Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and South Yarra Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and South Yarra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,097 in Perth versus $2,589 in South Yarra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,250 in Perth versus $3,691 in South Yarra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,404 in Perth versus $4,793 in South Yarra.

Living in Perth is roughly 20% more expensive than in South Yarra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 125% above, South Yarra 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.52 A$28.61

$18.09 A$25.22

13.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.2 A$119

$85.9 A$120

-0.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 A$15.04

$8.35 A$11.65

29.10%

Cappuccino

$4.48 A$6.25

$3.49 A$4.87

28.37%

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

$2.91 A$4.06

$2.19 A$3.06

32.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 A$3.17

$1.75 A$2.45

30.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.63 A$12.03

$10.17 A$14.17

-15.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.68 A$12.10

$8.67 A$12.09

0.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 A$2.42

$1.69 A$2.35

2.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 A$4.49

$2.88 A$4.02

11.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 A$2.95

$1.40 A$1.95

51.43%

Eggs

$5.47 A$7.63

$4.24 A$5.90

29.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.53 A$13.29

$11.33 A$15.79

-15.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.67 A$13.49

$7.28 A$10.15

32.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 A$20.03

$15.79 A$22.02

-9.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 A$6.69

$2.85 A$3.97

68.42%

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.51

$2.12 A$2.96

52.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 A$4.99

$1.46 A$2.04

145.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 A$7.39

$2.85 A$3.98

85.96%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 A$4.18

$1.47 A$2.05

104.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.74

$2.10 A$2.93

-6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 A$3.37

$2.46 A$3.43

-1.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 A$1.89

$1.68 A$2.34

-19.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$43.56 A$60.7

$31.96 A$44.56

36.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.22 A$18.43

$12.27 A$17.11

7.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.58 A$6.39

$5.56 A$7.75

-17.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 A$4.90

$4.97 A$6.93

-29.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 A$3.56

$3.07 A$4.27

-16.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$103 A$143

$85.0 A$118

21.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 A$5.26

$4.16 A$5.81

-9.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 A$2.10

$1.42 A$1.98

6.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.37 A$59.1

$31.63 A$44.10

33.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 A$1.88

$1.31 A$1.82

3.05%

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

$28.8K A$40.2K

$28.7K A$40.0K

0.32%

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

$31.2K A$43.5K

$27.5K A$38.4K

13.41%

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

$207 A$289

$239 A$333

-13.44%

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

$34.58 A$48.21

$27.64 A$38.53

25.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 A$87.6

$42.96 A$59.9

46.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 A$78.9

$56.6 A$79.0

-0.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.54 A$31.43

$18.61 A$25.95

21.12%

Cinema Ticket

$17.91 A$24.96

$14.25 A$19.87

25.68%

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

$2,360 A$3,290

$2,411 A$3,362

-2.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K A$33.0K

$33.5K A$46.7K

-29.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 A$107

$80.4 A$112

-4.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.4 A$92.5

$52.4 A$73.1

26.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 A$173

$126 A$176

-1.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 A$218

$135 A$188

15.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,989 A$2,774

$1,476 A$2,058

34.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,634 A$2,278

$1,299 A$1,811

25.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 A$4,021

$2,308 A$3,218

24.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,284 A$3,185

$1,878 A$2,618

21.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,466 A$11.8K

$6,639 A$9,256

27.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,164 A$8,594

$5,112 A$7,127

20.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,375 A$6,100

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

5.85

1.20%

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

Last update for Perth: September 7, 2026

Last update for South Yarra: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,989 in Perth and $1,476 in South Yarra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Perth vs $86.0 in South Yarra. Groceries flip the comparison at $380 vs $334, with South Yarra 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 South Yarra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

South Yarra is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,645 in Perth and $3,883 in South Yarra 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 $1,476 in South Yarra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in South Yarra runs roughly 21% 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 $2,411 in South Yarra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. South Yarra 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 South Yarra 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 South Yarra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.