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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,635 per month in Brisbane vs $2,635 in Ballina, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,941 per month in Brisbane vs $3,776 in Ballina, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,247 per month in Brisbane vs $4,918 in Ballina, rent included.

Brisbane and Ballina have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.92 A$25.18

$17.73 A$24.91

1.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 A$103

$86.6 A$122

-15.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.32 A$15.90

$11.12 A$15.63

1.80%

Cappuccino

$4.39 A$6.17

$3.96 A$5.56

10.86%

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

$2.91 A$4.08

$3.01 A$4.23

-3.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 A$3.55

$2.31 A$3.25

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.73 A$12.26

$7.93 A$11.14

10.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.49 A$11.92

$7.92 A$11.12

7.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 A$2.45

$2.63 A$3.70

-33.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 A$3.76

$3.46 A$4.86

-22.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 A$3.33

$2.24 A$3.15

5.80%

Eggs

$5.02 A$7.06

$5.82 A$8.17

-13.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.40 A$13.20

$6.60 A$9.28

42.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.29 A$13.06

$9.60 A$13.48

-3.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.19 A$19.93

$15.45 A$21.70

-8.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.21 A$5.91

$3.49 A$4.90

20.63%

Banana (1kg)

$3.12 A$4.39

$3.04 A$4.27

2.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 A$4.16

$3.35 A$4.71

-11.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.03 A$7.07

$3.55 A$4.99

41.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.83 A$3.98

$2.70 A$3.79

4.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 A$3.49

$2.55 A$3.58

-2.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 A$3.38

$3.50 A$4.91

-31.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 A$1.74

$1.63 A$2.29

-23.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$38.66 A$54.3

$41.39 A$58.2

-6.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.07 A$18.37

$14.55 A$20.45

-10.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.35 A$7.52

$5.00 A$7.02

7.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 A$7.12

$5.40 A$7.59

-6.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 A$0.48

$2.69 A$3.78

-87.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.08 A$29.62

$86.2 A$121

-75.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 A$4.33

$3.49 A$4.90

-11.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 A$2.59

$1.58 A$2.22

16.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.32 A$58.1

$41.02 A$57.6

0.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 A$1.91

$1.14 A$1.60

19.30%

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

$28.4K A$40.0K

$27.8K A$39.1K

2.29%

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

$29.3K A$41.1K

$32.7K A$46.0K

-10.53%

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

$161 A$227

$212 A$298

-24.03%

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

$26.36 A$37.04

$29.39 A$41.29

-10.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.9 A$85.6

$60.3 A$84.7

1.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.9 A$89.7

$54.1 A$76.0

18.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.59 A$30.34

$15.92 A$22.37

35.62%

Cinema Ticket

$17.98 A$25.26

$14.41 A$20.25

24.77%

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

$2,104 A$2,956

$2,459 A$3,455

-14.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K A$18.2K

$22.0K A$30.9K

-41.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.5 A$119

$71.3 A$100

18.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.77 A$60.1

$62.0 A$87.1

-30.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 A$161

$109 A$154

4.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 A$158

$111 A$155

1.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,002 A$2,813

$1,584 A$2,226

26.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,405 A$1,974

$1,116 A$1,568

25.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,457 A$4,858

$2,340 A$3,288

47.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,469 A$3,469

$1,592 A$2,237

55.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,337 A$11.7K

$5,975 A$8,395

39.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,333 A$8,897

$4,467 A$6,277

41.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,216 A$5,924

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.81

5.87

-1.02%

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

Last update for Brisbane: September 15, 2026

Last update for Ballina: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,002 in Brisbane versus $1,584 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 $74.0 in Brisbane versus $87.0 in Ballina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $386 – 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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,952 per month in Brisbane and $3,953 in Ballina. 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.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Ballina, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $2,104 per month in Brisbane and $2,459 in Ballina. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,635 in Brisbane and $2,635 in Ballina. 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.