Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Ballarat Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Ballarat

🙂 Solo nomad: Brisbane is 7.2% cheaper than Ballarat without rent, and 34.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Brisbane is 10.7% more expensive than Ballarat without rent, and 18% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brisbane
Ballarat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.24 A$24.88
$14.19 A$21.74
14.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.2 A$109
$63.8 A$97.7
11.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.6 A$14.7
$10.03 A$15.37
-4.29%
Cappuccino
$3.6 A$5.51
$3.63 A$5.57
-0.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 A$4.2
$2.61 A$4
4.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 A$3.29
$2.11 A$3.24
1.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.36 A$9.75
$6 A$9.19
6.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.97 A$12.2
$6.84 A$10.48
16.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brisbane
Ballarat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.6 A$2.45
$1.45 A$2.22
10.34%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 A$3.39
$2.61 A$3.99
-14.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.8 A$2.76
$1.53 A$2.35
17.65%
Eggs
$4.47 A$6.85
$4.18 A$6.4
6.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.05 A$12.33
$9.08 A$13.9
-11.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 A$12.4
$9.13 A$13.99
-11.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.4 A$20.53
$14.85 A$22.75
-9.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 A$4.98
$3.27 A$5.01
-0.61%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 A$4.21
$2.8 A$4.28
-1.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.66 A$4.07
$2.85 A$4.37
-6.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.23 A$6.48
$3.72 A$5.7
13.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.41 A$3.69
$2.79 A$4.27
-13.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 A$3.46
$2.27 A$3.48
-0.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 A$3.44
$2.2 A$3.37
1.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 A$1.89
$1 A$1.53
24.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$32.96 A$50.5
$30.81 A$47.21
6.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.07 A$20.02
$13.4 A$20.52
-2.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.47 A$6.85
$2.13 A$3.26
109.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 A$6.19
$2.86 A$4.38
41.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Brisbane
Ballarat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 A$0.53
$1.7 A$2.61
-80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.98 A$41.33
$65.7 A$101
-58.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.23 A$3.41
$2.35 A$3.61
-5.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 A$2.4
$1.16 A$1.77
34.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.95 A$52
$25.06 A$38.39
35.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 A$1.89
$1.12 A$1.71
9.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K A$43.8K
$27.8K A$42.6K
3.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K A$34.7K
$22.9K A$35.1K
-1.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brisbane
Ballarat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 A$221
$149 A$228
-3.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.53 A$39.11
$21.35 A$32.71
19.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.9 A$82.6
$49.96 A$76.5
7.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brisbane
Ballarat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.01 A$75.1
$31.61 A$48.43
55.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.02 A$26.07
$15.54 A$23.8
9.52%
Cinema Ticket
$13.17 A$20.18
$11.21 A$17.18
17.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brisbane
Ballarat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,646 A$2,521
$327 A$501
403.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,863 A$13.6K
$19.1K A$29.3K
-53.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brisbane
Ballarat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.8 A$111
$64.6 A$98.9
12.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.21 A$67.7
$53 A$81.3
-16.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.5 A$145
$86.8 A$133
8.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 A$155
$92.6 A$142
9.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brisbane
Ballarat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,588 A$2,433
$839 A$1,285
89.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 A$1,894
$620 A$949
99.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,568 A$3,935
$2,007 A$3,075
27.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,885 A$2,888
$1,389 A$2,128
35.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,805 A$13.5K
$4,443 A$6,807
98.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,597 A$10.1K
$3,312 A$5,074
99.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brisbane
Ballarat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,896 A$5,968
$3,169 A$4,855
22.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.24
6.07
2.80%

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

Last update for Brisbane: October 28, 2025

Last update for Ballarat: October 27, 2025

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