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: $3,097 in Perth versus $2,021 in Rockhampton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,250 in Perth versus $3,277 in Rockhampton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,404 in Perth versus $4,533 in Rockhampton.

Living in Perth is roughly 53% more expensive than in Rockhampton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 125% above, Rockhampton 47% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.52 A$28.61

$20.98 A$29.25

-2.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.2 A$119

$87.0 A$121

-2.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 A$15.04

$10.18 A$14.19

5.89%

Cappuccino

$4.48 A$6.25

$5.13 A$7.15

-12.67%

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

$2.91 A$4.06

$2.42 A$3.37

20.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 A$3.17

$2.83 A$3.95

-19.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.63 A$12.03

$8.15 A$11.37

5.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.68 A$12.10

$6.33 A$8.83

37.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 A$2.42

$2.44 A$3.40

-28.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 A$4.49

$2.37 A$3.31

35.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 A$2.95

$2.26 A$3.15

-6.19%

Eggs

$5.47 A$7.63

$3.82 A$5.33

43.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.53 A$13.29

$6.84 A$9.54

39.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.67 A$13.49

$11.27 A$15.72

-14.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 A$20.03

$16.72 A$23.31

-14.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 A$6.69

$2.65 A$3.69

81.13%

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.51

$2.24 A$3.13

44.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 A$4.99

$1.96 A$2.73

82.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 A$7.39

$4.84 A$6.75

9.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 A$4.18

$2.12 A$2.95

41.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.74

$2.39 A$3.34

-17.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 A$3.37

$1.92 A$2.67

26.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 A$1.89

$2.28 A$3.17

-40.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$43.56 A$60.7

$38.36 A$53.5

13.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.22 A$18.43

$15.73 A$21.93

-15.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.58 A$6.39

$3.57 A$4.97

28.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 A$4.90

$6.05 A$8.44

-41.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 A$3.56

$1.69 A$2.36

50.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$103 A$143

$66.1 A$92.1

55.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 A$5.26

$3.55 A$4.94

6.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 A$2.10

$1.82 A$2.53

-17.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.37 A$59.1

$40.13 A$56.0

5.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 A$1.88

$1.28 A$1.78

5.47%

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

$28.8K A$40.2K

$29.6K A$41.3K

-2.77%

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

$31.2K A$43.5K

$23.3K A$32.5K

33.67%

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

$207 A$289

$214 A$299

-3.38%

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

$34.58 A$48.21

$24.68 A$34.41

40.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 A$87.6

$70.3 A$98.0

-10.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 A$78.9

$41.34 A$57.6

36.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.54 A$31.43

$14.69 A$20.48

53.44%

Cinema Ticket

$17.91 A$24.96

$16.77 A$23.38

6.80%

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

$2,360 A$3,290

$1,840 A$2,565

28.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K A$33.0K

$6,738 A$9,394

251.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 A$107

$130 A$181

-40.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.4 A$92.5

$61.2 A$85.3

8.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 A$173

$143 A$199

-13.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 A$218

$64.3 A$89.6

143.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,989 A$2,774

$840 A$1,171

136.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,634 A$2,278

$689 A$960

137.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 A$4,021

$1,667 A$2,324

72.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,284 A$3,185

$1,598 A$2,228

42.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,466 A$11.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,164 A$8,594

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,375 A$6,100

$3,495 A$4,873

25.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

6.27

-5.58%

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

Last update for Perth: September 7, 2026

Last update for Rockhampton: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,989 in Perth and $840 in Rockhampton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 25% 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 $87.0 in Rockhampton. Groceries flip the comparison at $380 vs $366, 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 25% 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 $840 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 56% 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 $1,840 in Rockhampton. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,021 in Rockhampton versus $3,097 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 53% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.