😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,344 in Perth versus $2,094 in Mount Gambier.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,449 in Perth versus $3,462 in Mount Gambier.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,555 in Perth versus $4,831 in Mount Gambier.
🌍Living in Perth is roughly 12% more expensive than in Mount Gambier, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth76% above, Mount Gambier57% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Perth
Mount Gambier
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.05A$22.77
$29.11A$41.31
-44.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.4A$110
$110A$156
-29.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.58A$15.01
$9.92A$14.08
6.65%
Cappuccino
$3.63A$5.15
$4.43A$6.29
-18.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48A$3.52
$2.85A$4.04
-12.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97A$2.80
$2.33A$3.31
-15.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.57A$10.74
$4.57A$6.49
65.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.51A$9.24
$5.81A$8.25
12.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Perth
Mount Gambier
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47A$2.08
$2.11A$2.99
-30.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.37A$3.37
$3.18A$4.51
-25.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95A$2.76
$2.01A$2.85
-2.99%
Eggs
$4.45A$6.31
$5.52A$7.83
-19.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.63A$12.25
$8.57A$12.16
0.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.27A$11.73
$8.21A$11.65
0.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.00A$19.87
$9.21A$13.07
52.01%
Apples(1kg)
$3.55A$5.03
$2.94A$4.18
20.75%
Banana(1kg)
$2.94A$4.17
$2.39A$3.39
23.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82A$4.00
$2.97A$4.22
-5.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.57A$6.48
$5.04A$7.15
-9.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.41A$3.42
$2.97A$4.22
-18.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73A$2.46
$3.66A$5.19
-52.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93A$2.73
$2.52A$3.58
-23.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45A$2.06
$1.58A$2.24
-8.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$32.08A$45.52
$29.82A$42.30
7.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.43A$19.05
$24.04A$34.11
-44.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.94A$5.60
$4.42A$6.27
-10.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22A$5.98
$7.08A$10.05
-40.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Perth
Mount Gambier
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.04A$4.32
$2.63A$3.73
15.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.2A$103
$65.5A$93.0
10.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.04A$5.73
$3.68A$5.23
9.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.15A$3.05
$1.62A$2.30
32.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$49.61A$70.4
$33.82A$47.99
46.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12A$1.60
$1.38A$1.95
-18.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KA$40.2K
$29.4KA$41.7K
-3.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KA$33.9K
$22.5KA$31.9K
6.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Perth
Mount Gambier
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$158A$225
$285A$404
-44.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.01A$39.74
$42.18A$59.9
-33.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4A$77.2
$59.5A$84.4
-8.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Perth
Mount Gambier
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.05A$58.3
$47.15A$66.9
-12.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.96A$22.64
$15.85A$22.49
0.69%
Cinema Ticket
$16.15A$22.92
$10.40A$14.76
55.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Perth
Mount Gambier
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,797A$2,550
$1,596A$2,265
12.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.0KA$17.1K
$11.9KA$17.0K
0.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Perth
Mount Gambier
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.0A$97.9
$82.8A$117
-16.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.00A$68.1
$44.82A$63.6
7.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101A$143
$112A$158
-9.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108A$153
$102A$145
5.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Perth
Mount Gambier
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,501A$2,130
$739A$1,048
103.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,131A$1,605
$649A$921
74.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,494A$3,538
$1,155A$1,638
115.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,812A$2,570
$1,546A$2,193
17.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,461A$12.0K
$6,226A$8,834
35.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,611A$7,962
$5,083A$7,213
10.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Perth
Mount Gambier
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,318A$6,127
$2,500A$3,547
72.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.42
6.63
-3.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Perth: July 26, 2026
Last update for Mount Gambier: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,501 in Perth and $739 in Mount Gambier. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Perth pays 73% 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: $77.0 in Perth vs $110 in Mount Gambier for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $334 vs $373 per month, with Perth cheaper across the board.
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 Mount Gambier: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Perth or Mount Gambier?
Mount Gambier wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Perth. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mount Gambier the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Perth or in Mount Gambier?
Average pay runs 73% higher in Perth, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Perth compared to Mount Gambier?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,501 in Perth versus $739 in Mount Gambier. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Perth and in Mount Gambier?
Childcare runs $1,797 in Perth versus $1,596 in Mount Gambier. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Perth or in Mount Gambier?
Shoppers in Perth pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Perth or in Mount Gambier?
At $2,094 in Mount Gambier versus $2,344 in Perth, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mount Gambier but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Mount Gambier the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Perth or Mount Gambier?
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.
How safe is Perth compared to Mount Gambier?
Safety-wise, Perth and Mount Gambier are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mount Gambier gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.