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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,905 per month in Melbourne vs $2,635 in Ballina, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,310 per month in Melbourne vs $3,776 in Ballina, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,714 per month in Melbourne vs $4,918 in Ballina, rent included.

Melbourne costs about 10% more than Ballina, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Melbourne and Ballina sit above the global median – Melbourne by 112%, Ballina by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.12 A$25.46

$17.73 A$24.91

2.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.8 A$119

$86.6 A$122

-2.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 A$17.01

$11.12 A$15.63

8.90%

Cappuccino

$4.12 A$5.79

$3.96 A$5.56

4.04%

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

$3.21 A$4.51

$3.01 A$4.23

6.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 A$3.59

$2.31 A$3.25

10.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.77 A$13.72

$7.93 A$11.14

23.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.55 A$12.02

$7.92 A$11.12

7.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 A$2.28

$2.63 A$3.70

-38.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.19 A$4.48

$3.46 A$4.86

-7.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.85 A$4.00

$2.24 A$3.15

27.23%

Eggs

$5.83 A$8.19

$5.82 A$8.17

0.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 A$15.45

$6.60 A$9.28

66.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.03 A$14.09

$9.60 A$13.48

4.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.45 A$21.70

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 A$6.18

$3.49 A$4.90

26.07%

Banana (1kg)

$3.17 A$4.45

$3.04 A$4.27

4.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 A$4.61

$3.35 A$4.71

-2.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 A$6.85

$3.55 A$4.99

37.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 A$4.37

$2.70 A$3.79

15.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 A$3.70

$2.55 A$3.58

3.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 A$3.50

$3.50 A$4.91

-28.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 A$2.37

$1.63 A$2.29

3.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$45.87 A$64.5

$41.39 A$58.2

10.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.66 A$17.79

$14.55 A$20.45

-12.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.61 A$7.89

$5.00 A$7.02

12.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.29 A$7.44

$5.40 A$7.59

-2.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.89 A$5.47

$2.69 A$3.78

44.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 A$197

$86.2 A$121

62.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.65 A$6.53

$3.49 A$4.90

33.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 A$1.98

$1.58 A$2.22

-10.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.65 A$43.06

$41.02 A$57.6

-25.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 A$1.94

$1.14 A$1.60

21.05%

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

$28.9K A$40.7K

$27.8K A$39.1K

4.11%

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

$27.2K A$38.2K

$32.7K A$46.0K

-16.80%

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

$238 A$334

$212 A$298

12.04%

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

$27.90 A$39.21

$29.39 A$41.29

-5.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.7 A$81.0

$60.3 A$84.7

-4.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.0 A$77.3

$54.1 A$76.0

1.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.31 A$31.35

$15.92 A$22.37

40.14%

Cinema Ticket

$17.87 A$25.10

$14.41 A$20.25

24.01%

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

$2,450 A$3,442

$2,459 A$3,455

-0.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.1K A$45.1K

$22.0K A$30.9K

45.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.3 A$114

$71.3 A$100

13.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 A$72.8

$62.0 A$87.1

-16.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 A$168

$109 A$154

9.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 A$190

$111 A$155

21.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 A$2,481

$1,584 A$2,226

11.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 A$2,009

$1,116 A$1,568

28.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,441 A$4,835

$2,340 A$3,288

47.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,562 A$3,600

$1,592 A$2,237

60.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,336 A$10.3K

$5,975 A$8,395

22.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,900 A$9,694

$4,467 A$6,277

54.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,352 A$6,115

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.89

5.87

0.34%

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

Last update for Melbourne: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ballina: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,766 in Melbourne 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 $85.0 in Melbourne versus $87.0 in Ballina. Groceries tell a different story – $400 in Melbourne vs $386 in Ballina – so Ballina wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Melbourne vs Ballina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Melbourne is pricier by about 10%, 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 $4,358 per month in Melbourne 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 Ballina, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $2,450 per month in Melbourne and $2,459 in Ballina. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

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

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,905 in Melbourne and $2,635 in Ballina. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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, Melbourne makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.