Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Macquarie and Perth Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Macquarie and Perth

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,023 per month in Lake Macquarie vs $2,351 in Perth, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,220 per month in Lake Macquarie vs $3,434 in Perth, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,417 per month in Lake Macquarie vs $4,517 in Perth, rent included.

Lake Macquarie is about 14% cheaper than Perth, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lake Macquarie and Perth sit above the global median – Lake Macquarie by 51%, Perth by 76%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.76 A$18.27

$16.37 A$23.46

-22.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.5 A$114

$77.6 A$111

2.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.79 A$14.03

$10.26 A$14.70

-4.58%

Cappuccino

$3.26 A$4.68

$3.77 A$5.40

-13.53%

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

$2.29 A$3.28

$2.50 A$3.58

-8.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 A$2.84

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.56 A$9.40

$7.77 A$11.13

-15.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 A$10.29

$6.53 A$9.35

9.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 A$2.06

$1.46 A$2.10

-1.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 A$1.98

$2.37 A$3.39

-41.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 A$1.69

$1.97 A$2.83

-40.10%

Eggs

$3.25 A$4.65

$4.40 A$6.31

-26.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.32 A$10.49

$8.42 A$12.07

-13.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.14 A$8.79

$8.57 A$12.28

-28.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.55 A$16.54

$13.74 A$19.68

-15.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 A$4.37

$3.42 A$4.91

-10.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.64 A$3.78

$2.94 A$4.21

-10.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.15 A$4.51

$2.82 A$4.05

11.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.28 A$6.13

$4.75 A$6.81

-9.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 A$2.89

$2.51 A$3.60

-19.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 A$2.40

$1.79 A$2.57

-6.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.42 A$2.04

$2.00 A$2.87

-29.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 A$1.64

$1.52 A$2.17

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$27.95 A$40.04

$31.35 A$44.92

-10.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.70 A$11.04

$13.07 A$18.73

-41.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 A$3.67

$3.77 A$5.41

-32.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 A$3.18

$4.09 A$5.86

-45.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 A$2.91

$2.94 A$4.22

-30.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.4 A$128

$71.6 A$103

24.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 A$2.77

$3.98 A$5.71

-51.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 A$2.28

$2.12 A$3.03

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$47.01 A$67.4

$49.35 A$70.7

-4.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 A$1.79

$1.16 A$1.67

7.76%

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

$25.2K A$36.1K

$29.2K A$41.8K

-13.63%

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

$20.9K A$30.0K

$24.4K A$34.9K

-14.17%

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

$205 A$293

$155 A$222

32.02%

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

$10.21 A$14.63

$28.24 A$40.45

-63.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.98 A$60.1

$56.1 A$80.4

-25.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.48 A$69.5

$41.15 A$59.0

17.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.00 A$22.92

$15.64 A$22.40

2.30%

Cinema Ticket

$9.42 A$13.50

$16.38 A$23.47

-42.49%

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

$1,465 A$2,099

$1,799 A$2,577

-18.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K A$14.6K

$11.9K A$17.1K

-14.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.4 A$108

$69.8 A$100.0

8.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.59 A$48.13

$48.14 A$69.0

-30.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.0 A$112

$104 A$150

-25.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 A$191

$105 A$150

27.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,282 A$1,836

$1,474 A$2,111

-13.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$984 A$1,410

$1,172 A$1,678

-15.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 A$2,907

$2,576 A$3,691

-21.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,044 A$2,929

$1,823 A$2,612

12.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,646 A$9,522

$8,136 A$11.7K

-18.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,404 A$6,310

$5,659 A$8,108

-22.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,018 A$7,189

$4,306 A$6,169

16.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.35

6.42

-32.24%

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

Last update for Lake Macquarie: July 12, 2026

Last update for Perth: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,282 in Lake Macquarie versus $1,474 in Perth. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 17% higher in Lake Macquarie, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Lake Macquarie versus $78.0 in Perth. Groceries tell a different story – $260 in Lake Macquarie vs $334 in Perth – so Lake Macquarie 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

Lake Macquarie vs Perth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Perth is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,034 per month in Lake Macquarie and $3,526 in Perth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lake Macquarie, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,023 in Lake Macquarie and $2,351 in Perth. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 25% less in Lake Macquarie. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Lake Macquarie, where all-in costs run around $2,023, than in Perth at $2,351. In Lake Macquarie it covers expenses comfortably, while in Perth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lake Macquarie – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Lake Macquarie. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Perth makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.