Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Byron Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Byron Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,097 in Perth versus $2,509 in Byron Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,250 in Perth versus $3,614 in Byron Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,404 in Perth versus $4,719 in Byron Bay.

Living in Perth is roughly 23% more expensive than in Byron Bay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 125% above, Byron Bay 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.52 A$28.61

$18.23 A$25.42

12.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.2 A$119

$83.3 A$116

2.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 A$15.04

$11.51 A$16.05

-6.34%

Cappuccino

$4.48 A$6.25

$3.72 A$5.19

20.43%

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

$2.91 A$4.06

$1.46 A$2.04

99.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 A$3.17

$2.57 A$3.58

-11.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.63 A$12.03

$8.29 A$11.56

4.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.68 A$12.10

$8.76 A$12.22

-0.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 A$2.42

$1.66 A$2.32

4.82%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 A$4.49

$2.77 A$3.86

16.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 A$2.95

$2.41 A$3.35

-12.03%

Eggs

$5.47 A$7.63

$5.01 A$6.98

9.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.53 A$13.29

$9.29 A$12.96

2.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.67 A$13.49

$9.02 A$12.57

7.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 A$20.03

$14.37 A$20.03

-0.07%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 A$6.69

$4.16 A$5.79

15.38%

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.51

$3.05 A$4.26

6.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 A$4.99

$2.82 A$3.93

26.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 A$7.39

$4.74 A$6.62

11.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 A$4.18

$2.86 A$3.99

4.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.74

$2.31 A$3.22

-15.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 A$3.37

$2.42 A$3.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 A$1.89

$1.21 A$1.68

12.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$43.56 A$60.7

$35.10 A$48.93

24.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.22 A$18.43

$12.67 A$17.66

4.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.58 A$6.39

$5.35 A$7.46

-14.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 A$4.90

$5.24 A$7.31

-32.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 A$3.56

$3.19 A$4.45

-20.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$103 A$143

$86.6 A$121

18.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 A$5.26

$3.14 A$4.38

20.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 A$2.10

$1.90 A$2.66

-20.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.37 A$59.1

$42.87 A$59.8

-1.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 A$1.88

$1.37 A$1.91

-1.46%

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

$28.8K A$40.2K

$28.2K A$39.4K

2.07%

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

$31.2K A$43.5K

$24.7K A$34.5K

26.16%

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

$207 A$289

$172 A$240

20.14%

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

$34.58 A$48.21

$14.42 A$20.10

139.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 A$87.6

$42.85 A$59.7

46.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 A$78.9

$57.0 A$79.4

-0.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.54 A$31.43

$18.67 A$26.03

20.73%

Cinema Ticket

$17.91 A$24.96

$16.79 A$23.41

6.67%

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

$2,360 A$3,290

$2,148 A$2,995

9.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K A$33.0K

$13.0K A$18.2K

81.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 A$107

$71.7 A$99.9

7.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.4 A$92.5

$21.87 A$30.50

203.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 A$173

$72.9 A$102

69.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 A$218

$112 A$156

39.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,989 A$2,774

$1,450 A$2,021

37.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,634 A$2,278

$1,266 A$1,765

29.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 A$4,021

$2,306 A$3,215

25.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,284 A$3,185

$1,876 A$2,616

21.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,466 A$11.8K

$6,606 A$9,210

28.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,164 A$8,594

$5,194 A$7,242

18.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,375 A$6,100

$4,937 A$6,883

-11.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

18.40%

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

Last update for Perth: September 7, 2026

Last update for Byron Bay: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,989 in Perth and $1,450 in Byron Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Byron Bay pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $85.0 in Perth vs $83.0 in Byron Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $380 vs $364 per month, with Byron Bay cheaper across the board.

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 Byron Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Perth and Byron Bay differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($3,097 vs $2,509 including rent). Byron Bay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 13% lower in Byron Bay. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,989 in Perth versus $1,450 in Byron Bay. 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 $2,509 in Byron Bay – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Byron Bay runs roughly 19% less than in Perth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,509 in Byron Bay versus $3,097 in Perth, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Byron Bay but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Byron Bay 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 Byron Bay 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 Byron Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.