Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Surfers Paradise Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Surfers Paradise

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,083 in Perth versus $2,828 in Surfers Paradise.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,303 in Perth versus $4,484 in Surfers Paradise.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,522 in Perth versus $6,141 in Surfers Paradise.

Living in Perth is roughly 9% more expensive than in Surfers Paradise, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 124% above, Surfers Paradise 106% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.57 A$29.95

$18.26 A$25.35

18.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.9 A$118

$108 A$150

-21.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.01 A$15.29

$10.91 A$15.15

0.92%

Cappuccino

$4.65 A$6.46

$4.21 A$5.84

10.45%

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

$2.92 A$4.06

$2.93 A$4.07

-0.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 A$3.14

$2.47 A$3.43

-8.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.71 A$12.10

$7.72 A$10.72

12.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.38 A$11.63

$7.84 A$10.88

6.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 A$2.38

$1.70 A$2.36

0.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.18 A$4.42

$2.68 A$3.73

18.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 A$2.92

$2.46 A$3.41

-14.63%

Eggs

$5.38 A$7.48

$5.12 A$7.11

5.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 A$12.86

$9.02 A$12.52

2.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 A$13.03

$9.36 A$13.00

0.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.57 A$20.23

$15.13 A$21.00

-3.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.76 A$6.60

$4.08 A$5.66

16.67%

Banana (1kg)

$3.35 A$4.65

$3.04 A$4.23

10.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.47 A$4.81

$3.40 A$4.72

2.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.24 A$7.27

$4.75 A$6.60

10.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 A$4.13

$2.85 A$3.96

4.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 A$2.76

$2.60 A$3.61

-23.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 A$3.18

$2.43 A$3.38

-5.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 A$1.84

$2.10 A$2.91

-37.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$42.45 A$58.9

$39.70 A$55.1

6.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.95 A$17.98

$14.68 A$20.38

-11.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.56 A$6.32

$5.99 A$8.31

-23.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 A$4.86

$4.98 A$6.91

-29.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 A$3.45

$0.34 A$0.48

629.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.6 A$138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 A$5.30

$2.25 A$3.12

69.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 A$1.99

$1.66 A$2.31

-13.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.92 A$56.8

$36.33 A$50.4

12.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 A$1.86

$1.31 A$1.82

2.29%

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

$27.9K A$38.7K

$28.7K A$39.8K

-2.70%

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

$31.1K A$43.2K

$28.9K A$40.2K

7.65%

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

$207 A$287

$218 A$303

-5.26%

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

$33.06 A$45.89

$31.06 A$43.11

6.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.1 A$90.3

$57.3 A$79.5

13.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 A$79.7

$68.5 A$95.0

-16.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.95 A$30.46

$15.05 A$20.89

45.85%

Cinema Ticket

$17.10 A$23.74

$16.60 A$23.04

3.01%

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

$2,383 A$3,308

$2,152 A$2,987

10.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K A$33.5K

$12.9K A$18.0K

86.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.3 A$109

$85.1 A$118

-7.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.5 A$93.8

$56.4 A$78.3

19.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 A$169

$113 A$157

7.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 A$221

$127 A$177

25.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 A$2,686

$1,970 A$2,734

-1.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,645 A$2,284

$1,589 A$2,206

3.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,839 A$3,941

$3,945 A$5,476

-28.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,261 A$3,138

$3,112 A$4,320

-27.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,673 A$12.0K

$5,936 A$8,240

46.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,918 A$8,215

$5,046 A$7,005

17.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,273 A$5,932

$3,269 A$4,538

30.72%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Surfers Paradise: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,935 in Perth and $1,970 in Surfers Paradise. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 31% 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 $108 in Surfers Paradise for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $387 per month, with Perth 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 Surfers Paradise: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Surfers Paradise is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 31% 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: $1,935 in Perth versus $1,970 in Surfers Paradise. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Perth pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,083 per month in Perth versus $2,828 in Surfers Paradise – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.