Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Ballina Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Ballina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,292 per month in Sydney vs $2,635 in Ballina, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,899 per month in Sydney vs $3,776 in Ballina, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,505 per month in Sydney vs $4,918 in Ballina, rent included.

Sydney costs about 25% more than Ballina, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sydney and Ballina sit above the global median – Sydney by 141%, Ballina by 93%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.90 A$25.15

$17.73 A$24.91

0.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$93.0 A$131

$86.6 A$122

7.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.06 A$16.95

$11.12 A$15.63

8.45%

Cappuccino

$3.96 A$5.56

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

$2.89 A$4.06

$3.01 A$4.23

-3.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 A$3.18

$2.31 A$3.25

-2.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 A$11.08

$7.93 A$11.14

-0.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.25 A$10.18

$7.92 A$11.12

-8.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 A$2.55

$2.63 A$3.70

-31.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 A$3.87

$3.46 A$4.86

-20.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 A$3.40

$2.24 A$3.15

8.04%

Eggs

$5.82 A$8.17

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.53 A$17.60

$6.60 A$9.28

89.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.88 A$13.88

$9.60 A$13.48

2.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.55 A$23.25

$15.45 A$21.70

7.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 A$5.11

$3.49 A$4.90

4.30%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 A$4.41

$3.04 A$4.27

3.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 A$4.81

$3.35 A$4.71

2.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 A$6.64

$3.55 A$4.99

32.96%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 A$4.64

$2.70 A$3.79

22.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 A$3.50

$2.55 A$3.58

-2.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 A$3.34

$3.50 A$4.91

-32.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 A$1.76

$1.63 A$2.29

-23.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$46.38 A$65.2

$41.39 A$58.2

12.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.50 A$20.37

$14.55 A$20.45

-0.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 A$6.01

$5.00 A$7.02

-14.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 A$5.64

$5.40 A$7.59

-25.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.34 A$4.70

$2.69 A$3.78

24.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$158 A$222

$86.2 A$121

83.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 A$4.88

$3.49 A$4.90

-0.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 A$2.35

$1.58 A$2.22

5.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.99 A$57.6

$41.02 A$57.6

-0.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 A$2.02

$1.14 A$1.60

26.32%

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

$30.5K A$42.8K

$27.8K A$39.1K

9.71%

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

$30.4K A$42.8K

$32.7K A$46.0K

-6.96%

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

$229 A$322

$212 A$298

7.99%

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

$27.42 A$38.53

$29.39 A$41.29

-6.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 A$80.1

$60.3 A$84.7

-5.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.3 A$113

$54.1 A$76.0

48.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.63 A$34.61

$15.92 A$22.37

54.71%

Cinema Ticket

$17.92 A$25.18

$14.41 A$20.25

24.36%

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

$2,317 A$3,255

$2,459 A$3,455

-5.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.1K A$40.9K

$22.0K A$30.9K

32.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.5 A$113

$71.3 A$100

12.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.2 A$106

$62.0 A$87.1

21.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 A$156

$109 A$154

1.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 A$189

$111 A$155

21.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,591 A$3,640

$1,584 A$2,226

63.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,897 A$2,665

$1,116 A$1,568

69.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,109 A$7,178

$2,340 A$3,288

118.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,134 A$4,403

$1,592 A$2,237

96.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.7K A$19.2K

$5,975 A$8,395

128.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,458 A$11.9K

$4,467 A$6,277

89.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,204 A$5,906

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.87

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

Last update for Sydney: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ballina: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,591 in Sydney 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 $93.0 in Sydney versus $87.0 in Ballina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $387 vs $386 – making Ballina 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

Sydney vs Ballina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sydney is pricier by about 25%, 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 $4,939 per month in Sydney 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 $2,317 per month in Sydney 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 0% more in Sydney, 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 $3,292 in Sydney 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, Sydney makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.