Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Newcastle Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Newcastle

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,097 in Perth versus $2,693 in Newcastle.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,250 in Perth versus $3,947 in Newcastle.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,404 in Perth versus $5,200 in Newcastle.

Living in Perth is roughly 15% more expensive than in Newcastle, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 125% above, Newcastle 95% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.52 A$28.41

$21.81 A$30.19

-5.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.2 A$118

$107 A$148

-20.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 A$14.93

$10.86 A$15.04

-0.74%

Cappuccino

$4.48 A$6.21

$3.88 A$5.38

15.46%

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

$2.91 A$4.04

$3.23 A$4.47

-9.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 A$3.15

$1.88 A$2.60

21.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.63 A$11.95

$9.65 A$13.35

-10.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.68 A$12.01

$7.13 A$9.88

21.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 A$2.41

$1.54 A$2.14

12.99%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 A$4.46

$2.66 A$3.68

21.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 A$2.93

$2.08 A$2.88

1.92%

Eggs

$5.47 A$7.58

$4.77 A$6.60

14.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.53 A$13.19

$10.85 A$15.02

-12.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.67 A$13.39

$9.04 A$12.52

6.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 A$19.88

$16.42 A$22.74

-12.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 A$6.65

$3.71 A$5.13

29.38%

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.48

$3.10 A$4.29

4.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 A$4.96

$3.08 A$4.27

16.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 A$7.34

$4.68 A$6.48

13.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 A$4.15

$2.97 A$4.11

1.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.72

$2.42 A$3.35

-19.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 A$3.35

$2.50 A$3.46

-3.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 A$1.88

$1.48 A$2.05

-8.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$43.56 A$60.3

$32.07 A$44.40

35.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.22 A$18.30

$10.85 A$15.02

21.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.58 A$6.34

$4.60 A$6.37

-0.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 A$4.87

$3.43 A$4.75

2.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 A$3.54

$2.95 A$4.09

-13.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$103 A$142

$156 A$216

-34.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 A$5.23

$2.47 A$3.43

52.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 A$2.09

$1.63 A$2.26

-7.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.37 A$58.7

$41.86 A$58.0

1.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 A$1.87

$1.20 A$1.66

12.50%

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

$28.8K A$39.9K

$32.1K A$44.4K

-10.17%

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

$31.2K A$43.2K

$31.6K A$43.8K

-1.35%

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

$207 A$287

$226 A$312

-8.25%

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

$34.58 A$47.87

$27.53 A$38.11

25.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 A$86.9

$59.9 A$82.9

4.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 A$78.4

$45.67 A$63.2

23.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.54 A$31.21

$18.43 A$25.52

22.30%

Cinema Ticket

$17.91 A$24.79

$14.17 A$19.61

26.39%

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

$2,360 A$3,267

$2,263 A$3,132

4.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K A$32.8K

$13.9K A$19.3K

70.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 A$107

$83.3 A$115

-7.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.4 A$91.9

$48.60 A$67.3

36.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 A$171

$123 A$170

0.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 A$216

$122 A$168

28.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,989 A$2,754

$1,588 A$2,199

25.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,634 A$2,262

$1,222 A$1,691

33.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 A$3,992

$2,603 A$3,603

10.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,284 A$3,162

$1,938 A$2,683

17.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,466 A$11.7K

$13.6K A$18.9K

-37.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,164 A$8,533

$6,022 A$8,337

2.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,375 A$6,057

$3,214 A$4,450

36.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

6.55

-9.62%

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

Last update for Perth: September 7, 2026

Last update for Newcastle: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,989 in Perth and $1,588 in Newcastle. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 36% 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: $85.0 in Perth vs $107 in Newcastle. Groceries flip the comparison at $380 vs $362, with Newcastle cheaper for home cooking.

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 Newcastle: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Newcastle is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 36% higher in Perth, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,989 in Perth versus $1,588 in Newcastle. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,097 per month in Perth versus $2,693 in Newcastle – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Newcastle runs roughly 52% less than in Perth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Newcastle is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Perth and Newcastle are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Newcastle gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.