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: $2,294 in Perth versus $1,902 in Surfers Paradise.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,344 in Perth versus $3,227 in Surfers Paradise.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,394 in Perth versus $4,552 in Surfers Paradise.

Living in Perth is roughly 21% more expensive than Surfers Paradise, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 71% above, Surfers Paradise 42% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.46 A$23.06

$16.52 A$23.15

-0.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.3 A$110

$94.5 A$132

-17.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 A$14.84

$9.89 A$13.86

7.08%

Cappuccino

$3.70 A$5.18

$3.62 A$5.08

2.21%

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

$2.48 A$3.48

$2.70 A$3.78

-8.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 A$2.78

$2.14 A$3.00

-7.48%

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

$7.85 A$11.00

-14.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 A$1.97

$1.54 A$2.15

-9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 A$3.44

$2.31 A$3.24

6.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.75

$2.32 A$3.25

-15.52%

Eggs

$4.53 A$6.35

$4.45 A$6.23

1.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.70 A$12.19

$8.40 A$11.77

3.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.55 A$11.98

$8.21 A$11.51

4.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.00 A$19.61

$13.31 A$18.65

5.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 A$4.81

$3.52 A$4.94

-2.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.90 A$4.07

$2.72 A$3.80

6.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 A$4.15

$3.42 A$4.80

-13.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 A$6.65

$3.83 A$5.37

23.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 A$3.36

$2.46 A$3.45

-2.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 A$2.48

$2.39 A$3.34

-25.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 A$2.81

$2.20 A$3.09

-9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 A$2.12

$1.29 A$1.81

17.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.13 A$45.02

$31.84 A$44.61

0.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.05 A$18.28

$14.24 A$19.95

-8.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.92 A$5.49

$6.42 A$9.00

-38.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 A$5.79

$4.26 A$5.98

-3.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 A$4.17

$2.06 A$2.89

44.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.5 A$102

$32.10 A$44.98

125.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.02 A$5.63

$1.97 A$2.76

104.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 A$2.97

$1.38 A$1.93

53.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$48.71 A$68.3

$34.01 A$47.66

43.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 A$1.57

$1.20 A$1.68

-6.67%

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

$28.7K A$40.2K

$29.1K A$40.7K

-1.29%

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

$24.1K A$33.7K

$22.4K A$31.4K

7.63%

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

$156 A$219

$207 A$290

-24.42%

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

$28.43 A$39.84

$30.79 A$43.14

-7.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.5 A$79.2

$53.5 A$75.0

5.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.39 A$58.0

$63.3 A$88.7

-34.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.53 A$21.76

$13.75 A$19.27

12.95%

Cinema Ticket

$16.23 A$22.75

$12.91 A$18.09

25.72%

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

$1,810 A$2,536

$1,595 A$2,235

13.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K A$16.5K

$8,770 A$12.3K

34.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 A$97.5

$70.4 A$98.6

-1.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.93 A$68.6

$47.78 A$67.0

2.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 A$143

$92.3 A$129

10.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 A$148

$98.9 A$139

6.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,520 A$2,130

$1,281 A$1,795

18.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,135 A$1,590

$715 A$1,001

58.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 A$3,539

$2,414 A$3,382

4.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,810 A$2,536

$1,742 A$2,441

3.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,858 A$9,610

$6,009 A$8,420

14.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,398 A$7,564

$4,938 A$6,919

9.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,340 A$6,082

$3,388 A$4,747

28.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.3

1.90%

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

Last update for Perth: June 1, 2026

Last update for Surfers Paradise: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,520 in Perth and $1,281 in Surfers Paradise. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 28% 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 $95.0 in Surfers Paradise for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $344 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Perth pays 28% 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 $1,281 in Surfers Paradise. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Surfers Paradise runs roughly 126% 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 $1,595 in Surfers Paradise. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,902 in Surfers Paradise versus $2,294 in Perth, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Surfers Paradise but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Surfers Paradise 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 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 21% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.