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: $2,294 in Perth versus $2,303 in Coffs Harbour.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,344 in Perth versus $3,372 in Coffs Harbour.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,394 in Perth versus $4,441 in Coffs Harbour.

Monthly costs are close between Perth and Coffs Harbour; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 71% above, Coffs Harbour 72% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Perth
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.46 A$22.93
$16.37 A$22.81
0.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.3 A$109
$95.8 A$133
-18.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 A$14.76
$9.81 A$13.67
7.95%
Cappuccino
$3.70 A$5.16
$3.23 A$4.51
14.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 A$3.46
$2.61 A$3.63
-4.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 A$2.76
$1.89 A$2.64
4.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.85 A$10.94
$6.61 A$9.21
18.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.69 A$9.32
$7.98 A$11.12
-16.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Perth
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 A$1.96
$1.43 A$1.99
-2.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 A$3.43
$2.62 A$3.65
-6.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 A$2.73
$2.24 A$3.13
-12.50%
Eggs
$4.53 A$6.31
$3.10 A$4.31
46.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.70 A$12.12
$7.18 A$10.01
21.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.55 A$11.92
$6.35 A$8.85
34.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.00 A$19.50
$12.45 A$17.35
12.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 A$4.78
$3.51 A$4.90
-2.28%
Banana (1kg)
$2.90 A$4.05
$2.83 A$3.94
2.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 A$4.13
$3.75 A$5.23
-21.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.74 A$6.61
$3.90 A$5.44
21.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.40 A$3.34
$1.32 A$1.83
81.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 A$2.47
$2.32 A$3.24
-23.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 A$2.79
$1.92 A$2.67
4.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 A$2.11
$2.39 A$3.33
-36.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$32.13 A$44.78
$20.98 A$29.24
53.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.05 A$18.18
$14.34 A$19.98
-9.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.92 A$5.46
$6.43 A$8.95
-39.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 A$5.76
$6.76 A$9.43
-38.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Perth
Coffs Harbour
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.97 A$4.14
$4.31 A$6.00
-31.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.5 A$101
$65.3 A$91.0
10.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.02 A$5.59
$2.00 A$2.79
101.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 A$2.96
$1.44 A$2.01
47.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$48.71 A$67.9
$33.21 A$46.27
46.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 A$1.56
$1.14 A$1.59
-1.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K A$40.0K
$28.7K A$40.0K
-0.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K A$33.6K
$21.8K A$30.4K
10.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Perth
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 A$218
$163 A$227
-4.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.43 A$39.62
$9.88 A$13.77
187.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.5 A$78.7
$51.3 A$71.5
10.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Perth
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.39 A$57.7
$48.41 A$67.5
-14.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.53 A$21.64
$15.61 A$21.75
-0.51%
Cinema Ticket
$16.23 A$22.62
$13.02 A$18.15
24.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Perth
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,810 A$2,522
$2,113 A$2,945
-14.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K A$16.4K
$7,213 A$10.1K
63.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Perth
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6 A$97.0
$62.0 A$86.4
12.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.93 A$68.2
$48.78 A$68.0
0.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 A$143
$91.2 A$127
12.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 A$147
$123 A$171
-14.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Perth
Coffs Harbour
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,520 A$2,118
$1,280 A$1,784
18.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,135 A$1,582
$1,210 A$1,687
-6.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,526 A$3,519
$1,985 A$2,766
27.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,810 A$2,522
$1,852 A$2,581
-2.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,858 A$9,557
$3,708 A$5,168
84.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,398 A$7,522
$3,623 A$5,048
49.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Perth
Coffs Harbour
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,340 A$6,048
$3,745 A$5,218
15.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.35
1.10%

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

Last update for Perth: June 1, 2026

Last update for Coffs Harbour: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,520 in Perth and $1,280 in Coffs Harbour. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 16% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $78.0 in Perth vs $96.0 in Coffs Harbour for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $341 per month, with Perth 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 Coffs Harbour: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you earn more: Perth or Coffs Harbour?
Perth pays 16% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Perth and Coffs Harbour?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,520 in Perth versus $1,280 in Coffs Harbour. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Perth runs roughly 11% less than in Coffs Harbour. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do food prices compare in Perth and Coffs Harbour?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Coffs Harbour. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Perth or Coffs Harbour?
At $2,294 in Perth versus $2,303 in Coffs Harbour, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Perth but tight or insufficient in Coffs Harbour. The gap between the two cities makes Perth the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Perth or Coffs Harbour?
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.
Which city is safer, Perth or Coffs Harbour?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Perth wins on affordability, Coffs Harbour on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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