Cost of Living Comparison Between Ballina and Brisbane Cost of Living Comparison Between Ballina and Brisbane

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,646 per month in Ballina vs $2,613 in Brisbane, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,823 per month in Ballina vs $3,966 in Brisbane, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,000 per month in Ballina vs $5,318 in Brisbane, rent included.

Ballina costs about 1% more than Brisbane, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Ballina and Brisbane sit above the global median – Ballina by 93%, Brisbane by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.68 A$24.73

$17.77 A$24.85

-0.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.1 A$120

$82.6 A$115

4.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.12 A$15.56

$11.42 A$15.98

-2.63%

Cappuccino

$3.97 A$5.55

$4.43 A$6.20

-10.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 A$4.20

$3.03 A$4.24

-0.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 A$3.18

$2.60 A$3.64

-12.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.95 A$11.12

$8.55 A$11.95

-7.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.41 A$10.37

$8.43 A$11.80

-12.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.76 A$3.86

$1.72 A$2.40

60.47%

White Bread (500g)

$3.33 A$4.66

$2.70 A$3.78

23.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.32 A$3.24

$2.41 A$3.38

-3.73%

Eggs

$5.66 A$7.92

$5.10 A$7.14

10.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.59 A$9.22

$9.30 A$13.00

-29.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 A$13.20

$9.11 A$12.74

3.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.81 A$20.71

$14.13 A$19.77

4.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 A$4.87

$4.30 A$6.01

-19.07%

Banana (1kg)

$3.01 A$4.22

$3.11 A$4.35

-3.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.31 A$4.63

$2.97 A$4.15

11.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.54 A$4.95

$4.97 A$6.95

-28.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 A$3.75

$2.88 A$4.02

-6.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 A$3.46

$2.44 A$3.41

1.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.50 A$4.90

$2.54 A$3.56

37.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 A$2.31

$1.22 A$1.71

35.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$39.96 A$55.9

$39.99 A$55.9

-0.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.06 A$19.67

$12.69 A$17.74

10.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.99 A$6.98

$5.31 A$7.43

-6.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.29 A$7.40

$5.11 A$7.14

3.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.46 A$4.84

$0.35 A$0.48

888.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$93.2 A$130

$21.53 A$30.12

333.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 A$4.95

$3.07 A$4.29

15.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 A$2.03

$1.84 A$2.57

-21.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.39 A$56.5

$42.92 A$60.0

-5.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 A$1.72

$1.43 A$1.99

-13.99%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.5K A$39.9K

$27.7K A$38.8K

2.78%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.0K A$39.2K

$29.1K A$40.8K

-3.86%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$206 A$288

$172 A$241

19.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$29.67 A$41.50

$27.89 A$39.01

6.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.8 A$73.8

$63.6 A$89.0

-17.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 A$92.0

$63.6 A$89.0

3.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.08 A$29.49

$21.02 A$29.41

0.29%

Cinema Ticket

$14.55 A$20.36

$16.39 A$22.93

-11.23%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,404 A$3,363

$2,166 A$3,030

10.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K A$27.6K

$13.0K A$18.2K

51.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.7 A$97.5

$85.6 A$120

-18.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.7 A$80.7

$44.31 A$62.0

30.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 A$173

$116 A$162

6.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 A$183

$109 A$153

19.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,364 A$1,908

$1,995 A$2,791

-31.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 A$1,618

$1,406 A$1,967

-17.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,432 A$3,402

$3,433 A$4,803

-29.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,853 A$2,591

$2,404 A$3,363

-22.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,466 A$9,044

$8,276 A$11.6K

-21.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,364 A$7,503

$5,834 A$8,160

-8.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,250 A$5,944

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.85

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

Last update for Ballina: August 31, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,364 in Ballina versus $1,995 in Brisbane. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Ballina versus $83.0 in Brisbane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $381 vs $367 – making Brisbane the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Ballina vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ballina is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,969 per month in Ballina and $3,919 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Brisbane, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $2,404 per month in Ballina and $2,166 in Brisbane. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Ballina, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,646 in Ballina and $2,613 in Brisbane. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Brisbane – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Brisbane. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ballina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.