🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,802 in Kalgoorlie versus $2,310 in Perth.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,065 in Kalgoorlie versus $3,356 in Perth.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,329 in Kalgoorlie versus $4,402 in Perth.
🙂Living in Kalgoorlie costs roughly 22% less than in Perth, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kalgoorlie35% above, Perth73% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalgoorlie
Perth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.03A$22.28
$16.54A$22.99
-3.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5A$110
$77.3A$107
2.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.65A$13.42
$10.56A$14.68
-8.62%
Cappuccino
$4.20A$5.84
$3.64A$5.06
15.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68A$5.11
$2.53A$3.52
45.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19A$4.43
$1.92A$2.67
66.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.70A$7.92
$7.70A$10.70
-25.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.95A$9.66
$6.45A$8.97
7.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalgoorlie
Perth
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47A$2.05
$1.47A$2.04
-
White Bread(500g)
$3.31A$4.59
$2.34A$3.25
41.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94A$2.70
$2.01A$2.80
-3.48%
Eggs
$3.82A$5.30
$4.51A$6.27
-15.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.30A$11.53
$8.35A$11.61
-0.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39A$11.67
$8.18A$11.37
2.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.93A$19.36
$13.93A$19.36
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.23A$4.49
$3.55A$4.93
-9.01%
Banana(1kg)
$2.75A$3.82
$2.92A$4.06
-5.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89A$4.02
$2.83A$3.94
2.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.08A$5.67
$4.76A$6.61
-14.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.41A$3.35
$2.49A$3.46
-3.21%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10A$2.92
$1.73A$2.41
21.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98A$2.75
$1.92A$2.66
3.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54A$2.14
$1.46A$2.03
5.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$30.97A$43.04
$32.49A$45.16
-4.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.27A$19.83
$10.97A$15.24
30.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.60A$6.39
$3.87A$5.38
18.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.41A$7.51
$4.05A$5.63
33.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalgoorlie
Perth
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.65A$3.69
$2.93A$4.07
-9.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.8A$88.6
$71.3A$99.2
-10.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.63A$5.04
$3.98A$5.54
-8.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60A$2.23
$2.21A$3.07
-27.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.10A$47.39
$50.3A$69.9
-32.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27A$1.77
$1.16A$1.61
9.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3KA$40.7K
$28.6KA$39.7K
2.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KA$31.7K
$24.3KA$33.8K
-6.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalgoorlie
Perth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$292A$406
$154A$214
89.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.4A$72.8
$27.61A$38.37
89.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.6A$91.1
$55.5A$77.2
18.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalgoorlie
Perth
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.88A$49.87
$41.08A$57.1
-12.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.84A$22.02
$15.77A$21.93
0.44%
Cinema Ticket
$16.42A$22.82
$16.38A$22.77
0.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalgoorlie
Perth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,647A$2,289
$1,790A$2,488
-8.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KA$16.6K
$12.3KA$17.0K
-2.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalgoorlie
Perth
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.3A$94.9
$70.2A$97.6
-2.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.61A$69.0
$48.80A$67.8
1.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0A$136
$103A$143
-4.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108A$151
$105A$145
3.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalgoorlie
Perth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,264A$1,757
$1,527A$2,123
-17.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458A$637
$1,163A$1,616
-60.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,557A$2,164
$2,488A$3,458
-37.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,439A$2,001
$1,783A$2,478
-19.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,170A$8,577
$6,459A$8,978
-4.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,985A$6,930
$4,912A$6,827
1.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalgoorlie
Perth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,167A$8,572
$4,379A$6,087
40.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
6.42
-1.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kalgoorlie: April 28, 2026
Last update for Perth: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,264 in Kalgoorlie and $1,527 in Perth. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kalgoorlie pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $79.0 in Kalgoorlie vs $77.0 in Perth for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $328 per month, with Perth cheaper across the board.
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
Kalgoorlie vs Perth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalgoorlie or Perth?
Kalgoorlie wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Perth. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kalgoorlie the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kalgoorlie or Perth?
Kalgoorlie pays 41% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kalgoorlie vs Perth?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,264 in Kalgoorlie versus $1,527 in Perth. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Kalgoorlie vs Perth?
A monthly transit pass in Kalgoorlie runs roughly 12% less than in Perth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Kalgoorlie and Perth?
Childcare runs $1,647 in Kalgoorlie versus $1,790 in Perth. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Kalgoorlie or Perth?
At $1,802 in Kalgoorlie versus $2,310 in Perth, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kalgoorlie but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Kalgoorlie the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kalgoorlie or 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.
How safe is Kalgoorlie compared to Perth?
Safety-wise, Kalgoorlie 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kalgoorlie gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kalgoorlie vs other spots: cost of living compared