Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Split and Ballarat

For one person, living costs are similar in Split and in Ballarat: $1,822 and $1,902 a month, rent and utilities included.

Split
🇭🇷 Croatia
$1,822
/mo nomad
Ballarat
🇦🇺 Australia
$1,902
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Split and in Ballarat

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,822 in Split versus $1,902 in Ballarat.

  • Split $1,822
  • Ballarat $1,902

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,797 in Split versus $3,035 in Ballarat.

  • Split $2,797
  • Ballarat $3,035

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,771 in Split versus $4,168 in Ballarat.

  • Split $3,771
  • Ballarat $4,168

Living in Split costs roughly 4% less than in Ballarat, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Split 35% above, Ballarat 41% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Split
Ballarat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.50 €14.68
$17.70 A$25.47
-6.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.4 €65.3
$69.9 A$101
5.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.32 €10.07
$10.27 A$14.78
10.22%
Cappuccino
$2.74 €2.44
$3.79 A$5.45
-27.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10 €3.65
$2.95 A$4.24
38.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 €2.55
$1.89 A$2.72
51.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.63 €4.12
$6.06 A$8.72
-23.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.15 €4.58
$6.09 A$8.77
-15.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Split
Ballarat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.13
$1.57 A$2.27
-19.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.13 €1.89
$2.65 A$3.82
-19.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.59 €3.19
$2.32 A$3.35
54.74%
Eggs
$4.15 €3.70
$4.09 A$5.88
1.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.87 €12.34
$10.56 A$15.20
31.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.59 €8.53
$9.96 A$14.33
-3.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.18 €11.73
$14.97 A$21.55
-11.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.13 €1.90
$3.51 A$5.04
-39.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 €1.64
$3.02 A$4.34
-39.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$3.11 A$4.48
-39.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.86 €2.54
$4.68 A$6.73
-38.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 €1.42
$3.07 A$4.42
-48.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 €1.02
$2.55 A$3.67
-54.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 €1.15
$2.35 A$3.38
-44.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 €1.11
$1.48 A$2.14
-15.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.72 €5.09
$34.39 A$49.49
-83.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.09 €8.08
$12.66 A$18.21
-28.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$2.31 A$3.33
-24.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 €2.05
$3.11 A$4.48
-25.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Split
Ballarat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.65 €1.47
$2.76 A$3.97
-40.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.56 €35.19
$69.9 A$101
-43.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.59 €3.20
$2.53 A$3.65
41.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.10 €1.87
$1.34 A$1.93
56.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.27 €26.04
$26.64 A$38.33
9.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.85 €1.64
$1.18 A$1.70
56.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K €25.1K
$28.4K A$40.9K
-0.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K €22.1K
$26.0K A$37.4K
-4.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Split
Ballarat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 €184
$206 A$296
0.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.93 €17.73
$27.76 A$39.95
-28.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.20 €36.65
$57.4 A$82.6
-28.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Split
Ballarat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.2 €55.3
$31.36 A$45.13
98.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.92 €11.50
$11.18 A$16.09
15.56%
Cinema Ticket
$9.15 €8.14
$15.38 A$22.14
-40.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Split
Ballarat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$604 €537
$2,144 A$3,085
-71.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K €10.5K
$30.2K A$43.4K
-60.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Split
Ballarat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.3 €82.1
$68.7 A$98.8
34.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.17 €35.73
$50.1 A$72.2
-19.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 €99.7
$99.6 A$143
12.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 €85.5
$134 A$193
-28.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Split
Ballarat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,024 €911
$923 A$1,329
10.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$704 €626
$671 A$965
4.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,942 €1,728
$1,288 A$1,854
50.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 €1,134
$1,454 A$2,092
-12.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,185 €6,391
$4,622 A$6,651
55.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,032 €4,476
$3,449 A$4,963
45.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Split
Ballarat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,576 €1,402
$3,136 A$4,512
-49.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.44
5.55
-38.02%

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

Last update for Split: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ballarat: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Split
$704
Ballarat
$671 4.7% $33
Groceries & Markets
Split
$296
Ballarat
$350 18.2% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Split
$268
Ballarat
$291 8.6% $23
Eating Out
Split
$260
Ballarat
$280 7.5% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Split
$153
Ballarat
$158 3.4% $5.1
Sport & Entertainment
Split
$80
Ballarat
$62 22.8% $18
Getting Around
Split
$60
Ballarat
$90 49.6% $30

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,024 in Split and $923 in Ballarat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ballarat pays 99% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $73.0 in Split vs $70.0 in Ballarat. Groceries flip the comparison at $296 vs $350, with Split cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇭🇷 Split
🇦🇺 Ballarat
🕒 Local time
16:56 4:56 PM
01:56 1:56 AM
9 h ahead of Split
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,830
105,348
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Split Ballarat 15,600 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Split
  • Ballarat

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
Split vs Ballarat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Split or Ballarat?
Split wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Ballarat. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Split the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Split or in Ballarat?
On paper, salaries run 99% lower in Ballarat. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Split compared to Ballarat?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,024 in Split versus $923 in Ballarat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Split and in Ballarat?
Childcare runs $604 in Split versus $2,144 in Ballarat. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Split or in Ballarat?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Ballarat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Split or in Ballarat?
At $1,822 in Split versus $1,902 in Ballarat, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Split but tight or insufficient in Ballarat. The gap between the two cities makes Split the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Split or Ballarat?
Both work as nomad bases, but Split delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,822 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Split hard to pass up.
How safe is Split compared to Ballarat?
Safety-wise, Split and Ballarat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Split gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Ballarat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Split vs other spots: cost of living compared

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