Cost of Living Comparison Between Coffs Harbour and Perth Cost of Living Comparison Between Coffs Harbour and Perth

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,577 in Coffs Harbour versus $3,097 in Perth.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,725 in Coffs Harbour versus $4,250 in Perth.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,873 in Coffs Harbour versus $5,404 in Perth.

Living in Coffs Harbour costs roughly 17% less than in Perth, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Coffs Harbour 87% above, Perth 125% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.26 A$19.88

$20.52 A$28.61

-30.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$106 A$148

$85.2 A$119

24.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.17 A$12.78

$10.78 A$15.04

-14.94%

Cappuccino

$3.83 A$5.34

$4.48 A$6.25

-14.51%

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

$2.96 A$4.13

$2.91 A$4.06

1.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 A$2.81

$2.28 A$3.17

-11.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.53 A$7.71

$8.63 A$12.03

-35.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 A$8.00

$8.68 A$12.10

-33.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 A$2.37

$1.74 A$2.42

-2.30%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 A$3.79

$3.22 A$4.49

-15.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 A$3.40

$2.12 A$2.95

15.09%

Eggs

$3.57 A$4.98

$5.47 A$7.63

-34.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.99 A$12.54

$9.53 A$13.29

-5.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.44 A$10.37

$9.67 A$13.49

-23.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.33 A$19.98

$14.36 A$20.03

-0.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.10 A$5.72

$4.80 A$6.69

-14.58%

Banana (1kg)

$3.30 A$4.60

$3.24 A$4.51

1.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.46 A$4.82

$3.58 A$4.99

-3.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.40 A$6.14

$5.30 A$7.39

-16.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 A$1.95

$3.00 A$4.18

-53.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 A$3.69

$1.96 A$2.74

35.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 A$3.64

$2.42 A$3.37

7.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 A$3.29

$1.36 A$1.89

73.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$33.54 A$46.76

$43.56 A$60.7

-23.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.94 A$20.83

$13.22 A$18.43

13.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.89 A$8.21

$4.58 A$6.39

28.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.83 A$9.52

$3.52 A$4.90

94.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.98 A$6.94

$2.55 A$3.56

95.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$103 A$143

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 A$3.06

$3.77 A$5.26

-41.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 A$2.27

$1.51 A$2.10

7.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$37.29 A$52.0

$42.37 A$59.1

-11.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 A$1.83

$1.35 A$1.88

-2.96%

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

$27.6K A$38.4K

$28.8K A$40.2K

-4.36%

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

$34.3K A$47.8K

$31.2K A$43.5K

9.81%

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

$181 A$253

$207 A$289

-12.36%

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

$10.62 A$14.81

$34.58 A$48.21

-69.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.3 A$78.4

$62.8 A$87.6

-10.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$114 A$159

$56.6 A$78.9

101.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.54 A$31.43

Cinema Ticket

$14.43 A$20.12

$17.91 A$24.96

-19.43%

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

$2,236 A$3,117

$2,360 A$3,290

-5.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K A$17.4K

$23.7K A$33.0K

-47.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.0 A$109

$77.0 A$107

1.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.2 A$76.9

$66.4 A$92.5

-16.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 A$149

$124 A$173

-13.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 A$178

$156 A$218

-18.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 A$1,995

$1,989 A$2,774

-28.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,305 A$1,819

$1,634 A$2,278

-20.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,172 A$3,028

$2,884 A$4,021

-24.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,013 A$2,806

$2,284 A$3,185

-11.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,777 A$5,266

$8,466 A$11.8K

-55.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,624 A$5,053

$6,164 A$8,594

-41.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,737 A$5,211

$4,375 A$6,100

-14.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.73

5.92

-3.21%

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

Last update for Coffs Harbour: September 7, 2026

Last update for Perth: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,431 in Coffs Harbour and $1,989 in Perth. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 17% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $106 in Coffs Harbour vs $85.0 in Perth. Groceries flip the comparison at $373 vs $380, with Coffs Harbour 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

Coffs Harbour vs Perth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Coffs Harbour is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Perth. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,431 in Coffs Harbour versus $1,989 in Perth. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Perth. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,577 per month in Coffs Harbour versus $3,097 in Perth – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Coffs Harbour is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Coffs Harbour 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.

Expats usually find Coffs Harbour gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.