Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Rockhampton Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Rockhampton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,294 in Perth versus $1,826 in Rockhampton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,344 in Perth versus $2,827 in Rockhampton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,394 in Perth versus $3,827 in Rockhampton.

Living in Perth is roughly 26% more expensive than Rockhampton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 71% above, Rockhampton 36% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.46 A$22.93

$18.45 A$25.71

-10.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.3 A$109

$79.0 A$110

-0.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 A$14.76

$9.16 A$12.77

15.61%

Cappuccino

$3.70 A$5.16

$3.83 A$5.34

-3.39%

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

$2.48 A$3.46

$2.79 A$3.89

-11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 A$2.76

$2.40 A$3.34

-17.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 A$10.94

$7.20 A$10.03

9.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.69 A$9.32

$5.82 A$8.10

14.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 A$1.96

$1.74 A$2.43

-19.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 A$3.43

$1.83 A$2.55

34.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.73

$2.29 A$3.19

-14.41%

Eggs

$4.53 A$6.31

$3.16 A$4.41

43.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.70 A$12.12

$6.32 A$8.81

37.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.55 A$11.92

$9.59 A$13.37

-10.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.00 A$19.50

$14.60 A$20.34

-4.11%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 A$4.78

$2.60 A$3.62

31.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.90 A$4.05

$4.28 A$5.96

-32.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 A$4.13

$2.48 A$3.45

19.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 A$6.61

$5.25 A$7.31

-9.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 A$3.34

$2.02 A$2.82

18.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 A$2.47

$2.03 A$2.83

-12.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 A$2.79

$2.62 A$3.65

-23.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 A$2.11

$1.30 A$1.82

16.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.13 A$44.78

$32.95 A$45.92

-2.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.05 A$18.18

$13.45 A$18.74

-2.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.92 A$5.46

$3.25 A$4.52

20.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 A$5.76

$5.79 A$8.06

-28.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 A$4.14

$1.61 A$2.24

84.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.5 A$101

$58.8 A$81.9

23.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.02 A$5.59

$3.30 A$4.60

21.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 A$2.96

$1.62 A$2.26

30.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$48.71 A$67.9

$36.78 A$51.3

32.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 A$1.56

$1.26 A$1.76

-11.11%

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

$28.7K A$40.0K

$27.5K A$38.3K

4.51%

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

$24.1K A$33.6K

$19.8K A$27.6K

21.73%

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

$156 A$218

$196 A$273

-20.20%

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

$28.43 A$39.62

$21.79 A$30.36

30.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.5 A$78.7

$63.9 A$89.0

-11.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.39 A$57.7

$47.69 A$66.5

-13.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.53 A$21.64

$12.87 A$17.94

20.67%

Cinema Ticket

$16.23 A$22.62

$12.89 A$17.97

25.91%

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

$1,810 A$2,522

$1,611 A$2,245

12.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K A$16.4K

$6,124 A$8,534

92.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 A$97.0

$68.5 A$95.4

1.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.93 A$68.2

$55.5 A$77.3

-11.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 A$143

$132 A$184

-22.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 A$147

$58.1 A$80.9

81.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,520 A$2,118

$772 A$1,076

96.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,135 A$1,582

$636 A$886

78.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 A$3,519

$1,516 A$2,113

66.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,810 A$2,522

$1,144 A$1,594

58.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,858 A$9,557

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,398 A$7,522

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,340 A$6,048

$3,783 A$5,272

14.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.65

-3.46%

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

Last update for Perth: June 1, 2026

Last update for Rockhampton: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,520 in Perth and $772 in Rockhampton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 15% 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 $79.0 in Rockhampton. Groceries flip the comparison at $336 vs $334, with Rockhampton 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 Rockhampton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rockhampton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Perth pays 15% 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 $772 in Rockhampton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Rockhampton runs roughly 23% less than in Perth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,810 in Perth versus $1,611 in Rockhampton. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,826 in Rockhampton versus $2,294 in Perth, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Rockhampton but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Rockhampton 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 Rockhampton 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 Rockhampton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.