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: $2,294 in Perth versus $2,281 in Newcastle.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,344 in Perth versus $3,366 in Newcastle.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,394 in Perth versus $4,452 in Newcastle.

Living in Perth is roughly 1% more expensive than Newcastle, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 71% above, Newcastle 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.46 A$23.06

$17.88 A$25.05

-7.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.3 A$110

$92.9 A$130

-15.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 A$14.84

$8.28 A$11.60

27.90%

Cappuccino

$3.70 A$5.18

$3.44 A$4.81

7.56%

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

$2.48 A$3.48

$2.94 A$4.12

-15.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 A$2.78

$2.09 A$2.93

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 A$11.00

$6.53 A$9.15

20.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.69 A$9.37

$6.43 A$9.01

4.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 A$1.97

$1.34 A$1.88

4.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 A$3.44

$2.34 A$3.28

5.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.75

$2.20 A$3.09

-10.91%

Eggs

$4.53 A$6.35

$3.88 A$5.44

16.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.70 A$12.19

$8.90 A$12.48

-2.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.55 A$11.98

$7.90 A$11.07

8.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.00 A$19.61

$14.19 A$19.89

-1.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 A$4.81

$3.17 A$4.44

8.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.90 A$4.07

$2.62 A$3.67

10.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 A$4.15

$2.70 A$3.78

9.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 A$6.65

$3.64 A$5.10

30.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 A$3.36

$2.70 A$3.78

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 A$2.48

$2.11 A$2.96

-16.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 A$2.81

$2.16 A$3.02

-7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 A$2.12

$1.03 A$1.44

47.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.13 A$45.02

$28.72 A$40.24

11.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.05 A$18.28

$10.91 A$15.29

19.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.92 A$5.49

$4.10 A$5.74

-4.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 A$5.79

$3.19 A$4.47

29.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 A$4.17

$2.53 A$3.54

17.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.5 A$102

$143 A$201

-49.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.02 A$5.63

$2.23 A$3.13

80.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 A$2.97

$1.44 A$2.01

47.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$48.71 A$68.3

$37.21 A$52.1

30.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 A$1.57

$1.11 A$1.56

0.90%

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

$28.7K A$40.2K

$28.4K A$39.8K

0.98%

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

$24.1K A$33.7K

$21.9K A$30.7K

10.08%

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

$156 A$219

$190 A$266

-17.55%

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

$28.43 A$39.84

$29.46 A$41.27

-3.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.5 A$79.2

-0.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.39 A$58.0

$43.40 A$60.8

-4.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.53 A$21.76

$17.13 A$24.01

-9.34%

Cinema Ticket

$16.23 A$22.75

$12.55 A$17.59

29.32%

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

$1,810 A$2,536

$908 A$1,272

99.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K A$16.5K

$12.1K A$17.0K

-2.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 A$97.5

$76.3 A$107

-8.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.93 A$68.6

$45.15 A$63.3

8.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 A$143

$90.0 A$126

13.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 A$148

$109 A$152

-2.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,520 A$2,130

$1,431 A$2,005

6.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,135 A$1,590

$1,078 A$1,510

5.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 A$3,539

$2,372 A$3,324

6.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,810 A$2,536

$1,636 A$2,293

10.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,858 A$9,610

$13.8K A$19.4K

-50.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,398 A$7,564

$6,055 A$8,485

-10.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,340 A$6,082

$3,187 A$4,466

36.19%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Newcastle: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,520 in Perth and $1,431 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: $78.0 in Perth vs $93.0 in Newcastle. Groceries flip the comparison at $336 vs $313, 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Perth pays 36% more on average, 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: $1,520 in Perth versus $1,431 in Newcastle. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,294 per month in Perth versus $2,281 in Newcastle – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Newcastle runs roughly 98% less than in Perth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,281 in Newcastle versus $2,294 in Perth, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Newcastle but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Newcastle the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 1% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.