Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Erin and Ballasalla

For one person, living is cheaper in Ballasalla: $868 a month against $1,414 in Port Erin, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Port Erin
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Port Erin Living Index

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Port Erin

🇮🇲 Isle of Man

$1,414

/mo nomad

Ballasalla

🇮🇲 Isle of Man

$868

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Port Erin and in Ballasalla

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Port Erin and in Ballasalla actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,414 in Port Erin versus $868 in Ballasalla.

Port Erin $1,414
Ballasalla $868

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,273 in Port Erin versus $2,234 in Ballasalla.

Port Erin $2,273
Ballasalla $2,234

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,133 in Port Erin versus $3,600 in Ballasalla.

Port Erin $3,133
Ballasalla $3,600

Living in Port Erin is roughly 63% more expensive than in Ballasalla, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Port Erin is 5% above, Ballasalla is 36% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$28.27 IMP 21.23

$15.67 IMP 11.77

80.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 IMP 90.6

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 IMP 8.83

$11.78 IMP 8.85

-0.25%

Cappuccino

$5.10 IMP 3.83

$7.89 IMP 5.93

-35.36%

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

$2.74 IMP 2.06

$2.61 IMP 1.96

4.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IMP 1.55

$2.81 IMP 2.11

-26.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.40 IMP 4.81

$5.34 IMP 4.01

19.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 IMP 4.54

$5.99 IMP 4.50

0.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 IMP 1.51

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 IMP 1.75

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 IMP 1.53

Eggs

$4.67 IMP 3.51

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.76 IMP 2.82

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.43 IMP 4.83

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.43 IMP 4.83

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 IMP 2.30

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 IMP 1.39

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 IMP 2.03

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 IMP 1.02

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 IMP 2.21

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 IMP 2.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.11 IMP 1.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 IMP 2.00

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$22.30 IMP 16.75

Wine (Bottle)

$11.96 IMP 8.98

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.56 IMP 3.42

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 IMP 3.23

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.18 IMP 3.14

$4.54 IMP 3.41

-7.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.8 IMP 44.17

$67.0 IMP 50.3

-12.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 IMP 1.53

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 IMP 1.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.50 IMP 19.90

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 IMP 1.44

$1.87 IMP 1.41

2.67%

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

$43.1K IMP 32.3K

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

$44.0K IMP 33.0K

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

$346 IMP 260

$268 IMP 201

29.44%

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

$60.9 IMP 45.70

$39.18 IMP 29.43

55.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.1 IMP 54.9

$53.3 IMP 40.03

37.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 IMP 40.17

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.29 IMP 19.74

Cinema Ticket

$15.94 IMP 11.97

$26.77 IMP 20.10

-40.46%

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

$1,735 IMP 1,303

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$53.1K IMP 39.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.2 IMP 73.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.33 IMP 34.05

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 IMP 82.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.2 IMP 51.2

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 IMP 950

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,558 IMP 1,921

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,152 IMP 1,616

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.76

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

Last update for Port Erin: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ballasalla: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Port Erin

$480 34%

Ballasalla

–

Eating Out

Port Erin

$386 27.3%

Ballasalla

–

Groceries & Markets

Port Erin

$287 20.3%

Ballasalla

–

Clothing & Footwear

Port Erin

$144 10.2%

Ballasalla

–

Getting Around

Port Erin

$84 6%

Ballasalla

–

Sport & Entertainment

Port Erin

$32 * 2.3%

Ballasalla

–

Accommodation & Living

Port Erin

- * 0%

Ballasalla

–

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Good to know

🇮🇲 Port Erin

🇮🇲 Ballasalla

🕒 Local time

18:49 6:49 PM

Same time as Port Erin

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

3,530

3,100

💱 Currency

Isle of Man Pound IMP £

📈 Exchange rate

1 IMP = 1.33 USD

1 IMP = 1.18 EUR

1 IMP = 1.33 USD

1 IMP = 1.18 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Port Erin Ballasalla 8 km

From you

Port Erin
Ballasalla

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Port Erin vs Ballasalla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ballasalla is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and clothing. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,121 in Port Erin and $1,302 in Ballasalla to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

A monthly transit pass in Ballasalla runs roughly 14% less than in Port Erin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $1,414 per month in Port Erin versus $868 in Ballasalla – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $868 in Ballasalla versus $1,414 in Port Erin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ballasalla but tight or insufficient in Port Erin. The gap between the two cities makes Ballasalla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Port Erin and Ballasalla are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ballasalla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Port Erin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.