Cost of living in Perth

Packing up and transporting your life to Perth? The beaches, the Swan River, the lifestyle, the sun, the surf! It’s all there for you to discover, but can you afford it? Our latest cost of living article explores the cost of living in Perth.

Overview of living expenses in Perth

Here is a quick-guide on the basic costs of living in Perth. As a general rule a single person (excluding accommodation) can expect to find the average cost of living in Perth to be $1,559.30 per month. A family of four can expect to pay $5,528.10 per month.

Please note all the costs below are based on Australian dollars including GST. Check out services like "TorFX" for latest live exchange rates & free, fast international currency transfers. 

A food festival in Perth at sunset.

The average salary in Perth

With so much on offer in Perth, living expenses are comparable to the local market share and the quality of life you aim to achieve, so you can expect that average wages will match the cost of living in Perth. The average earning per month in Western Australia is around $5,311.87, however, you will get good value for your dollars.

Housing and rent

The biggest expense that contributes to the cost of living in Perth will be your accommodation. Prices rise incrementally the closer the property is located to the central business district of Perth City, so you can expect things to gradually get more affordable as you move out from the inner city, particularly north, with the exception of the coastal suburbs. Their beautiful beaches, relaxed lifestyle and the demand for sea change drives up the housing market considerably.

Suburbs boasting a coastal lifestyle are often more expensive to live in.

We've put together a rough guide on the average housing costs below:

Cost of buying an apartment

Utilities

Living in Perth is generally considered more affordable than the eastern capitals, with the exception of Adelaide. You can expect the estimated monthly costs of a combined electricity, water, and refuse bill to average aound $299.84 per month for an 85 m2 apartment.

Transport

Public transport in Perth is run by Transperth and schedules trains, trams, ferries, and buses. You can purchase a SmartRider card which will work for all modes of transport and will also provide for a cheaper fare, you just need to remember to tap when you get on or off any of the transport options available. Fare costs are calculated from a standard travel charge across the number of zones you travel from and to. Purchasing a cash ticket is more expensive than the fare you pay with a SmartRider card and will have an expiry time printed on it by which you will need to have completed your journey, whether that be by any different combination of transport modes.

There is a wide range of public transport options in Perth.

Tertiary students who hold a current student card are eligible for a discount of up to 60% on their travel costs, you must apply for this special discount student card online first.

Breakdown of public transports costs in Perth

SmartRider Cards

Standard (cost of card is $10, initial minimum value $10 required for travel outside of free travel hours)
10% off full cash fare

Concession (cost of card is $5, initial minimum value $5 required for travel outside of free travel hours)
Concession rates

Seniors (card is FREE, initial minimum value $10)
Travel free during designated hours (you can find them here)
Concession fares at other times

Pensioner (card is FREE, initial minimum value $5)
Travel free during designated hours (you can find them here)
Concession fares at other times

Veterans
There are special conditions for these cardholders which you can read about here.

Students - Primary and Secondary School (cost of card is $5)
Student Rates for school days, concession rates at other times. More info.

Tertiary Students
You need to be a full-time student enrolled in a tertiary institution with a valid ID. You need to apply for this card here.

Transport costs

Single trip Standard Fare for 1 Zone
Cash $3.30

SmartRider Card $2.97
Single trip Concession Fare for 1 Zone

Cash $1.40
SmartRider Card $1.26

DayRider All Day Unlimited Travel
Cash and SmartRider $10.00

Driving

To buyi a brand-new car you can expect to pay:

Volkswsagen Golf 1.4 90kW Trendline or equivalent - $32,895.00
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6L 97kW Comfort or equivalent - $29,503.38

Fuel currently costs an average of around $1.97 per litre.

Taxis

Catching a taxi (normal tariff) costs on average:

Start - $6.10
1 km - $2.00
1 hr waiting time - $85.00

You can get fresh produce from the historical Freemantle Markets.

Groceries

If you have a fancy pallete, this living expense could make or break your monthly budget. If you are the type to eat out a lot, you may need to adjust your foodie fondness to fit your income. There is no shortage of places to eat out in Perth, that’s for sure!

There is also ample fresh fruit, vegies, and produce markets to get your staple essentials from, otherwise supermarket pricing in Perth is in line with its affordable status.

Restaurants

Whether some casual dining by the sea is your food niche, or a trip into the city in your best attire and some entertainment afterwards, there is something for every occasion in the city of Perth. Birthday and anniversary dinners may find you dining fine or at the local Maccas for fast food, either way, there will be something to suit your budget.

Grab a bevvy in Perth.

The average cost of dining out in Perth

Inexpensive Restaurant - $25.00 ea

Mid-Range Restaurant (3 course mea for 2 peoplel) - $120.00

McDonalds Combo Meal - $14.88

Domestic Beer from a licensed venue (500 ml draught) - $11.00

Imported from a liquor store (0.33 L bottle) - $12.00

Softdrink (0.33 L bottle) - $4.04

Cuppuccino (regular) - $5.17

Clothes

We all need them! Fashion can be very personal, and provided you are not obsessed with fitting out your wardrobe so it encompasses the largest proportion of your income, you can expect to gauge the general cost of basics from our “essentials” list below.

The cost of a summer dress from a chain store in Perth is quite affordable.

Running Shoes (Nike or comparable) - $170.17 (avg.)

Men's leather shoes - $203.91 (avg.)

Jeans (1 pair Levis 501 or comparable) - $111.29 (avg.)

Summer Dress (from a chain store) - $87.87 (avg.)

Entertainment

Some clubs and venues in Perth may enforce a cover charge but it is generally no more than $15 per person, and most likely will include some form of live entertainment.

Catch a live local band or an international act in Perth.

Live shows

If you like the buzz of a live performance a well-known local act in a smaller venue will cost at least $45 to $60. If it’s a larger act or a performance or sporting event in a venue like a stadium, it will be typically over $120 per ticket. Other stage performances such as theatre or dance concerts are around $170 for the best available seats.

Movie tickets

Heading out to a movie in Perth will cost you an average of $22.00 for an international release in a chain cinema. Some cinemas offer membership programs that give you access to offers and discounts.

Independent theatres often cost less than the major chains.

Health and fitness

Perth residents spend around $73.99 per month. A cheaper alternative to a gym membership that will still have you serving up sweat could be hiring a tennis court with the average cost of hire in Perth around $19.29 per hour. On the weekend.

Child-care, primary, and secondary school

When you have a family, care and education costs become a significant part of your budget and will have an impact on how much money you have for things like entertainment, car expenses, and the occasional treat. Sending a baby or toddler to child-care in Perth will average around $2,284.62 per month (before any Australian Government subsidies).

Public schooling for primary and secondary school is fee free (i.e. excluding tuition fees), however you will be expected to pay certain expenses such as subject fees and levies, device costs, camps, excursions etc. This will largely depend on what activities your child chooses to do while they are there.

Private school fees will vary depending on the type of business model the school has, in general the annual average cost in Western Australia for private school tuition is around $20,944.44 per year.

Free beachside activities at this Freemantle skatepark.

University students

Students who plan to study in Perth won’t be disappointed with world class institutions including the Perth campuses of the University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University, the University of Notre Dame, Murdoch University, and Curtin University. Affordable and accessible, coupled with incredible coastal surrounds, Perth is a perfect place to position for an academic adventure.

Public transport in Perth is run by Transperth and schedules trains, trams, ferries, and buses. You can purchase a SmartRider card which will work for all modes of transport and will also provide for a cheaper fare. Tertiary students who hold a current student card are eligible for up to 60% discount on their travel costs, you must apply for this special discount student card online first.

If you choose to live off campus, accommodation will be the largest proportion of your living costs.

Moving from international locations / exchange rates

Don't forget that the costs of moving to a new location can be be amplified signficantly by the exchange rates and costs involved with transacting on what might be large purchases. 

If you are buying a house site unseen for $1m Australian after exchanging from GBP or other, there could be large savings by avoiding fee's or getting the best rates on the exchange.

Whether it's transferring tens of thousands of Australian dollars in University fees, or just a few hundred from a current overseas account, it's a good idea to see what foreign exchange websites can offer. 

What next?

If you are planning to traverse the Nullarbor Plain, by land or air – there is no doubt that moving to Perth is a big commitment. Compared to the clustering of the eastern Australian state capital cities, it seems so far away and isolated, but this might be something you desire. Once you get there and settle in, Perth will provide everything you need!

Get advice on how Muval can help you move your roots to Perth and talk to our friendly customer service team for more information or check out our list of Perth removalists here.

Disclaimer: The prices listed in this article are listed in AUD$ and are intended as a guide and are indicative only. We highly recommend you investigate costs specific to your own personal circumstances.

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