Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Albany Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Albany

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,083 in Perth versus $2,702 in Albany.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,303 in Perth versus $3,800 in Albany.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,522 in Perth versus $4,899 in Albany.

Living in Perth is roughly 14% more expensive than in Albany, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 124% above, Albany 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.57 A$29.95

$19.61 A$27.23

9.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.9 A$118

$84.5 A$117

0.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.01 A$15.29

$10.45 A$14.50

5.36%

Cappuccino

$4.65 A$6.46

$4.63 A$6.43

0.43%

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

$2.92 A$4.06

$2.57 A$3.56

13.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 A$3.14

$2.10 A$2.91

7.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.71 A$12.10

$8.76 A$12.16

-0.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.38 A$11.63

$7.54 A$10.47

11.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 A$2.38

$1.65 A$2.29

3.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.18 A$4.42

$2.68 A$3.73

18.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 A$2.92

$1.96 A$2.72

7.14%

Eggs

$5.38 A$7.48

$5.51 A$7.65

-2.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 A$12.86

$9.76 A$13.55

-5.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 A$13.03

$9.38 A$13.02

0.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.57 A$20.23

$13.34 A$18.52

9.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.76 A$6.60

$4.37 A$6.07

8.92%

Banana (1kg)

$3.35 A$4.65

$3.05 A$4.23

9.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.47 A$4.81

$3.15 A$4.37

10.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.24 A$7.27

$4.66 A$6.47

12.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 A$4.13

$2.63 A$3.65

13.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 A$2.76

$2.52 A$3.50

-21.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 A$3.18

$2.25 A$3.12

1.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 A$1.84

$1.49 A$2.07

-11.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$42.45 A$58.9

$38.96 A$54.1

8.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.95 A$17.98

$15.62 A$21.69

-17.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.56 A$6.32

$5.29 A$7.35

-13.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 A$4.86

$5.89 A$8.18

-40.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 A$3.45

$2.85 A$3.96

-12.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.6 A$138

$92.4 A$128

7.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 A$5.30

$3.96 A$5.50

-3.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 A$1.99

$1.79 A$2.48

-20.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.92 A$56.8

$40.33 A$56.0

1.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 A$1.86

$1.22 A$1.69

9.84%

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

$27.9K A$38.7K

$25.2K A$35.0K

10.46%

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

$31.1K A$43.2K

$32.3K A$44.9K

-3.67%

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

$207 A$287

$212 A$294

-2.43%

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

$33.06 A$45.89

$28.36 A$39.37

16.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.1 A$90.3

$50.7 A$70.3

28.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 A$79.7

$60.8 A$84.4

-5.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.95 A$30.46

$18.45 A$25.62

18.97%

Cinema Ticket

$17.10 A$23.74

$15.70 A$21.80

8.92%

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

$2,383 A$3,308

$2,419 A$3,358

-1.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K A$33.5K

$21.2K A$29.4K

13.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.3 A$109

$84.9 A$118

-7.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.5 A$93.8

$48.30 A$67.1

39.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 A$169

$116 A$161

5.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 A$221

$126 A$175

26.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 A$2,686

$1,467 A$2,036

31.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,645 A$2,284

$1,220 A$1,693

34.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,839 A$3,941

$2,294 A$3,185

23.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,261 A$3,138

$1,869 A$2,595

20.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,673 A$12.0K

$6,704 A$9,306

29.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,918 A$8,215

$4,615 A$6,407

28.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,273 A$5,932

$2,676 A$3,715

59.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

5.85

1.20%

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

Last update for Perth: August 31, 2026

Last update for Albany: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,935 in Perth and $1,467 in Albany. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 60% 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: $85.0 in Perth vs $84.0 in Albany. Groceries flip the comparison at $375 vs $375, with Perth 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

Perth vs Albany: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Albany wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Perth. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Albany the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 60% higher in Perth, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,935 in Perth versus $1,467 in Albany. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,083 per month in Perth versus $2,702 in Albany – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Albany runs roughly 8% less than in Perth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Albany 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, Perth and Albany 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 Albany gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.