Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Armidale Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Armidale

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,310 in Perth versus $1,584 in Armidale.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,356 in Perth versus $2,429 in Armidale.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,402 in Perth versus $3,274 in Armidale.

Living in Perth is roughly 46% more expensive than Armidale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 73% above, Armidale 18% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.54 A$23.16

$15.98 A$22.38

3.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.3 A$108

$76.9 A$108

0.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.56 A$14.79

$9.64 A$13.50

9.54%

Cappuccino

$3.64 A$5.09

$3.42 A$4.78

6.43%

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

$2.53 A$3.54

$2.60 A$3.64

-2.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 A$2.69

$2.17 A$3.04

-11.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.70 A$10.77

$6.57 A$9.20

17.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.45 A$9.03

$7.10 A$9.94

-9.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 A$2.06

$1.15 A$1.61

27.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 A$3.27

$1.17 A$1.64

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 A$2.82

$1.39 A$1.94

44.60%

Eggs

$4.51 A$6.31

$3.85 A$5.39

17.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.35 A$11.70

$8.74 A$12.23

-4.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.18 A$11.45

$8.24 A$11.54

-0.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.93 A$19.50

$13.45 A$18.82

3.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.55 A$4.97

$2.54 A$3.55

39.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.92 A$4.09

$2.74 A$3.83

6.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 A$3.96

$2.49 A$3.48

13.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.76 A$6.66

$2.81 A$3.93

69.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.49 A$3.49

$1.60 A$2.24

55.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 A$2.42

$2.13 A$2.98

-18.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 A$2.68

$2.07 A$2.90

-7.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 A$2.04

$1.58 A$2.22

-7.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.49 A$45.49

$30.98 A$43.38

4.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.97 A$15.35

$14.32 A$20.05

-23.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 A$5.42

$4.68 A$6.56

-17.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 A$5.67

$5.20 A$7.27

-22.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 A$4.10

$2.53 A$3.54

15.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.3 A$99.9

$64.0 A$89.5

11.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 A$5.58

$3.63 A$5.09

9.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 A$3.09

$1.56 A$2.19

41.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.3 A$70.4

$33.48 A$46.87

50.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 A$1.62

$1.18 A$1.65

-1.69%

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

$28.6K A$40.0K

$28.7K A$40.2K

-0.40%

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

$24.3K A$34.0K

$22.4K A$31.4K

8.50%

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

$154 A$215

$104 A$145

48.16%

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

$27.61 A$38.65

$27.77 A$38.88

-0.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.5 A$77.7

$52.8 A$73.9

5.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.08 A$57.5

$39.40 A$55.2

4.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.77 A$22.08

$15.50 A$21.69

1.74%

Cinema Ticket

$16.38 A$22.94

$13.13 A$18.38

24.75%

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

$1,790 A$2,506

$1,609 A$2,253

11.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K A$17.2K

$11.8K A$16.5K

3.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.2 A$98.3

$68.0 A$95.2

3.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.80 A$68.3

$50.7 A$70.9

-3.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 A$144

$99.7 A$140

2.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 A$146

$106 A$149

-1.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,527 A$2,138

$1,268 A$1,776

20.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,163 A$1,628

$529 A$740

119.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 A$3,483

$2,007 A$2,810

23.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,783 A$2,496

$843 A$1,180

111.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,459 A$9,042

$5,530 A$7,742

16.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,912 A$6,876

$5,064 A$7,089

-3.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,379 A$6,131

$2,890 A$4,046

51.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.34

1.26%

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

Last update for Perth: April 26, 2026

Last update for Armidale: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,527 in Perth and $1,268 in Armidale. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 52% 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: $77.0 in Perth vs $77.0 in Armidale. Groceries flip the comparison at $328 vs $304, with Armidale 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 Armidale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Armidale is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Perth pays 52% more on average, 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: $1,527 in Perth versus $1,268 in Armidale. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,310 per month in Perth versus $1,584 in Armidale – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Armidale runs roughly 12% less than in Perth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,584 in Armidale versus $2,310 in Perth, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Armidale but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Armidale the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Armidale 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 Armidale gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.