Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Mildura Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Mildura

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,294 per month in Perth vs $2,139 in Mildura, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,344 per month in Perth vs $3,266 in Mildura, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,394 per month in Perth vs $4,392 in Mildura, rent included.

Perth costs about 7% more than Mildura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Perth and Mildura sit above the global median – Perth by 71%, Mildura by 60%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Perth
Mildura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.46 A$22.93
$16.42 A$22.87
0.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.3 A$109
$76.7 A$107
2.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 A$14.76
$9.69 A$13.50
9.29%
Cappuccino
$3.70 A$5.16
$3.34 A$4.65
10.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 A$3.46
$2.58 A$3.60
-3.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 A$2.76
$2.41 A$3.37
-17.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.85 A$10.94
$6.48 A$9.02
21.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.69 A$9.32
$6.99 A$9.74
-4.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Perth
Mildura
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 A$1.96
$1.98 A$2.77
-29.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 A$3.43
$2.67 A$3.72
-7.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 A$2.73
$2.00 A$2.79
-2.00%
Eggs
$4.53 A$6.31
$7.24 A$10.09
-37.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.70 A$12.12
$8.51 A$11.85
2.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.55 A$11.92
$8.37 A$11.66
2.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.00 A$19.50
$13.59 A$18.94
3.02%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 A$4.78
$3.34 A$4.66
2.69%
Banana (1kg)
$2.90 A$4.05
$2.72 A$3.79
6.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 A$4.13
$2.91 A$4.05
1.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.74 A$6.61
$4.09 A$5.70
15.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.40 A$3.34
$2.43 A$3.38
-1.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 A$2.47
$2.13 A$2.97
-16.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 A$2.79
$2.12 A$2.95
-5.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 A$2.11
$1.53 A$2.13
-0.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$32.13 A$44.78
$31.30 A$43.62
2.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.05 A$18.18
$14.25 A$19.86
-8.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.92 A$5.46
$4.44 A$6.19
-11.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 A$5.76
$5.37 A$7.48
-23.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Perth
Mildura
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.97 A$4.14
$2.54 A$3.54
16.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.5 A$101
$63.9 A$89.1
13.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.02 A$5.59
$3.51 A$4.89
14.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 A$2.96
$1.60 A$2.23
32.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$48.71 A$67.9
$33.44 A$46.59
45.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 A$1.56
$1.27 A$1.77
-11.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K A$40.0K
$29.2K A$40.6K
-1.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K A$33.6K
$22.1K A$30.8K
9.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Perth
Mildura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 A$218
$183 A$255
-14.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.43 A$39.62
$27.21 A$37.91
4.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.5 A$78.7
$40.78 A$56.8
38.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Perth
Mildura
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.39 A$57.7
$48.49 A$67.6
-14.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.53 A$21.64
$15.49 A$21.58
0.26%
Cinema Ticket
$16.23 A$22.62
$12.83 A$17.88
26.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Perth
Mildura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,810 A$2,522
$1,634 A$2,276
10.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K A$16.4K
$11.9K A$16.6K
-0.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Perth
Mildura
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6 A$97.0
$68.1 A$94.9
2.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.93 A$68.2
$51.5 A$71.7
-4.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 A$143
$97.9 A$136
4.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 A$147
$106 A$147
-0.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Perth
Mildura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,520 A$2,118
$1,318 A$1,836
15.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,135 A$1,582
$975 A$1,359
16.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,526 A$3,519
$2,090 A$2,913
20.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,810 A$2,522
$1,694 A$2,360
6.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,858 A$9,557
$6,165 A$8,591
11.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,398 A$7,522
$5,188 A$7,229
4.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Perth
Mildura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,340 A$6,048
$3,575 A$4,982
21.40%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mildura: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,520 in Perth versus $1,318 in Mildura. 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 21% 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 $77.0 in Mildura. Groceries tell a different story – $336 in Perth vs $357 in Mildura – 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 Mildura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mildura cheaper than Perth?
Yes – Perth is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,440 per month in Perth and $3,209 in Mildura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mildura, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 13% less in Mildura. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,810 per month in Perth and $1,634 in Mildura. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Perth or Mildura?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Mildura, where all-in costs run around $2,139, than in Perth at $2,294. In Mildura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Perth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Perth or Mildura more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mildura – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Perth or Mildura?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mildura. 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.

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