Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Hervey Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Hervey Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,294 per month in Perth vs $2,092 in Hervey Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,344 per month in Perth vs $3,051 in Hervey Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,394 per month in Perth vs $4,009 in Hervey Bay, rent included.

Perth costs about 10% more than Hervey Bay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Perth and Hervey Bay sit above the global median – Perth by 71%, Hervey Bay by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.46 A$22.93

$16.30 A$22.72

0.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.3 A$109

$72.2 A$101

8.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 A$14.76

$9.57 A$13.34

10.66%

Cappuccino

$3.70 A$5.16

$3.56 A$4.96

3.93%

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

$2.48 A$3.46

$2.65 A$3.69

-6.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 A$2.76

$2.09 A$2.92

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 A$10.94

$5.55 A$7.73

41.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.69 A$9.32

$7.59 A$10.58

-11.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 A$1.96

$1.56 A$2.17

-10.26%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 A$3.43

$1.05 A$1.46

134.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.73

$1.80 A$2.52

8.89%

Eggs

$4.53 A$6.31

$3.10 A$4.32

46.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.70 A$12.12

$8.34 A$11.62

4.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.55 A$11.92

$5.77 A$8.04

48.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.00 A$19.50

$13.45 A$18.74

4.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 A$4.78

$3.23 A$4.50

6.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.90 A$4.05

$2.20 A$3.07

31.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 A$4.13

$2.65 A$3.69

11.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 A$6.61

$4.22 A$5.88

12.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 A$3.34

$1.97 A$2.74

21.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 A$2.47

$1.91 A$2.66

-7.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 A$2.79

$2.14 A$2.98

-6.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 A$2.11

$1.25 A$1.74

21.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.13 A$44.78

$33.00 A$45.99

-2.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.05 A$18.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.92 A$5.46

$4.47 A$6.23

-12.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 A$5.76

$4.22 A$5.88

-2.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 A$4.14

$2.67 A$3.72

11.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.5 A$101

$65.6 A$91.4

10.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.02 A$5.59

$2.25 A$3.14

78.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 A$2.96

$1.53 A$2.13

38.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$48.71 A$67.9

$34.16 A$47.61

42.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 A$1.56

$1.19 A$1.66

-5.88%

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

$28.7K A$40.0K

$28.9K A$40.2K

-0.60%

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

$24.1K A$33.6K

$22.7K A$31.7K

5.92%

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

$156 A$218

$144 A$201

8.46%

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

$28.43 A$39.62

$25.76 A$35.89

10.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.5 A$78.7

$53.8 A$75.0

4.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.39 A$57.7

$49.09 A$68.4

-15.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.53 A$21.64

$15.80 A$22.01

-1.71%

Cinema Ticket

$16.23 A$22.62

$13.19 A$18.39

23.05%

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

$1,810 A$2,522

$1,602 A$2,232

13.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K A$16.4K

$8,673 A$12.1K

36.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 A$97.0

$59.1 A$82.3

17.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.93 A$68.2

$43.84 A$61.1

11.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 A$143

$59.3 A$82.7

72.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 A$147

$57.5 A$80.1

83.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,520 A$2,118

$1,277 A$1,779

19.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,135 A$1,582

$1,060 A$1,477

7.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 A$3,519

$2,002 A$2,789

26.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,810 A$2,522

$1,651 A$2,301

9.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,858 A$9,557

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,398 A$7,522

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,340 A$6,048

$3,932 A$5,479

10.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.24

2.88%

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

Last update for Perth: June 1, 2026

Last update for Hervey Bay: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,520 in Perth versus $1,277 in Hervey Bay. 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 10% higher in Perth, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Perth versus $72.0 in Hervey Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $336 vs $291 – making Hervey Bay 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 Hervey Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Perth is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,440 per month in Perth and $3,139 in Hervey Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,810 per month in Perth and $1,602 in Hervey Bay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Perth, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Hervey Bay, where all-in costs run around $2,092, than in Perth at $2,294. In Hervey Bay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Perth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hervey Bay – 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 Hervey Bay. 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.