Cost of Living Comparison Between Maroochydore and Perth Cost of Living Comparison Between Maroochydore and Perth

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,391 per month in Maroochydore vs $2,310 in Perth, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,406 per month in Maroochydore vs $3,356 in Perth, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,421 per month in Maroochydore vs $4,402 in Perth, rent included.

Maroochydore costs about 3% more than Perth, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Maroochydore and Perth sit above the global median – Maroochydore by 79%, Perth by 73%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.17 A$18.31

$16.54 A$22.99

-20.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.3 A$138

$77.3 A$107

28.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.74 A$12.15

$10.56 A$14.68

-17.23%

Cappuccino

$3.42 A$4.75

$3.64 A$5.06

-6.04%

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

$2.42 A$3.36

$2.53 A$3.52

-4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 A$2.28

$1.92 A$2.67

-14.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.93 A$5.46

$7.70 A$10.70

-48.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 A$9.78

$6.45 A$8.97

8.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 A$2.06

$1.47 A$2.04

0.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.55 A$3.55

$2.34 A$3.25

8.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.32 A$3.22

$2.01 A$2.80

15.42%

Eggs

$4.39 A$6.11

$4.51 A$6.27

-2.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.46 A$8.99

$8.35 A$11.61

-22.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.99 A$9.72

$8.18 A$11.37

-14.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.97 A$11.08

$13.93 A$19.36

-42.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 A$5.09

$3.55 A$4.93

3.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 A$3.64

$2.92 A$4.06

-10.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.46 A$3.42

$2.83 A$3.94

-13.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.59 A$4.99

$4.76 A$6.61

-24.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 A$2.96

$2.49 A$3.46

-14.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 A$2.71

$1.73 A$2.41

12.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 A$2.76

$1.92 A$2.66

3.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 A$3.45

$1.46 A$2.03

69.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$23.07 A$32.07

$32.49 A$45.16

-28.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.74 A$14.92

$10.97 A$15.24

-2.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.59 A$7.77

$3.87 A$5.38

44.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.38 A$7.48

$4.05 A$5.63

32.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 A$2.07

$2.93 A$4.07

-49.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.3 A$89.4

$71.3 A$99.2

-9.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 A$2.64

$3.98 A$5.54

-52.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 A$1.91

$2.21 A$3.07

-38.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.43 A$46.46

$50.3 A$69.9

-33.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 A$1.58

$1.16 A$1.61

-1.72%

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

$27.8K A$38.7K

$28.6K A$39.7K

-2.63%

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

$21.9K A$30.5K

$24.3K A$33.8K

-9.73%

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

$220 A$306

$154 A$214

43.08%

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

$29.77 A$41.39

$27.61 A$38.37

7.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.5 A$77.2

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.09 A$54.3

$41.08 A$57.1

-4.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.54 A$21.59

$15.77 A$21.93

-1.46%

Cinema Ticket

$12.42 A$17.26

$16.38 A$22.77

-24.18%

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

$2,171 A$3,017

$1,790 A$2,488

21.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,104 A$9,875

$12.3K A$17.0K

-42.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 A$86.1

$70.2 A$97.6

-11.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.19 A$65.6

$48.80 A$67.8

-3.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 A$125

$103 A$143

-12.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 A$173

$105 A$145

19.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,212 A$1,684

$1,527 A$2,123

-20.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,224 A$1,701

$1,163 A$1,616

5.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,920 A$2,669

$2,488 A$3,458

-22.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,934 A$2,689

$1,783 A$2,478

8.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,316 A$8,779

$6,459 A$8,978

-2.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,346 A$8,820

$4,912 A$6,827

29.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,884 A$4,009

$4,379 A$6,087

-34.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.42

1.87%

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

Last update for Maroochydore: April 26, 2026

Last update for Perth: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,212 in Maroochydore versus $1,527 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 52% higher in Perth, 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 $99.0 in Maroochydore versus $77.0 in Perth. Groceries tell a different story – $315 in Maroochydore vs $328 in Perth – so Maroochydore 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

Maroochydore vs Perth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,391 in Maroochydore, $2,310 in Perth – roughly 3% apart. Maroochydore costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,586 per month in Maroochydore and $3,466 in Perth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 11% less in Perth. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,171 per month in Maroochydore and $1,790 in Perth. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Perth, where all-in costs run around $2,310, than in Maroochydore at $2,391. In Perth it covers expenses comfortably, while in Maroochydore it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Perth – 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 Perth. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Maroochydore makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.