Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Cairns Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Cairns

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,096 per month in Perth vs $2,579 in Cairns, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,187 per month in Perth vs $3,855 in Cairns, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,277 per month in Perth vs $5,132 in Cairns, rent included.

Perth costs about 20% more than Cairns, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Perth and Cairns sit above the global median – Perth by 126%, Cairns by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.79 A$29.32

$18.20 A$25.67

14.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.6 A$122

$100 A$141

-13.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.62 A$14.98

$12.96 A$18.28

-18.06%

Cappuccino

$4.58 A$6.46

$4.36 A$6.15

5.05%

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

$2.96 A$4.17

$3.33 A$4.70

-11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 A$3.26

$2.73 A$3.86

-15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.67 A$12.23

$7.12 A$10.04

21.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.69 A$12.25

$8.68 A$12.24

0.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 A$2.48

$1.91 A$2.69

-7.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.01 A$4.25

$2.71 A$3.82

11.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 A$2.98

$2.49 A$3.51

-15.26%

Eggs

$5.23 A$7.37

$5.31 A$7.49

-1.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.07 A$12.80

$9.34 A$13.17

-2.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.19 A$12.96

$14.20 A$20.03

-35.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.32 A$20.20

$15.64 A$22.06

-8.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.73 A$6.67

$4.30 A$6.07

10.00%

Banana (1kg)

$3.32 A$4.68

$2.79 A$3.93

19.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.50 A$4.93

$3.63 A$5.12

-3.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.12 A$7.23

$6.03 A$8.50

-15.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 A$4.10

$2.54 A$3.58

14.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 A$2.71

$2.53 A$3.57

-24.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 A$3.21

$2.81 A$3.97

-18.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 A$1.93

$2.57 A$3.62

-46.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$42.95 A$60.6

$45.30 A$63.9

-5.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.79 A$18.04

$14.33 A$20.21

-10.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.46 A$6.29

$3.73 A$5.26

19.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 A$5.07

$5.38 A$7.58

-33.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 A$3.61

$3.54 A$4.99

-27.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 A$142

$15.87 A$22.38

536.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 A$5.25

$2.68 A$3.78

38.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 A$2.02

$1.97 A$2.78

-27.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.88 A$59.1

$42.54 A$60.0

-1.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 A$1.89

$1.24 A$1.76

8.06%

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

$28.0K A$39.5K

$31.9K A$44.9K

-12.03%

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

$30.3K A$42.7K

$42.2K A$59.5K

-28.21%

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

$205 A$289

$164 A$232

24.48%

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

$34.01 A$47.96

$36.29 A$51.2

-6.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.2 A$89.2

$67.4 A$95.1

-6.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 A$79.6

$45.28 A$63.9

24.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.21 A$31.33

$28.61 A$40.35

-22.37%

Cinema Ticket

$18.16 A$25.61

$14.17 A$19.98

28.16%

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

$2,378 A$3,354

$2,150 A$3,032

10.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K A$33.5K

$14.2K A$20.1K

66.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.3 A$108

$91.1 A$128

-16.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.4 A$95.1

$75.1 A$106

-10.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 A$170

$127 A$179

-4.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 A$210

$136 A$192

9.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,941 A$2,737

$1,492 A$2,104

30.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 A$2,331

$1,262 A$1,779

31.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,851 A$4,021

$2,307 A$3,253

23.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,256 A$3,181

$2,014 A$2,840

12.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,414 A$11.9K

$6,547 A$9,234

28.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,063 A$8,550

$5,113 A$7,211

18.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,268 A$6,020

$4,388 A$6,188

-2.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

6.32

-6.33%

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

Last update for Perth: September 15, 2026

Last update for Cairns: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,941 in Perth versus $1,492 in Cairns. 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 3% higher in Cairns, 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 $87.0 in Perth versus $100 in Cairns. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $419 – making Perth the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Cairns: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Perth costs about 20% more than Cairns, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,644 per month in Perth and $3,868 in Cairns. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cairns, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Perth – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Perth and $100 in Cairns. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,096 in Perth and $2,579 in Cairns. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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