Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Geelong Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Geelong

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,083 in Perth versus $2,674 in Geelong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,303 in Perth versus $3,624 in Geelong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,522 in Perth versus $4,573 in Geelong.

Living in Perth is roughly 15% more expensive than in Geelong, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 124% above, Geelong 95% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.57 A$29.95

$17.91 A$24.86

20.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.9 A$118

$87.5 A$121

-2.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.01 A$15.29

$10.82 A$15.01

1.76%

Cappuccino

$4.65 A$6.46

$3.78 A$5.24

23.02%

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

$2.92 A$4.06

$2.67 A$3.71

9.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 A$3.14

$2.27 A$3.15

-0.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.71 A$12.10

$6.55 A$9.10

32.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.38 A$11.63

$5.83 A$8.09

43.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 A$2.38

$1.70 A$2.36

0.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.18 A$4.42

$2.28 A$3.16

39.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 A$2.92

$1.48 A$2.06

41.89%

Eggs

$5.38 A$7.48

$3.94 A$5.47

36.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 A$12.86

$8.65 A$12.00

7.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 A$13.03

$9.50 A$13.18

-1.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.57 A$20.23

$15.91 A$22.08

-8.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.76 A$6.60

$3.52 A$4.89

35.23%

Banana (1kg)

$3.35 A$4.65

$3.04 A$4.22

10.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.47 A$4.81

$2.96 A$4.11

17.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.24 A$7.27

$3.34 A$4.64

56.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 A$4.13

$3.10 A$4.30

-3.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 A$2.76

$2.23 A$3.09

-10.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 A$3.18

$2.19 A$3.04

4.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 A$1.84

$1.70 A$2.36

-22.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$42.45 A$58.9

$34.43 A$47.80

23.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.95 A$17.98

$12.30 A$17.07

5.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.56 A$6.32

$3.73 A$5.17

22.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 A$4.86

$3.04 A$4.21

15.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 A$3.45

$7.73 A$10.73

-67.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.6 A$138

$130 A$180

-23.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 A$5.30

$4.24 A$5.88

-9.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 A$1.99

$1.41 A$1.95

1.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.92 A$56.8

$31.07 A$43.14

31.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 A$1.86

$1.33 A$1.84

0.75%

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

$27.9K A$38.7K

$29.1K A$40.4K

-4.12%

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

$31.1K A$43.2K

$27.7K A$38.5K

12.42%

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

$207 A$287

$158 A$219

31.19%

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

$33.06 A$45.89

$26.36 A$36.59

25.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.1 A$90.3

$58.8 A$81.7

10.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 A$79.7

$58.6 A$81.4

-2.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.95 A$30.46

$16.13 A$22.39

36.08%

Cinema Ticket

$17.10 A$23.74

$13.11 A$18.21

30.43%

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

$2,383 A$3,308

$2,220 A$3,082

7.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K A$33.5K

$33.0K A$45.8K

-26.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.3 A$109

$81.2 A$113

-3.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.5 A$93.8

$51.7 A$71.8

30.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 A$169

$95.0 A$132

28.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 A$221

$105 A$146

51.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 A$2,686

$1,340 A$1,860

44.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,645 A$2,284

$1,426 A$1,979

15.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,839 A$3,941

$1,817 A$2,522

56.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,261 A$3,138

$1,548 A$2,149

46.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,673 A$12.0K

$6,704 A$9,306

29.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,918 A$8,215

$5,446 A$7,561

8.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,273 A$5,932

$3,126 A$4,339

36.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

5.85

1.20%

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

Last update for Perth: August 31, 2026

Last update for Geelong: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,935 in Perth and $1,340 in Geelong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 37% 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 $87.0 in Geelong. Groceries flip the comparison at $375 vs $339, with Geelong 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 Geelong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Perth and Geelong differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($3,083 vs $2,674 including rent). Geelong is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 37% 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: $1,935 in Perth versus $1,340 in Geelong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,083 per month in Perth versus $2,674 in Geelong – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Geelong runs roughly 30% less than in Perth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,674 in Geelong versus $3,083 in Perth, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Geelong but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Geelong 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 Geelong 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 Geelong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.