Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Mackay Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Mackay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,344 per month in Perth vs $2,021 in Mackay, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,449 per month in Perth vs $3,154 in Mackay, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,555 per month in Perth vs $4,286 in Mackay, rent included.

Perth costs about 16% more than Mackay, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Perth and Mackay sit above the global median – Perth by 76%, Mackay by 52%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.05 A$22.84

$16.10 A$22.91

-0.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.4 A$110

$72.3 A$103

7.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.58 A$15.06

$11.58 A$16.48

-8.64%

Cappuccino

$3.63 A$5.17

$3.89 A$5.54

-6.68%

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

$2.48 A$3.54

$3.06 A$4.35

-18.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 A$2.81

$2.53 A$3.60

-22.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.57 A$10.78

$6.66 A$9.47

13.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.51 A$9.27

$6.56 A$9.34

-0.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 A$2.09

$1.31 A$1.86

12.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 A$3.38

$2.12 A$3.02

11.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 A$2.77

$2.52 A$3.59

-22.62%

Eggs

$4.45 A$6.33

$4.88 A$6.95

-8.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.63 A$12.29

$8.93 A$12.71

-3.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.27 A$11.77

$8.10 A$11.53

2.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.00 A$19.93

$14.70 A$20.92

-4.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.55 A$5.05

$3.37 A$4.80

5.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.94 A$4.18

$2.83 A$4.03

3.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.82 A$4.01

$2.95 A$4.21

-4.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.57 A$6.50

$4.63 A$6.59

-1.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.41 A$3.43

$1.75 A$2.49

37.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 A$2.46

$1.63 A$2.33

6.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 A$2.74

$1.92 A$2.73

0.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 A$2.06

$2.28 A$3.24

-36.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.08 A$45.67

$38.40 A$54.7

-16.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.43 A$19.11

$8.50 A$12.10

58.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.94 A$5.61

$4.74 A$6.75

-16.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.22 A$6.00

$5.54 A$7.89

-23.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.04 A$4.33

$2.30 A$3.27

32.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.2 A$103

$65.4 A$93.0

10.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.04 A$5.75

$5.37 A$7.64

-24.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 A$3.06

$1.84 A$2.62

16.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.61 A$70.6

$32.03 A$45.60

54.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 A$1.60

$1.15 A$1.64

-2.61%

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

$28.3K A$40.3K

$37.0K A$52.7K

-23.41%

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

$23.9K A$34.0K

$28.4K A$40.4K

-15.88%

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

$158 A$225

$187 A$266

-15.16%

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

$28.01 A$39.87

$26.91 A$38.30

4.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.4 A$77.5

$74.6 A$106

-27.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.05 A$58.4

$75.3 A$107

-45.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.96 A$22.72

$19.54 A$27.81

-18.32%

Cinema Ticket

$16.15 A$22.99

$15.58 A$22.18

3.66%

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

$1,797 A$2,558

$1,722 A$2,451

4.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K A$17.1K

$12.2K A$17.4K

-1.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.0 A$98.2

$68.2 A$97.1

1.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.00 A$68.3

$46.55 A$66.3

3.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 A$143

$112 A$160

-10.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 A$153

$97.4 A$139

10.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 A$2,136

$897 A$1,277

67.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,131 A$1,610

$782 A$1,113

44.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,494 A$3,550

$1,716 A$2,443

45.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,812 A$2,579

$1,618 A$2,304

11.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,461 A$12.0K

$3,179 A$4,524

166.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,611 A$7,987

$1,716 A$2,443

226.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,318 A$6,147

$5,632 A$8,016

-23.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

5.7

12.63%

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

Last update for Perth: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mackay: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,501 in Perth versus $897 in Mackay. 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 30% higher in Mackay, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Perth versus $72.0 in Mackay. Groceries tell a different story – $334 in Perth vs $339 in Mackay – so Perth wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Mackay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Perth is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,515 per month in Perth and $3,032 in Mackay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Perth – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Perth and $72.0 in Mackay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Mackay, where all-in costs run around $2,021, than in Perth at $2,344. In Mackay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Perth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mackay – 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 Mackay. 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.