Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Ballina Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Ballina

😐 Solo nomad: Melbourne is 2.6% more expensive than Ballina without rent, and 6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Melbourne is 20.9% more expensive than Ballina without rent, and 8.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.2 A$29.41

$16.38 A$25.09

17.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.6 A$120

$79.3 A$121

-0.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.02 A$15.35

$9.75 A$14.94

2.77%

Cappuccino

$3.67 A$5.62

$3.35 A$5.12

9.55%

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

$2.54 A$3.89

$2.58 A$3.96

-1.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 A$3.49

$2.17 A$3.33

5.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.28 A$11.15

$6.34 A$9.71

14.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.3 A$11.18

$7.1 A$10.88

2.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 A$2.2

$2.38 A$3.64

-39.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 A$4.02

$3.07 A$4.71

-14.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 A$3.48

$1.96 A$3

15.82%

Eggs

$4.86 A$7.45

$5.42 A$8.3

-10.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.74 A$13.39

$5.99 A$9.18

45.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.19 A$14.07

$8.3 A$12.71

10.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.95 A$22.9

$13.7 A$20.98

9.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 A$5.1

$3.3 A$5.05

0.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 A$4.35

$2.8 A$4.29

1.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$3 A$4.6

$2.88 A$4.41

4.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 A$6.05

$3.31 A$5.07

19.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 A$4.09

$2.39 A$3.66

11.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 A$3.58

$2.17 A$3.32

7.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.15 A$3.3

$3.15 A$4.83

-31.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 A$2.5

$1.54 A$2.35

6.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.11 A$49.19

$30.7 A$47.03

4.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.13 A$20.11

$13.11 A$20.08

0.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.54 A$6.96

$4.56 A$6.98

-0.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.05 A$7.74

$5.27 A$8.07

-4.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.67 A$5.62

$2.67 A$4.09

37.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$118 A$180

$65.2 A$99.9

80.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.65 A$5.6

$3.67 A$5.62

-0.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 A$2.05

$1.55 A$2.38

-13.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.26 A$41.77

$33.89 A$51.9

-19.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 A$1.82

$1.13 A$1.73

5.31%

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

$28.6K A$43.9K

$28.5K A$43.7K

0.50%

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

$23.5K A$36K

$22.5K A$34.4K

4.63%

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

$150 A$230

$180 A$276

-16.39%

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

$20.8 A$31.86

$27.57 A$42.24

-24.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51 A$78.2

$52.7 A$80.7

-3.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.23 A$73.9

$49.42 A$75.7

-2.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.91 A$24.38

$15.58 A$23.86

2.12%

Cinema Ticket

$16.53 A$25.32

$13.09 A$20.06

26.28%

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

$1,730 A$2,651

$1,606 A$2,460

7.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.1K A$29.3K

$12.1K A$18.6K

57.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.8 A$104

$66.8 A$102

1.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.7 A$82.2

$49.56 A$75.9

8.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 A$165

$100 A$154

7.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 A$162

$106 A$163

-0.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 A$2,371

$1,255 A$1,923

23.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,228 A$1,881

$1,046 A$1,602

17.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,973 A$4,555

$1,986 A$3,042

49.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,956 A$2,997

$1,674 A$2,565

16.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,110 A$10.9K

$5,199 A$7,965

36.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,790 A$8,871

$5,011 A$7,678

15.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,045 A$6,198

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.19

6.34

-2.37%

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

Last update for Melbourne: October 28, 2025

Last update for Ballina: October 27, 2025

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