Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Margaret River Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Margaret River

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,310 per month in Perth vs $2,219 in Margaret River, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,356 per month in Perth vs $3,243 in Margaret River, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,402 per month in Perth vs $4,267 in Margaret River, rent included.

Perth costs about 4% more than Margaret River, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Perth and Margaret River sit above the global median – Perth by 73%, Margaret River by 66%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.54 A$23.16

$16.02 A$22.42

3.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.3 A$108

$77.8 A$109

-0.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.56 A$14.79

$10.42 A$14.59

1.34%

Cappuccino

$3.64 A$5.09

$3.59 A$5.03

1.39%

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

$2.53 A$3.54

$2.46 A$3.44

2.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 A$2.69

$2.02 A$2.83

-4.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.70 A$10.77

$7.92 A$11.09

-2.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.45 A$9.03

$6.39 A$8.95

0.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 A$2.06

$1.40 A$1.96

5.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 A$3.27

$2.37 A$3.32

-1.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 A$2.82

$1.94 A$2.72

3.61%

Eggs

$4.51 A$6.31

$4.62 A$6.47

-2.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.35 A$11.70

$8.62 A$12.07

-3.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.18 A$11.45

$8.28 A$11.59

-1.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.93 A$19.50

$13.77 A$19.28

1.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.55 A$4.97

$3.51 A$4.92

1.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.92 A$4.09

$2.96 A$4.14

-1.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 A$3.96

$2.96 A$4.14

-4.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.76 A$6.66

$4.62 A$6.47

3.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.49 A$3.49

$2.44 A$3.42

2.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 A$2.42

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 A$2.68

$2.01 A$2.82

-4.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 A$2.04

$1.44 A$2.02

1.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.49 A$45.49

$32.10 A$44.94

1.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.97 A$15.35

$10.58 A$14.81

3.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 A$5.42

$3.76 A$5.27

2.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 A$5.67

$4.08 A$5.71

-0.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 A$4.10

$2.64 A$3.70

10.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.3 A$99.9

$64.3 A$90.0

10.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 A$5.58

$4.06 A$5.68

-1.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 A$3.09

$2.16 A$3.02

2.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.3 A$70.4

$50.4 A$70.5

-0.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 A$1.62

$1.16 A$1.63

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

$28.6K A$40.0K

$28.4K A$39.8K

0.58%

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

$24.3K A$34.0K

$24.4K A$34.2K

-0.45%

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

$154 A$215

$159 A$222

-3.09%

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

$27.61 A$38.65

$28.55 A$39.97

-3.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.5 A$77.7

$55.0 A$77.0

0.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.08 A$57.5

$48.84 A$68.4

-15.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.77 A$22.08

$15.74 A$22.04

0.19%

Cinema Ticket

$16.38 A$22.94

$16.36 A$22.90

0.12%

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

$1,790 A$2,506

$1,773 A$2,482

0.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K A$17.2K

$11.9K A$16.7K

2.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.2 A$98.3

$68.9 A$96.5

1.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.80 A$68.3

$48.56 A$68.0

0.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 A$144

$103 A$145

-0.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 A$146

$105 A$147

-0.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,527 A$2,138

$1,286 A$1,800

18.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,163 A$1,628

$1,063 A$1,488

9.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,488 A$3,483

$1,976 A$2,767

25.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,783 A$2,496

$1,691 A$2,367

5.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,459 A$9,042

$6,547 A$9,166

-1.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,912 A$6,876

$5,588 A$7,824

-12.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,379 A$6,131

$3,025 A$4,235

44.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

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

Last update for Perth: April 26, 2026

Last update for Margaret River: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,527 in Perth versus $1,286 in Margaret River. 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 45% 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 $77.0 in Perth versus $78.0 in Margaret River. Groceries tell a different story – $328 in Perth vs $327 in Margaret River – so Margaret River 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 Margaret River: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Perth is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,466 per month in Perth and $3,329 in Margaret River. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Perth and $78.0 in Margaret River. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,310 in Perth and $2,219 in Margaret River. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Margaret River, where all-in costs run around $2,219, than in Perth at $2,310. In Margaret River it covers expenses comfortably, while in Perth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Margaret River – 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 Margaret River. 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.