Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Muswellbrook Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Muswellbrook

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,351 per month in Perth vs $2,165 in Muswellbrook, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,434 per month in Perth vs $3,178 in Muswellbrook, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,517 per month in Perth vs $4,191 in Muswellbrook, rent included.

Perth costs about 9% more than Muswellbrook, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Perth and Muswellbrook sit above the global median – Perth by 76%, Muswellbrook by 62%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.37 A$23.46

$17.04 A$24.41

-3.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.6 A$111

$76.7 A$110

1.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.26 A$14.70

$8.68 A$12.43

18.20%

Cappuccino

$3.77 A$5.40

$3.44 A$4.93

9.59%

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

$2.50 A$3.58

$2.97 A$4.25

-15.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 A$2.84

$2.06 A$2.95

-3.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.77 A$11.13

$6.40 A$9.16

21.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.53 A$9.35

$6.32 A$9.06

3.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 A$2.10

$1.35 A$1.94

8.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 A$3.39

$2.21 A$3.17

7.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 A$2.83

$2.09 A$2.99

-5.74%

Eggs

$4.40 A$6.31

$3.92 A$5.61

12.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.42 A$12.07

$9.38 A$13.44

-10.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.57 A$12.28

$7.84 A$11.24

9.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.74 A$19.68

$14.06 A$20.14

-2.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 A$4.91

$3.12 A$4.46

9.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.94 A$4.21

$2.66 A$3.81

10.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.82 A$4.05

$2.74 A$3.92

2.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.75 A$6.81

$3.66 A$5.25

29.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 A$3.60

$2.61 A$3.74

-3.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 A$2.57

$2.11 A$3.02

-15.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 A$2.87

$2.05 A$2.94

-2.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 A$2.17

$1.03 A$1.48

47.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$31.35 A$44.92

$29.59 A$42.40

5.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.07 A$18.73

$13.92 A$19.94

-6.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.77 A$5.41

$4.02 A$5.76

-6.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 A$5.86

$3.13 A$4.48

30.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 A$4.22

$2.65 A$3.80

10.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.6 A$103

$66.0 A$94.6

8.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 A$5.71

$2.32 A$3.32

71.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 A$3.03

$1.61 A$2.31

31.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.35 A$70.7

$37.52 A$53.8

31.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 A$1.67

$1.15 A$1.65

0.87%

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

$29.2K A$41.8K

$9,856 A$14.1K

195.86%

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

$24.4K A$34.9K

$17.3K A$24.8K

40.79%

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

$155 A$222

$132 A$188

17.89%

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

$28.24 A$40.45

$28.82 A$41.29

-2.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.1 A$80.4

$57.8 A$82.9

-2.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.15 A$59.0

$48.79 A$69.9

-15.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.64 A$22.40

$15.44 A$22.11

1.30%

Cinema Ticket

$16.38 A$23.47

$12.81 A$18.36

27.87%

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

$1,799 A$2,577

$898 A$1,287

100.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K A$17.1K

0.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 A$100.0

$64.6 A$92.6

8.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.14 A$69.0

$45.41 A$65.1

6.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 A$150

$89.5 A$128

16.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 A$150

$108 A$155

-2.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,474 A$2,111

$1,274 A$1,825

15.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 A$1,678

$1,059 A$1,517

10.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,576 A$3,691

$1,983 A$2,842

29.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,823 A$2,612

$1,693 A$2,426

7.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,136 A$11.7K

$6,429 A$9,211

26.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,659 A$8,108

$5,703 A$8,170

-0.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 A$6,169

$6,239 A$8,939

-30.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.75

-4.89%

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

Last update for Perth: July 13, 2026

Last update for Muswellbrook: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,474 in Perth versus $1,274 in Muswellbrook. 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 Muswellbrook, 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 $78.0 in Perth versus $77.0 in Muswellbrook. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $334 vs $317 – making Muswellbrook 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 Muswellbrook: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,351 in Perth, $2,165 in Muswellbrook – roughly 9% apart. Perth costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,526 per month in Perth and $3,248 in Muswellbrook. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,351 in Perth and $2,165 in Muswellbrook. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 8% less in Muswellbrook. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Muswellbrook, where all-in costs run around $2,165, than in Perth at $2,351. In Muswellbrook it covers expenses comfortably, while in Perth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Muswellbrook – 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 Muswellbrook. 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.