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: $2,351 in Perth versus $1,990 in Sunshine Coast.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,434 in Perth versus $3,013 in Sunshine Coast.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,517 in Perth versus $4,036 in Sunshine Coast.

Living in Perth is roughly 18% more expensive than in Sunshine Coast, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 76% above, Sunshine Coast 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.37 A$23.46

$14.37 A$20.59

13.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.6 A$111

$65.7 A$94.1

18.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.26 A$14.70

$9.06 A$12.98

13.25%

Cappuccino

$3.77 A$5.40

$3.41 A$4.89

10.56%

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

$2.50 A$3.58

$2.15 A$3.08

16.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 A$2.84

$2.31 A$3.31

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.77 A$11.13

$6.64 A$9.51

17.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.53 A$9.35

$7.00 A$10.03

-6.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 A$2.10

$1.27 A$1.82

14.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 A$3.39

$1.86 A$2.67

27.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 A$2.83

$1.82 A$2.60

8.24%

Eggs

$4.40 A$6.31

$4.29 A$6.14

2.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.42 A$12.07

$7.29 A$10.44

15.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.57 A$12.28

$8.92 A$12.77

-3.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.74 A$19.68

$12.21 A$17.50

12.53%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 A$4.91

$2.76 A$3.96

23.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.94 A$4.21

$2.30 A$3.30

27.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.82 A$4.05

$3.59 A$5.14

-21.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.75 A$6.81

$3.89 A$5.57

22.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 A$3.60

$1.95 A$2.80

28.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 A$2.57

$1.77 A$2.53

1.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 A$2.87

$2.01 A$2.88

-0.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 A$2.17

$1.74 A$2.49

-12.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$31.35 A$44.92

$23.49 A$33.66

33.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.07 A$18.73

$17.12 A$24.53

-23.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.77 A$5.41

$5.01 A$7.18

-24.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 A$5.86

$5.51 A$7.89

-25.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 A$4.22

$1.38 A$1.98

113.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.6 A$103

$36.86 A$52.8

94.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 A$5.71

$1.96 A$2.81

103.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 A$3.03

$1.41 A$2.02

50.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.35 A$70.7

$34.09 A$48.85

44.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 A$1.67

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

$29.2K A$41.8K

$29.4K A$42.1K

-0.80%

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

$24.4K A$34.9K

$21.7K A$31.0K

12.43%

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

$155 A$222

$129 A$185

20.09%

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

$28.24 A$40.45

$28.57 A$40.94

-1.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.1 A$80.4

$43.44 A$62.2

29.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.15 A$59.0

$48.94 A$70.1

-15.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.64 A$22.40

$15.35 A$22.00

1.89%

Cinema Ticket

$16.38 A$23.47

$13.23 A$18.96

23.81%

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

$1,799 A$2,577

$287 A$411

526.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K A$17.1K

$7,245 A$10.4K

64.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 A$100.0

$61.3 A$87.9

13.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.14 A$69.0

$47.41 A$67.9

1.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 A$150

$88.6 A$127

17.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 A$150

$94.6 A$136

10.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,474 A$2,111

$1,105 A$1,583

33.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 A$1,678

$923 A$1,322

26.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,576 A$3,691

$1,783 A$2,555

44.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,823 A$2,612

$1,607 A$2,303

13.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,136 A$11.7K

$5,551 A$7,953

46.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,659 A$8,108

$5,028 A$7,203

12.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 A$6,169

$3,419 A$4,898

25.94%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Sunshine Coast: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,474 in Perth and $1,105 in Sunshine Coast. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 26% 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 $334 vs $329 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 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 26% 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: $1,474 in Perth versus $1,105 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 94% less than in Perth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,799 in Perth versus $287 in Sunshine Coast. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,990 in Sunshine Coast versus $2,351 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 18% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.