Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Port Douglas Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Port Douglas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,097 in Perth versus $2,719 in Port Douglas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,250 in Perth versus $3,949 in Port Douglas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,404 in Perth versus $5,178 in Port Douglas.

Living in Perth is roughly 14% more expensive than in Port Douglas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 125% above, Port Douglas 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.52 A$28.61

$17.96 A$25.03

14.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.2 A$119

$102 A$142

-16.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 A$15.04

$13.09 A$18.25

-17.65%

Cappuccino

$4.48 A$6.25

$4.42 A$6.16

1.36%

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

$2.91 A$4.06

$3.35 A$4.67

-13.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 A$3.17

$2.71 A$3.78

-15.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.63 A$12.03

$6.97 A$9.72

23.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.68 A$12.10

$8.59 A$11.97

1.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 A$2.42

$1.98 A$2.76

-12.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 A$4.49

$2.85 A$3.97

12.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 A$2.95

$2.63 A$3.66

-19.39%

Eggs

$5.47 A$7.63

$5.48 A$7.64

-0.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.53 A$13.29

$9.76 A$13.60

-2.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.67 A$13.49

$14.11 A$19.67

-31.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 A$20.03

$15.42 A$21.50

-6.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 A$6.69

$4.09 A$5.70

17.36%

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.51

$2.81 A$3.92

15.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 A$4.99

$3.72 A$5.19

-3.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 A$7.39

$5.86 A$8.17

-9.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 A$4.18

$2.53 A$3.52

18.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.74

$2.55 A$3.55

-23.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 A$3.37

$2.81 A$3.91

-13.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 A$1.89

$2.57 A$3.59

-47.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$43.56 A$60.7

$45.17 A$63.0

-3.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.22 A$18.43

$14.19 A$19.78

-6.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.58 A$6.39

$3.71 A$5.17

23.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 A$4.90

$5.30 A$7.39

-33.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 A$3.56

$3.08 A$4.30

-17.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$103 A$143

$85.4 A$119

20.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 A$5.26

$2.67 A$3.72

41.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 A$2.10

$1.99 A$2.77

-24.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.37 A$59.1

$43.05 A$60.0

-1.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 A$1.88

$1.29 A$1.80

4.65%

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

$28.8K A$40.2K

$31.9K A$44.5K

-9.74%

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

$31.2K A$43.5K

$42.6K A$59.4K

-26.76%

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

$207 A$289

$167 A$232

24.15%

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

$34.58 A$48.21

$35.38 A$49.33

-2.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 A$87.6

$68.8 A$96.0

-8.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 A$78.9

$57.1 A$79.6

-0.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.54 A$31.43

$18.22 A$25.41

23.71%

Cinema Ticket

$17.91 A$24.96

$14.43 A$20.12

24.12%

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

$2,360 A$3,290

$2,145 A$2,990

10.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K A$33.0K

$14.0K A$19.5K

69.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 A$107

$92.4 A$129

-16.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.4 A$92.5

$73.4 A$102

-9.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 A$173

$126 A$176

-1.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 A$218

$136 A$189

15.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,989 A$2,774

$1,435 A$2,000

38.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,634 A$2,278

$1,284 A$1,790

27.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 A$4,021

$2,274 A$3,170

26.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,284 A$3,185

$1,846 A$2,573

23.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,466 A$11.8K

$6,744 A$9,403

25.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,164 A$8,594

$5,258 A$7,331

17.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,375 A$6,100

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

6.32

-6.33%

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

Last update for Perth: September 7, 2026

Last update for Port Douglas: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,989 in Perth and $1,435 in Port Douglas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Perth vs $102 in Port Douglas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $380 vs $421 per month, with Perth cheaper across the board.

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 Port Douglas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Douglas is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,645 in Perth and $4,078 in Port Douglas to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,989 in Perth versus $1,435 in Port Douglas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Port Douglas runs roughly 20% less than in Perth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,360 in Perth versus $2,145 in Port Douglas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Port Douglas 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 Port Douglas 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 Port Douglas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.