Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Sunshine Coast Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Sunshine Coast

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,294 in Perth versus $1,962 in Sunshine Coast.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,344 in Perth versus $2,946 in Sunshine Coast.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,394 in Perth versus $3,930 in Sunshine Coast.

Living in Perth is roughly 17% more expensive than Sunshine Coast, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 71% above, Sunshine Coast 46% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.46 A$23.06

$14.40 A$20.17

14.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.3 A$110

$66.2 A$92.8

18.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 A$14.84

$8.94 A$12.52

18.46%

Cappuccino

$3.70 A$5.18

$3.40 A$4.76

8.82%

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

$2.48 A$3.48

$2.14 A$3.00

15.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 A$2.78

$2.31 A$3.24

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 A$11.00

$6.31 A$8.84

24.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.69 A$9.37

$7.09 A$9.93

-5.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 A$1.97

$1.27 A$1.78

10.24%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 A$3.44

$1.81 A$2.54

35.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.75

$1.74 A$2.44

12.64%

Eggs

$4.53 A$6.35

$4.35 A$6.09

4.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.70 A$12.19

$7.13 A$10.00

22.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.55 A$11.98

$8.85 A$12.40

-3.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.00 A$19.61

$12.61 A$17.67

11.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 A$4.81

$2.70 A$3.79

27.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.90 A$4.07

$2.29 A$3.21

26.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 A$4.15

$3.51 A$4.92

-15.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 A$6.65

$3.82 A$5.35

24.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 A$3.36

$1.91 A$2.67

25.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 A$2.48

$1.73 A$2.42

2.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 A$2.81

$1.92 A$2.69

4.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 A$2.12

$1.68 A$2.35

-9.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.13 A$45.02

$23.79 A$33.33

35.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.05 A$18.28

$14.22 A$19.92

-8.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.92 A$5.49

$4.93 A$6.91

-20.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 A$5.79

$5.78 A$8.10

-28.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 A$4.17

$1.38 A$1.94

115.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.5 A$102

$37.51 A$52.6

93.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.02 A$5.63

$2.06 A$2.89

95.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 A$2.97

$1.39 A$1.95

52.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$48.71 A$68.3

$34.17 A$47.87

42.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 A$1.57

$1.14 A$1.60

-1.75%

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

$28.7K A$40.2K

$28.5K A$40.0K

0.63%

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

$24.1K A$33.7K

$21.5K A$30.2K

11.88%

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

$156 A$219

$129 A$180

21.47%

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

$28.43 A$39.84

$28.51 A$39.95

-0.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.5 A$79.2

$44.05 A$61.7

28.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.39 A$58.0

$50.1 A$70.2

-17.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.53 A$21.76

$15.68 A$21.97

-0.96%

Cinema Ticket

$16.23 A$22.75

$13.19 A$18.49

23.05%

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

$1,810 A$2,536

$292 A$410

518.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K A$16.5K

$7,188 A$10.1K

64.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 A$97.5

$60.4 A$84.6

15.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.93 A$68.6

$47.44 A$66.5

3.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 A$143

$88.7 A$124

15.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 A$148

$95.1 A$133

10.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,520 A$2,130

$1,086 A$1,522

39.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,135 A$1,590

$934 A$1,309

21.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 A$3,539

$1,791 A$2,509

41.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,810 A$2,536

$1,642 A$2,300

10.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,858 A$9,610

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,398 A$7,564

$5,366 A$7,519

0.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,340 A$6,082

$3,534 A$4,952

22.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.25

2.72%

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

Last update for Perth: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sunshine Coast: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,520 in Perth and $1,086 in Sunshine Coast. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 23% 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 $66.0 in Sunshine Coast for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $321 per month, with Sunshine Coast 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 Sunshine Coast: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sunshine Coast is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Perth pays 23% 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 $1,086 in Sunshine Coast. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Sunshine Coast runs roughly 93% 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 $292 in Sunshine Coast. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,962 in Sunshine Coast versus $2,294 in Perth, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Sunshine Coast but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Sunshine Coast 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 Sunshine Coast 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 Sunshine Coast gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.