Cost of Living Comparison Between Karratha and PerthCost of Living Comparison Between Karratha and Perth
Monthly Cost of Living
πA single person spends $2,346 per month in Karratha vs $2,281 in Perth, rent included.
πA couple spends around $3,405 per month in Karratha vs $3,392 in Perth, rent included.
πA family of three spends $4,464 per month in Karratha vs $4,504 in Perth, rent included.
πKarratha costs about 3% more than Perth, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth Karratha and Perth sit above the global median β Karratha by 75%, Perth by 70%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Karratha
Perth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.30A$38.22
$16.44A$23.01
66.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4A$111
$79.5A$111
-0.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.06A$12.68
$10.51A$14.71
-13.80%
Cappuccino
$3.65A$5.12
$3.65A$5.11
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13A$4.39
$2.59A$3.62
20.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21A$3.10
$1.98A$2.77
11.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.42A$8.98
$7.91A$11.08
-18.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15A$10.00
$6.33A$8.87
12.95%
π Groceries & Markets
Karratha
Perth
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49A$2.08
$1.46A$2.05
2.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40A$3.36
$2.34A$3.27
2.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.01A$2.81
$2.01A$2.82
-
Eggs
$4.27A$5.98
$4.48A$6.27
-4.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.48A$11.88
$8.32A$11.64
1.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29A$11.61
$8.36A$11.71
-0.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.44A$18.81
$13.87A$19.41
-3.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28A$4.59
$3.42A$4.79
-4.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.85A$3.99
$3.01A$4.22
-5.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.02A$4.22
$2.93A$4.11
3.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.10A$5.74
$4.68A$6.55
-12.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.44A$3.42
$2.51A$3.51
-2.79%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12A$2.96
$1.80A$2.52
17.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.10A$2.94
$1.99A$2.79
5.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54A$2.16
$1.46A$2.05
5.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$30.97A$43.36
$31.67A$44.34
-2.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.47A$20.26
$10.69A$14.96
35.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.47A$6.26
$3.82A$5.34
17.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31A$7.43
$4.19A$5.87
26.73%
π Getting Around
Karratha
Perth
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.66A$3.72
$3.04A$4.26
-12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.2A$91.3
$72.1A$101
-9.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49A$4.88
$4.01A$5.61
-12.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53A$2.15
$2.23A$3.13
-31.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.11A$46.35
$49.44A$69.2
-33.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13A$1.58
$1.16A$1.63
-2.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6KA$40.1K
$29.3KA$41.0K
-2.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KA$32.0K
$23.9KA$33.5K
-4.58%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karratha
Perth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186A$260
$157A$220
18.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.63A$38.68
$27.62A$38.67
0.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.8A$72.6
$55.6A$77.8
-6.73%
π Sport & Entertainment
Karratha
Perth
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.66A$69.5
$41.18A$57.7
20.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.78A$22.09
$15.86A$22.20
-0.50%
Cinema Ticket
$12.80A$17.92
$16.40A$22.96
-21.95%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Karratha
Perth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,632A$2,285
$1,792A$2,509
-8.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KA$16.6K
$11.9KA$16.7K
-0.53%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Karratha
Perth
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0A$93.9
$70.3A$98.4
-4.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3A$70.4
$48.26A$67.6
4.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.8A$138
$101A$141
-2.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105A$147
$107A$150
-1.61%
π Accommodation & Living
Karratha
Perth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,273A$1,782
$1,503A$2,104
-15.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,065A$1,491
$1,152A$1,612
-7.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,037A$2,852
$2,520A$3,528
-19.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,660A$2,324
$1,818A$2,546
-8.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,335A$7,468
$6,479A$9,070
-17.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,722A$6,611
$4,911A$6,875
-3.84%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Karratha
Perth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$4,214A$5,900
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
6.42
-1.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karratha: April 21, 2026
Last update for Perth: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $1,273 in Karratha versus $1,503 in Perth. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Karratha versus $79 in Perth. Groceries tell a different story β $338 in Karratha vs $328 in Perth β so Perth wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Karratha vs Perth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Karratha and Perth compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,346 in Karratha, $2,281 in Perth β roughly 3% apart. Karratha costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Karratha compared to Perth?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,519 per month in Karratha and $3,421 in Perth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Karratha and Perth?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Perth, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Karratha or Perth?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,346 in Karratha and $2,281 in Perth. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Karratha and Perth?
Public transport costs about 11% less in Perth. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Perth, where all-in costs run around $2,281, than in Karratha at $2,346. In Perth it covers expenses comfortably, while in Karratha it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Karratha or Perth?
Families tend to lean toward Perth β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Karratha or Perth safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Karratha and Perth?
If budget matters most, go with Perth. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Karratha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.