🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,162 in Busselton versus $2,310 in Perth.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,200 in Busselton versus $3,356 in Perth.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,238 in Busselton versus $4,402 in Perth.
🙂Living in Busselton costs roughly 6% less than in Perth, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busselton61% above, Perth73% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Busselton
Perth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.42A$22.82
$16.54A$22.99
-0.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.3A$110
$77.3A$107
2.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.57A$13.30
$10.56A$14.68
-9.38%
Cappuccino
$3.66A$5.08
$3.64A$5.06
0.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49A$3.47
$2.53A$3.52
-1.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00A$2.77
$1.92A$2.67
4.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.64A$10.62
$7.70A$10.70
-0.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.67A$9.27
$6.45A$8.97
3.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Busselton
Perth
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.88A$1.23
$1.47A$2.04
-40.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12A$1.56
$2.34A$3.25
-52.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94A$1.31
$2.01A$2.80
-53.23%
Eggs
$3.09A$4.29
$4.51A$6.27
-31.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.61A$11.96
$8.35A$11.61
3.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.72A$10.74
$8.18A$11.37
-5.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56A$18.85
$13.93A$19.36
-2.66%
Apples(1kg)
$3.35A$4.65
$3.55A$4.93
-5.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.92A$2.66
$2.92A$4.06
-34.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.98A$4.14
$2.83A$3.94
5.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.50A$6.26
$4.76A$6.61
-5.46%
Potato(1kg)
$2.41A$3.35
$2.49A$3.46
-3.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78A$2.47
$1.73A$2.41
2.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00A$2.78
$1.92A$2.66
4.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50A$2.09
$1.46A$2.03
2.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.53A$20.20
$32.49A$45.16
-55.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.71A$14.89
$10.97A$15.24
-2.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.91A$5.43
$3.87A$5.38
1.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03A$5.60
$4.05A$5.63
-0.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Busselton
Perth
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.53A$3.52
$2.93A$4.07
-13.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.6A$91.2
$71.3A$99.2
-8.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.89A$5.40
$3.98A$5.54
-2.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.22A$3.08
$2.21A$3.07
0.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$49.88A$69.3
$50.3A$69.9
-0.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11A$1.55
$1.16A$1.61
-4.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KA$39.5K
$28.6KA$39.7K
-0.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2KA$33.6K
$24.3KA$33.8K
-0.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Busselton
Perth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154A$214
$154A$214
0.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.81A$38.66
$27.61A$38.37
0.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.96A$66.7
$55.5A$77.2
-13.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Busselton
Perth
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.63A$69.0
$41.08A$57.1
20.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.74A$21.87
$15.77A$21.93
-0.19%
Cinema Ticket
$15.96A$22.18
$16.38A$22.77
-2.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Busselton
Perth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,824A$2,535
$1,790A$2,488
1.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.3KA$17.0K
$12.3KA$17.0K
-0.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Busselton
Perth
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7A$91.4
$70.2A$97.6
-6.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.76A$66.4
$48.80A$67.8
-2.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101A$140
$103A$143
-2.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107A$148
$105A$145
1.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Busselton
Perth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,269A$1,764
$1,527A$2,123
-16.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,046A$1,454
$1,163A$1,616
-10.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,033A$2,826
$2,488A$3,458
-18.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,699A$2,361
$1,783A$2,478
-4.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,968A$9,685
$6,459A$8,978
7.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,426A$6,152
$4,912A$6,827
-9.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Busselton
Perth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$4,379A$6,087
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.42
6.42
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Busselton: April 27, 2026
Last update for Perth: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,269 in Busselton and $1,527 in Perth. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $79.0 in Busselton vs $77.0 in Perth. Groceries flip the comparison at $290 vs $328, with Busselton cheaper for home cooking.
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
Busselton vs Perth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Busselton and Perth?
Busselton and Perth differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,162 vs $2,310 including rent). Busselton is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Busselton compared to Perth?
You'd need roughly $3,242 in Busselton and $3,466 in Perth to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Busselton and Perth?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,269 in Busselton versus $1,527 in Perth. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Busselton and Perth?
Childcare runs $1,824 in Busselton versus $1,790 in Perth. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Perth. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,162 in Busselton versus $2,310 in Perth, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Busselton but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Busselton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Busselton and Perth?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Busselton or Perth safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Busselton and Perth are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Busselton or Perth?
Expats usually find Busselton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.