Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Penrith Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Penrith

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,083 per month in Perth vs $2,602 in Penrith, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,303 per month in Perth vs $3,761 in Penrith, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,522 per month in Perth vs $4,920 in Penrith, rent included.

Perth costs about 18% more than Penrith, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Perth and Penrith sit above the global median – Perth by 124%, Penrith by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.57 A$29.95

$19.86 A$27.57

8.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.9 A$118

$93.9 A$130

-9.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.01 A$15.29

$10.62 A$14.75

3.67%

Cappuccino

$4.65 A$6.46

$2.14 A$2.97

117.29%

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

$2.92 A$4.06

$3.13 A$4.35

-6.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 A$3.14

$2.77 A$3.84

-18.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.71 A$12.10

$8.76 A$12.16

-0.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.38 A$11.63

$4.93 A$6.84

69.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 A$2.38

$1.61 A$2.24

6.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.18 A$4.42

$3.32 A$4.61

-4.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 A$2.92

$2.71 A$3.76

-22.51%

Eggs

$5.38 A$7.48

$5.33 A$7.40

0.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 A$12.86

$14.31 A$19.87

-35.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 A$13.03

$11.12 A$15.43

-15.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.57 A$20.23

$16.19 A$22.47

-10.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.76 A$6.60

$3.97 A$5.51

19.90%

Banana (1kg)

$3.35 A$4.65

$3.34 A$4.63

0.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.47 A$4.81

$3.51 A$4.87

-1.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.24 A$7.27

$5.32 A$7.38

-1.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 A$4.13

$3.14 A$4.36

-5.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 A$2.76

$2.79 A$3.87

-28.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 A$3.18

$2.76 A$3.84

-17.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 A$1.84

$1.50 A$2.09

-12.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$42.45 A$58.9

$45.98 A$63.8

-7.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.95 A$17.98

$14.99 A$20.81

-13.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.56 A$6.32

$4.70 A$6.52

-2.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 A$4.86

$5.56 A$7.72

-37.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 A$3.45

$2.70 A$3.75

-8.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.6 A$138

$75.0 A$104

32.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 A$5.30

$4.21 A$5.85

-9.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 A$1.99

$1.67 A$2.32

-14.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.92 A$56.8

$43.44 A$60.3

-5.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 A$1.86

$1.25 A$1.73

7.20%

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

$27.9K A$38.7K

$27.4K A$38.1K

1.56%

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

$31.1K A$43.2K

$31.2K A$43.3K

-0.26%

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

$207 A$287

$190 A$264

8.64%

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

$33.06 A$45.89

$27.35 A$37.97

20.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.1 A$90.3

$58.0 A$80.5

12.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 A$79.7

$52.2 A$72.5

9.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.95 A$30.46

$19.26 A$26.73

13.97%

Cinema Ticket

$17.10 A$23.74

$16.72 A$23.20

2.27%

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

$2,383 A$3,308

$2,432 A$3,377

-2.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K A$33.5K

$21.0K A$29.1K

15.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.3 A$109

$78.0 A$108

0.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.5 A$93.8

$58.0 A$80.5

16.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 A$169

$125 A$174

-2.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 A$221

$136 A$188

17.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 A$2,686

$1,461 A$2,029

32.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,645 A$2,284

$1,345 A$1,867

22.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,839 A$3,941

$2,580 A$3,582

10.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,261 A$3,138

$1,876 A$2,604

20.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,673 A$12.0K

$7,012 A$9,735

23.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,918 A$8,215

$5,650 A$7,843

4.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,273 A$5,932

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

5.95

-0.50%

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

Last update for Perth: August 31, 2026

Last update for Penrith: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,935 in Perth versus $1,461 in Penrith. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in Perth versus $94.0 in Penrith. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 vs $418 – making Perth 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 Penrith: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Perth costs about 18% more than Penrith, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,625 per month in Perth and $3,903 in Penrith. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 33% less in Penrith. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,383 per month in Perth and $2,432 in Penrith. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,083 in Perth and $2,602 in Penrith. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Penrith – 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 Penrith. 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.