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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,097 per month in Perth vs $2,588 in Muswellbrook, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,250 per month in Perth vs $3,682 in Muswellbrook, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,404 per month in Perth vs $4,777 in Muswellbrook, rent included.

Perth costs about 20% more than Muswellbrook, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Perth and Muswellbrook sit above the global median – Perth by 125%, Muswellbrook by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.52 A$28.61

$17.41 A$24.27

17.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.2 A$119

$86.7 A$121

-1.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 A$15.04

$10.71 A$14.94

0.65%

Cappuccino

$4.48 A$6.25

$3.67 A$5.11

22.07%

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

$2.91 A$4.06

$2.80 A$3.91

3.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 A$3.17

$2.35 A$3.28

-2.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.63 A$12.03

$7.12 A$9.92

21.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.68 A$12.10

$7.00 A$9.76

24.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 A$2.42

$1.21 A$1.69

43.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 A$4.49

$2.89 A$4.02

11.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 A$2.95

$2.19 A$3.06

-3.20%

Eggs

$5.47 A$7.63

$4.19 A$5.84

30.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.53 A$13.29

$10.91 A$15.22

-12.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.67 A$13.49

$9.86 A$13.74

-1.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 A$20.03

$16.29 A$22.71

-11.85%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 A$6.69

$3.12 A$4.35

53.85%

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.51

$2.56 A$3.56

26.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 A$4.99

$2.94 A$4.10

21.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 A$7.39

$4.67 A$6.51

13.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 A$4.18

$2.47 A$3.45

21.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.74

$2.57 A$3.58

-23.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 A$3.37

$2.92 A$4.07

-17.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 A$1.89

$1.75 A$2.45

-22.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$43.56 A$60.7

$42.31 A$59.0

2.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.22 A$18.43

$14.13 A$19.70

-6.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.58 A$6.39

$4.49 A$6.26

2.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 A$4.90

$4.77 A$6.64

-26.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 A$3.56

$3.09 A$4.31

-17.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$103 A$143

$85.7 A$120

19.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 A$5.26

$3.68 A$5.13

2.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 A$2.10

$1.66 A$2.31

-9.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.37 A$59.1

$40.98 A$57.1

3.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 A$1.88

$1.32 A$1.85

2.27%

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

$28.8K A$40.2K

$39.4K A$54.9K

-26.80%

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

$31.2K A$43.5K

$24.8K A$34.6K

25.59%

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

$207 A$289

$144 A$201

43.91%

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

$34.58 A$48.21

$28.64 A$39.93

20.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 A$87.6

$52.1 A$72.7

20.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 A$78.9

$57.5 A$80.2

-1.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.54 A$31.43

$18.66 A$26.02

20.79%

Cinema Ticket

$17.91 A$24.96

$13.44 A$18.74

33.26%

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

$2,360 A$3,290

$2,203 A$3,072

7.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K A$33.0K

$20.8K A$29.0K

14.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 A$107

$72.8 A$102

5.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.4 A$92.5

$62.6 A$87.2

6.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 A$173

$145 A$203

-14.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 A$218

$110 A$154

41.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,989 A$2,774

$1,489 A$2,075

33.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,634 A$2,278

$1,304 A$1,819

25.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 A$4,021

$2,271 A$3,166

26.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,284 A$3,185

$1,878 A$2,618

21.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,466 A$11.8K

$6,667 A$9,295

26.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,164 A$8,594

$5,168 A$7,205

19.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,375 A$6,100

$6,444 A$8,984

-32.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

5.23

13.19%

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

Last update for Perth: September 7, 2026

Last update for Muswellbrook: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,989 in Perth versus $1,489 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 47% 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 $85.0 in Perth versus $87.0 in Muswellbrook. Groceries tell a different story – $380 in Perth vs $369 in Muswellbrook – so Muswellbrook 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 Muswellbrook: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,097 in Perth, $2,588 in Muswellbrook – roughly 20% apart. Perth costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,645 per month in Perth and $3,883 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 $3,097 in Perth and $2,588 in Muswellbrook. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 20% less in Muswellbrook. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,097 in Perth and $2,588 in Muswellbrook. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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.