $2,270 per month, it's accessible to a broad range of incomes. Most people find the cost-to-quality balance sustainable long-term.

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