😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,344 in Perth versus $2,176 in Cranbourne.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,449 in Perth versus $3,163 in Cranbourne.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,555 in Perth versus $4,150 in Cranbourne.
🌍Living in Perth is roughly 8% more expensive than in Cranbourne, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth76% above, Cranbourne63% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Perth
Cranbourne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.05A$22.83
$8.80A$12.52
82.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.4A$110
$77.3A$110
0.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.58A$15.05
$11.56A$16.45
-8.48%
Cappuccino
$3.63A$5.17
$2.01A$2.86
80.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48A$3.53
$3.08A$4.38
-19.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97A$2.80
$1.59A$2.27
23.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.57A$10.77
$7.90A$11.24
-4.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.51A$9.26
$7.25A$10.32
-10.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Perth
Cranbourne
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47A$2.09
$1.20A$1.71
22.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.37A$3.38
$2.31A$3.29
2.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95A$2.77
$2.05A$2.91
-4.88%
Eggs
$4.45A$6.33
$4.35A$6.19
2.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.63A$12.28
$8.48A$12.06
1.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.27A$11.77
$8.17A$11.63
1.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.00A$19.93
$13.45A$19.14
4.09%
Apples(1kg)
$3.55A$5.05
$3.20A$4.55
10.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.94A$4.18
$2.73A$3.88
7.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82A$4.01
$2.98A$4.24
-5.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.57A$6.50
$4.13A$5.88
10.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.41A$3.43
$2.50A$3.55
-3.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73A$2.46
$2.08A$2.96
-16.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93A$2.74
$2.14A$3.05
-9.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45A$2.06
$0.57A$0.81
154.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$32.08A$45.65
$31.31A$44.55
2.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.43A$19.11
$23.24A$33.06
-42.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.94A$5.61
$4.65A$6.61
-15.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22A$6.00
$5.46A$7.77
-22.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Perth
Cranbourne
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.04A$4.33
$2.62A$3.73
16.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.2A$103
$64.7A$92.1
11.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.04A$5.75
$3.48A$4.96
16.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.15A$3.06
$1.54A$2.20
39.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$49.61A$70.6
$34.04A$48.44
45.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12A$1.60
$1.27A$1.80
-11.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KA$40.3K
$28.5KA$40.6K
-0.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KA$34.0K
$22.8KA$32.4K
4.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Perth
Cranbourne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$158A$225
$183A$260
-13.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.01A$39.85
$27.16A$38.65
3.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4A$77.4
$52.5A$74.7
3.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Perth
Cranbourne
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.05A$58.4
$38.37A$54.6
6.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.96A$22.71
$15.40A$21.92
3.64%
Cinema Ticket
$16.15A$22.98
$13.13A$18.68
23.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Perth
Cranbourne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,797A$2,557
$1,617A$2,301
11.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.0KA$17.1K
$12.1KA$17.2K
-0.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Perth
Cranbourne
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.0A$98.2
$67.3A$95.7
2.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.00A$68.3
$51.4A$73.2
-6.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101A$143
$99.6A$142
0.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108A$153
$109A$155
-1.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Perth
Cranbourne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,501A$2,136
$1,287A$1,832
16.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,131A$1,610
$1,056A$1,503
7.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,494A$3,548
$2,038A$2,900
22.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,812A$2,578
$1,648A$2,345
9.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,461A$12.0K
$6,101A$8,681
38.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,611A$7,984
$4,726A$6,725
18.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Perth
Cranbourne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,318A$6,144
$1,738A$2,472
148.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.42
6.34
1.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Perth: July 26, 2026
Last update for Cranbourne: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,501 in Perth and $1,287 in Cranbourne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Perth pays 149% 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: $77.0 in Perth vs $77.0 in Cranbourne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $334 vs $340 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 Cranbourne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Perth and in Cranbourne?
Perth and Cranbourne differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,344 vs $2,176 including rent). Cranbourne is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Perth or Cranbourne?
Average pay runs 149% higher in Perth, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Perth and in Cranbourne?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,501 in Perth versus $1,287 in Cranbourne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Perth and Cranbourne?
Childcare runs $1,797 in Perth versus $1,617 in Cranbourne. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Perth pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,176 in Cranbourne versus $2,344 in Perth, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Cranbourne but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Cranbourne the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Perth and Cranbourne?
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.
Is Perth or Cranbourne safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Perth and Cranbourne are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Perth or Cranbourne?
Expats usually find Cranbourne gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.