Overview
Perth is generally more affordable than Sydney and Melbourne but more expensive than Adelaide and Brisbane. Housing is the biggest expense, though wagesarticularly in mining and resources: tend to be higher than the national average. A single person can live comfortably on $60,000 — $75,000/year; a family of four needs around $100,000 — $130,000/year.
Housing Costs
Rent (per week)
- 1-bed apartment in CBD: $450 — $650
- 1-bed apartment outside CBD: $350 — $500
- 3-bed house in middle suburb: $550 — $800
- 3-bed house in premium suburb: $800 — $1,500
Home Purchase (median prices, 2025 — 26)
- Perth metro median house: ~$670,000
- Perth metro unit/apartment: ~$450,000
- Premium suburbs (Cottesloe, Peppermint Grove): $2M — $5M+
- Outer suburbs (Armadale, Midland): $400,000 — $550,000
Utilities
- Electricity (Synergy / Horizon Power): $150 — $250/quarter for an apartment, $300 — $500/quarter for a house
- Gas (ATCO): $60 — $150/quarter
- Water (Water Corporation): $200 — $350/quarter
- Internet (NBN broadband 50Mbps): $70 — $90/month
- Mobile plan (Telstra/Optus/Vodafone): $30 — $60/month
Food & Groceries
Major supermarkets are Woolworths, Coles, and Aldi. Independent grocers (IGA Spudshed, Farmer Jacks) offer cheaper produce. Weekly costs:
- Single person: $80 — $120/week
- Couple: $140 — $200/week
- Family of 4: $200 — $350/week
- Loaf of bread: $3.50
- Milk (2L): $3.20
- Eggs (12): $6.00
- Chicken breast (1kg): $12 — $16
- Beer (6-pack premium): $22 — $30
- Bottle of wine (entry-level): $12 — $18
Transport
- SmartRider daily cap: $10.80
- SmartRider concession daily cap: $5.40
- Monthly train pass (full fare): ~$180
- Petrol (91 RON): ~$1.70 — $2.20/L
- Car registration (annual): ~$500 — $800
- Comprehensive car insurance: $600 — $1,200/year
- Uber from CBD to airport: $25 — $35
Healthcare
- GP visit (bulk billed): Free with Medicare
- GP visit (private): $60 — $90 (Medicare rebate ~$42)
- Private health insurance (hospital + extras): $120 — $250/month
- Ambulance cover: ~$85/year via St John WA
- Prescriptions (PBS): ~$30 per item (general)
Education
- Public school: Free (voluntary contributions ~$60 — $250/year)
- Catholic primary school: $2,000 — $5,000/year
- Private school: $10,000 — $25,000+/year
- University (domestic, CSP): $4,000 — $14,000/year
- University (international): $30,000 — $50,000/year
Entertainment & Lifestyle
- Cinema ticket: $16 — $22
- Gym membership: $40 — $80/month
- Restaurant meal (mid-range, 2 courses): $50 — $80 per person
- Coffee: $5.00–$6.00
- Beer in a pub: $10 — $14 per pint
- Wine in a restaurant: $10 — $16 per glass
- National park entry: $15 — $17 per vehicle
Salary Expectations
- Average full-time salary (WA): ~$100,000/year
- Minimum wage (2025 — 26): $24.10/hour
- Mining industry average: $130,000 — $180,000/year
- Healthcare professional: $80,000 — $120,000/year
- Hospitality worker: $55,000 — $70,000/year
Tax Summary
Australia uses a progressive tax system. WA has no state payroll or land tax for primary residences. The GST is included in prices (10%). Medicare Levy is 2% of taxable income.
Why Perth Costs Less Than Sydney or Melbourne
The mechanism behind Perth's affordability is mostly housing. While Sydney and Melbourne prices are pushed by overseas migration and investor demand, Perth's market — until the recent boom — tracked its own resources cycle, and the city simply has more developable land per person. The result in 2026: Perth's median house price of around $880,000 is well below Sydney's $1.4 million-plus, and rents, while at record highs, still run $100–$200 per week cheaper than the eastern capitals for comparable homes. Groceries, utilities and transport are roughly at national averages, so the housing gap is where your savings actually come from.
Wages reinforce the advantage. Average weekly earnings in Western Australia (around $2,108 per week in late 2025, ABS) are the highest of any state, and Perth has repeatedly posted the highest median weekly earnings of any capital city. Mining, construction and healthcare drive the top end, but even retail and hospitality pay the same national minimum wage — $24.10 per hour from July 2025, plus 25% casual loading — with far less competition for jobs than in the east.
How to Trim Your Monthly Budget
- Energy: WA's retail electricity market is competitive — compare Synergy and Alinta plans annually; switching can save $200–$400 a year.
- Groceries: Aldi and Spudshed (a WA institution) undercut the majors by 20–30% on staples; buy fruit and veg at markets like Canning Vale on Sunday mornings.
- Transport: the SmartRider daily cap ($10.80) and free CAT buses in the CBD and Fremantle make car-free living genuinely viable — and parking in the city costs $25–$40 a day.
- Petrol: fuel prices cycle weekly in Perth (cheapest usually Monday–Tuesday); use FuelWatch to time fills.
- Eating out: lunch specials and 'parmi nights' at suburban pubs deliver the same kitchens at half the dinner price.