Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Ballina Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Ballina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,096 per month in Perth vs $2,635 in Ballina, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,187 per month in Perth vs $3,776 in Ballina, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,277 per month in Perth vs $4,918 in Ballina, rent included.

Perth costs about 17% more than Ballina, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Perth and Ballina sit above the global median – Perth by 126%, Ballina by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.79 A$29.21

$17.73 A$24.91

17.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.6 A$122

-0.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.62 A$14.92

$11.12 A$15.63

-4.50%

Cappuccino

$4.58 A$6.43

$3.96 A$5.56

15.66%

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

$2.96 A$4.16

$3.01 A$4.23

-1.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 A$3.25

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.67 A$12.19

$7.93 A$11.14

9.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.69 A$12.21

$7.92 A$11.12

9.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 A$2.47

$2.63 A$3.70

-33.08%

White Bread (500g)

$3.01 A$4.23

$3.46 A$4.86

-13.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 A$2.96

$2.24 A$3.15

-5.80%

Eggs

$5.23 A$7.34

$5.82 A$8.17

-10.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.07 A$12.75

$6.60 A$9.28

37.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.19 A$12.91

$9.60 A$13.48

-4.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.32 A$20.12

$15.45 A$21.70

-7.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.73 A$6.65

$3.49 A$4.90

35.53%

Banana (1kg)

$3.32 A$4.66

$3.04 A$4.27

9.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.50 A$4.91

$3.35 A$4.71

4.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.12 A$7.20

$3.55 A$4.99

44.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 A$4.08

$2.70 A$3.79

7.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 A$2.70

$2.55 A$3.58

-24.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 A$3.20

$3.50 A$4.91

-34.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 A$1.92

$1.63 A$2.29

-15.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$42.95 A$60.4

$41.39 A$58.2

3.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.79 A$17.97

$14.55 A$20.45

-12.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.46 A$6.27

$5.00 A$7.02

-10.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 A$5.05

$5.40 A$7.59

-33.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 A$3.60

$2.69 A$3.78

-4.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 A$142

$86.2 A$121

17.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 A$5.23

$3.49 A$4.90

6.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 A$2.01

$1.58 A$2.22

-9.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.88 A$58.9

$41.02 A$57.6

2.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 A$1.88

$1.14 A$1.60

17.54%

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

$28.0K A$39.4K

$27.8K A$39.1K

0.84%

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

$30.3K A$42.6K

$32.7K A$46.0K

-7.38%

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

$205 A$288

$212 A$298

-3.55%

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

$34.01 A$47.78

$29.39 A$41.29

15.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.2 A$88.8

$60.3 A$84.7

4.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 A$79.4

$54.1 A$76.0

4.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.21 A$31.21

$15.92 A$22.37

39.51%

Cinema Ticket

$18.16 A$25.52

$14.41 A$20.25

26.02%

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

$2,378 A$3,341

$2,459 A$3,455

-3.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K A$33.4K

$22.0K A$30.9K

7.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.3 A$107

$71.3 A$100

6.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.4 A$94.7

$62.0 A$87.1

8.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 A$170

$109 A$154

10.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 A$210

$111 A$155

34.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,941 A$2,727

$1,584 A$2,226

22.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 A$2,322

$1,116 A$1,568

48.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,851 A$4,006

$2,340 A$3,288

21.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,256 A$3,169

$1,592 A$2,237

41.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,414 A$11.8K

$5,975 A$8,395

40.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,063 A$8,518

$4,467 A$6,277

35.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,268 A$5,997

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

5.87

0.85%

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

Last update for Perth: September 15, 2026

Last update for Ballina: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,941 in Perth 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 $87.0 in Perth versus $87.0 in Ballina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $386 – making Perth 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

Perth vs Ballina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Perth is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,644 per month in Perth 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 $2,378 per month in Perth and $2,459 in Ballina. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Perth – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,096 in Perth 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, Perth makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.