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: $3,097 in Perth versus $1,784 in Armidale.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,250 in Perth versus $2,755 in Armidale.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,404 in Perth versus $3,727 in Armidale.

Living in Perth is roughly 74% more expensive than in Armidale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 125% above, Armidale 29% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.52 A$28.61

$18.24 A$25.43

12.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.2 A$119

$85.9 A$120

-0.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 A$15.04

$10.87 A$15.16

-0.83%

Cappuccino

$4.48 A$6.25

$4.14 A$5.77

8.21%

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

$2.91 A$4.06

$2.87 A$4.01

1.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 A$3.17

$2.28 A$3.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.63 A$12.03

$7.80 A$10.87

10.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.68 A$12.10

$7.70 A$10.74

12.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 A$2.42

$1.26 A$1.76

38.10%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 A$4.49

$1.27 A$1.77

153.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 A$2.95

$1.60 A$2.23

32.50%

Eggs

$5.47 A$7.63

$4.26 A$5.94

28.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.53 A$13.29

$9.48 A$13.22

0.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.67 A$13.49

$9.32 A$12.99

3.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 A$20.03

$14.88 A$20.75

-3.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 A$6.69

$2.78 A$3.87

72.66%

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.51

$2.97 A$4.14

9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 A$4.99

$2.73 A$3.81

31.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 A$7.39

$3.10 A$4.33

70.97%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 A$4.18

$1.75 A$2.43

71.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.74

$2.43 A$3.39

-19.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 A$3.37

$2.46 A$3.43

-1.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 A$1.89

$1.62 A$2.26

-16.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$43.56 A$60.7

$38.96 A$54.3

11.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.22 A$18.43

$14.49 A$20.21

-8.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.58 A$6.39

$5.07 A$7.07

-9.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 A$4.90

$5.54 A$7.72

-36.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 A$3.56

$3.15 A$4.39

-19.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$103 A$143

$87.2 A$122

17.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 A$5.26

$3.68 A$5.14

2.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 A$2.10

$1.60 A$2.23

-5.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.37 A$59.1

$40.82 A$56.9

3.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 A$1.88

$1.24 A$1.73

8.87%

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

$28.8K A$40.2K

$28.3K A$39.5K

1.63%

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

$31.2K A$43.5K

$31.4K A$43.7K

-0.56%

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

$207 A$289

$114 A$159

81.70%

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

$34.58 A$48.21

$27.44 A$38.26

26.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 A$87.6

$57.3 A$79.9

9.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 A$78.9

$42.82 A$59.7

32.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.54 A$31.43

$18.56 A$25.88

21.44%

Cinema Ticket

$17.91 A$24.96

$15.61 A$21.76

14.73%

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

$2,360 A$3,290

$2,175 A$3,033

8.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K A$33.0K

$20.8K A$29.1K

13.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 A$107

$80.4 A$112

-4.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.4 A$92.5

$55.8 A$77.8

18.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 A$173

$112 A$156

10.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 A$218

$127 A$177

23.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,989 A$2,774

$1,462 A$2,038

36.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,634 A$2,278

$585 A$816

179.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 A$4,021

$2,331 A$3,249

23.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,284 A$3,185

$931 A$1,298

145.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,466 A$11.8K

$6,647 A$9,267

27.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,164 A$8,594

$5,189 A$7,235

18.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,375 A$6,100

$2,831 A$3,948

54.53%

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Armidale: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,989 in Perth and $1,462 in Armidale. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 55% 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 $86.0 in Armidale. Groceries flip the comparison at $380 vs $331, 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 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 55% 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: $1,989 in Perth versus $1,462 in Armidale. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,097 per month in Perth versus $1,784 in Armidale – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Armidale runs roughly 18% 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 $2,500. Armidale 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 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 74% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.