Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Coffs Harbour Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Coffs Harbour

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,097 in Perth versus $2,577 in Coffs Harbour.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,250 in Perth versus $3,725 in Coffs Harbour.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,404 in Perth versus $4,873 in Coffs Harbour.

Living in Perth is roughly 20% more expensive than in Coffs Harbour, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 125% above, Coffs Harbour 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.52 A$28.61

$14.26 A$19.88

43.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.2 A$119

$106 A$148

-19.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 A$15.04

$9.17 A$12.78

17.56%

Cappuccino

$4.48 A$6.25

$3.83 A$5.34

16.97%

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

$2.91 A$4.06

$2.96 A$4.13

-1.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 A$3.17

$2.02 A$2.81

12.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.63 A$12.03

$5.53 A$7.71

56.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.68 A$12.10

$5.74 A$8.00

51.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 A$2.42

$1.70 A$2.37

2.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 A$4.49

$2.72 A$3.79

18.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 A$2.95

$2.44 A$3.40

-13.11%

Eggs

$5.47 A$7.63

$3.57 A$4.98

53.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.53 A$13.29

$8.99 A$12.54

6.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.67 A$13.49

$7.44 A$10.37

29.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 A$20.03

$14.33 A$19.98

0.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 A$6.69

$4.10 A$5.72

17.07%

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.51

$3.30 A$4.60

-1.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 A$4.99

$3.46 A$4.82

3.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 A$7.39

$4.40 A$6.14

20.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 A$4.18

$1.40 A$1.95

114.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.74

$2.65 A$3.69

-26.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 A$3.37

$2.61 A$3.64

-7.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 A$1.89

$2.36 A$3.29

-42.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$43.56 A$60.7

$33.54 A$46.76

29.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.22 A$18.43

$14.94 A$20.83

-11.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.58 A$6.39

$5.89 A$8.21

-22.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 A$4.90

$6.83 A$9.52

-48.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 A$3.56

$4.98 A$6.94

-48.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$103 A$143

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 A$5.26

$2.20 A$3.06

71.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 A$2.10

$1.63 A$2.27

-7.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.37 A$59.1

$37.29 A$52.0

13.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 A$1.88

$1.31 A$1.83

3.05%

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

$28.8K A$40.2K

$27.6K A$38.4K

4.56%

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

$31.2K A$43.5K

$34.3K A$47.8K

-8.93%

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

$207 A$289

$181 A$253

14.11%

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

$34.58 A$48.21

$10.62 A$14.81

225.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 A$87.6

$56.3 A$78.4

11.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 A$78.9

$114 A$159

-50.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.54 A$31.43

Cinema Ticket

$17.91 A$24.96

$14.43 A$20.12

24.12%

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

$2,360 A$3,290

$2,236 A$3,117

5.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K A$33.0K

$12.5K A$17.4K

90.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 A$107

$78.0 A$109

-1.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.4 A$92.5

$55.2 A$76.9

20.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 A$173

$107 A$149

16.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 A$218

$128 A$178

22.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,989 A$2,774

$1,431 A$1,995

39.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,634 A$2,278

$1,305 A$1,819

25.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 A$4,021

$2,172 A$3,028

32.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,284 A$3,185

$2,013 A$2,806

13.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,466 A$11.8K

$3,777 A$5,266

124.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,164 A$8,594

$3,624 A$5,053

70.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,375 A$6,100

$3,737 A$5,211

17.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

5.73

3.32%

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

Last update for Perth: September 7, 2026

Last update for Coffs Harbour: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,989 in Perth and $1,431 in Coffs Harbour. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 17% 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 $106 in Coffs Harbour. Groceries flip the comparison at $380 vs $373, with Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Coffs Harbour is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 17% 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 $1,431 in Coffs Harbour. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Perth. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,097 per month in Perth versus $2,577 in Coffs Harbour – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.