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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,285 per month in Brisbane vs $2,268 in Ballina, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,328 per month in Brisbane vs $3,329 in Ballina, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,372 per month in Brisbane vs $4,389 in Ballina, rent included.

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

Both Brisbane and Ballina sit above the global median – Brisbane by 71%, Ballina by 69%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.97 A$22.26

$16.55 A$23.07

-3.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.8 A$98.7

$77.5 A$108

-8.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.50 A$13.24

$9.64 A$13.43

-1.45%

Cappuccino

$3.65 A$5.08

$3.47 A$4.83

5.19%

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

$2.67 A$3.72

$2.54 A$3.54

5.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 A$2.97

$2.11 A$2.94

0.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.32 A$8.80

$6.66 A$9.28

-5.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 A$11.18

$7.02 A$9.78

14.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 A$2.14

$2.40 A$3.34

-35.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 A$3.18

$3.05 A$4.25

-25.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 A$2.60

$2.01 A$2.79

-7.46%

Eggs

$4.48 A$6.25

$5.35 A$7.45

-16.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 A$11.48

$5.81 A$8.09

41.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 A$11.28

$8.53 A$11.89

-5.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 A$18.57

$13.51 A$18.82

-1.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 A$4.71

$3.31 A$4.62

2.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.73 A$3.81

$2.80 A$3.90

-2.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 A$3.78

$3.02 A$4.20

-10.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 A$5.98

$3.16 A$4.40

35.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 A$3.52

$2.51 A$3.50

0.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 A$3.21

$2.12 A$2.95

8.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 A$2.98

$3.18 A$4.43

-32.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 A$1.72

$1.51 A$2.11

-17.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.55 A$45.36

$31.37 A$43.71

3.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 A$17.90

$14.09 A$19.63

-8.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.66 A$6.50

$4.45 A$6.20

4.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.18 A$5.83

$5.21 A$7.26

-19.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 A$0.44

$2.58 A$3.60

-87.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.52 A$38.35

$64.5 A$89.9

-57.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 A$3.20

$3.53 A$4.92

-35.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 A$2.20

$1.62 A$2.25

-2.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.11 A$47.54

$33.66 A$46.90

1.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 A$1.73

$1.19 A$1.66

4.20%

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

$29.1K A$40.5K

$28.4K A$39.6K

2.29%

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

$22.6K A$31.5K

$22.4K A$31.2K

0.67%

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

$146 A$204

$186 A$259

-21.28%

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

$25.26 A$35.20

$27.18 A$37.88

-7.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 A$73.2

$52.1 A$72.5

0.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.65 A$69.2

$49.13 A$68.5

1.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 A$24.04

$15.50 A$21.60

11.29%

Cinema Ticket

$13.23 A$18.43

$12.97 A$18.07

2.00%

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

$1,591 A$2,218

$1,655 A$2,306

-3.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,689 A$12.1K

$11.8K A$16.5K

-26.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 A$97.9

$69.3 A$96.6

1.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.49 A$62.0

$51.0 A$71.0

-12.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 A$127

$97.4 A$136

-6.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 A$139

$105 A$147

-5.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,616 A$2,252

$1,263 A$1,760

27.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,241 A$1,729

$1,046 A$1,457

18.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,670 A$3,720

$2,027 A$2,825

31.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,939 A$2,701

$1,709 A$2,381

13.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,525 A$11.9K

$6,763 A$9,424

26.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,824 A$8,116

$5,391 A$7,512

8.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,294 A$5,984

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

6.34

-1.58%

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

Last update for Brisbane: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ballina: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,616 in Brisbane versus $1,263 in Ballina. 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 $71.0 in Brisbane versus $78.0 in Ballina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $349 – 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

Brisbane vs Ballina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Brisbane 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 $3,427 per month in Brisbane and $3,403 in Ballina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,591 per month in Brisbane and $1,655 in Ballina. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Brisbane – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Ballina, where all-in costs run around $2,268, than in Brisbane at $2,285. In Ballina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brisbane it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ballina – 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 Ballina. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brisbane makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.