Cost of living in Ballarat

In Ballarat, Australia, living costs about $1357 per month for one person and $3668 for a family of four, including rent.

How expensive is Ballarat compared to other cities?

Ballarat is 23% more expensive overall versus the European benchmark.

How does Ballarat compare to your city?

Ballarat is 3% cheaper than Columbus, without rent.

Rent in Ballarat is, on average, 49% lower than in Columbus.

What drives the cost of living in Ballarat?

Who is Ballarat a good fit for?

Ballarat is most realistic when moving with a strong job offer or relocation package. Without high income, the housing-driven price level can be difficult to sustain.

FAQ

Why is Ballarat so expensive?

The high cost of living is primarily driven by rent and utilities, which significantly impact overall expenses.

Is food expensive in Ballarat?

Yes, food costs are 30% higher compared to the European benchmark, making grocery shopping more costly.

Is public transport affordable in Ballarat?

Public transport is relatively affordable, being 11% lower than the European benchmark, which can be beneficial for residents.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
1357 $
Without Rent
658 $
Rent & Utilities
699 $
Food
485 $
Transport
54 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
3280 $
GDP per Capita
64,712 $
Freedom Index
8.52
Lifespan
83 years
Speak English
93%
Population
116.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 10.4 $
Dinner 69.7 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 9.08 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 6.27 $
Capuccino 3.64 $
Coke, 330ml 2.86 $

Compare Ballarat with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.31 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 2.28 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.41 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.43 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 10.1 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 8.79 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 14.6 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.16 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.01 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.67 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.62 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.37 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 1.96 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 0.72 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.47 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 13.8 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.17 $
Cigarette pack 25.6 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 1.81 $
Monthly Pass 69.8 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 1.21 $
Taxi, 8 km 13.2 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 54.9 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 6.97 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 6.98 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 3.31 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 3.68 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 97 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 148 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 54.8 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 498 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,322 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 742 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 1,663 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 6,756 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 5,308 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 3,28 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 5.42%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 34.5 $
Cinema, 1 seat 8.33 $
Haircut 21.4 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 92.9 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 60.8 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 346 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 21,235 $

Compare Ballarat with other top cities

Australia
Ballarat vs Melbourne (Melbourne is 77% more expensive) Ballarat vs Sydney (Sydney is 106% more expensive) Ballarat vs Brisbane (Brisbane is 84% more expensive) Ballarat vs Perth (Perth is 73% more expensive) Ballarat vs Adelaide (Adelaide is 66% more expensive) Ballarat vs Gold Coast (Gold Coast is 69% more expensive) Ballarat vs Canberra (Canberra is 76% more expensive) Ballarat vs Sunshine Coast (Sunshine Coast is 28% more expensive) Ballarat vs Wollongong (Wollongong is 13% more expensive) Ballarat vs Ipswich (Ipswich is 38% more expensive)
New Zealand
Ballarat vs Auckland (Auckland is 62% more expensive) Ballarat vs Christchurch (Christchurch is 46% more expensive) Ballarat vs Manukau (Manukau is 43% more expensive) Ballarat vs Wellington (Wellington is 65% more expensive) Ballarat vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 23% more expensive) Ballarat vs Tauranga (Tauranga is 32% more expensive) Ballarat vs Dunedin (Dunedin is 8% more expensive) Ballarat vs Lower Hutt (Lower Hutt is 38% more expensive) Ballarat vs Palmerston North (Palmerston North is 3% less expensive) Ballarat vs Napier (Napier is 3% more expensive)
Marshall Islands
Ballarat vs Majuro (Majuro is 12% more expensive) Ballarat vs Djarrit (Djarrit is 12% more expensive)
Solomon Islands
Ballarat vs Honiara (Honiara is 8% more expensive) Ballarat vs Auki (Auki is 8% more expensive)
Palau
Ballarat vs Melekeok (Melekeok is 14% less expensive) Ballarat vs Ngerulmud (Ngerulmud is 14% less expensive)
Tonga
Ballarat vs Nukualofa (Nukualofa is 29% less expensive) Ballarat vs Mua (Mua is 29% less expensive)
Fiji
Ballarat vs Suva (Suva is 32% less expensive) Ballarat vs Nasinu (Nasinu is 34% less expensive) Ballarat vs Nadi (Nadi is 34% less expensive) Ballarat vs Lautoka (Lautoka is 56% less expensive)
Samoa
Ballarat vs Manase (Manase is 51% less expensive) Ballarat vs Apia (Apia is 51% less expensive)
Nauru
Ballarat vs Yaren (Yaren is 54% less expensive)
Tuvalu
Ballarat vs Funafuti (Funafuti is 56% less expensive) Ballarat vs Vaiaku (Vaiaku is 56% less expensive)
Papua New Guinea
Ballarat vs Port Moresby (Port Moresby is 59% less expensive) Ballarat vs Lae (Lae is 60% less expensive)
Kiribati
Ballarat vs South Tarawa (South Tarawa is 62% less expensive) Ballarat vs London (London is 62% less expensive)