Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Toowoomba Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Toowoomba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,294 in Perth versus $1,924 in Toowoomba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,344 in Perth versus $2,682 in Toowoomba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,394 in Perth versus $3,441 in Toowoomba.

Living in Perth is roughly 19% more expensive than Toowoomba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 71% above, Toowoomba 44% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.46 A$22.93

$14.41 A$20.08

14.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.3 A$109

$58.2 A$81.0

34.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 A$14.76

$8.77 A$12.22

20.75%

Cappuccino

$3.70 A$5.16

$3.19 A$4.44

15.99%

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

$2.48 A$3.46

$2.55 A$3.56

-2.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 A$2.76

$1.99 A$2.78

-0.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 A$10.94

$6.22 A$8.66

26.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.69 A$9.32

$6.35 A$8.85

5.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 A$1.96

$1.48 A$2.06

-5.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 A$3.43

$1.98 A$2.77

24.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.73

$1.60 A$2.23

22.50%

Eggs

$4.53 A$6.31

$3.94 A$5.49

14.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.70 A$12.12

$7.26 A$10.12

19.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.55 A$11.92

$7.90 A$11.01

8.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.00 A$19.50

$12.26 A$17.08

14.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 A$4.78

$3.08 A$4.29

11.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.90 A$4.05

$2.11 A$2.94

37.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 A$4.13

$2.32 A$3.23

27.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 A$6.61

$2.55 A$3.55

85.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 A$3.34

$2.18 A$3.04

10.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 A$2.47

$2.33 A$3.25

-24.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 A$2.79

$1.97 A$2.75

1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 A$2.11

$2.11 A$2.94

-27.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.13 A$44.78

$25.57 A$35.63

25.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.05 A$18.18

$14.28 A$19.90

-8.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.92 A$5.46

$4.30 A$5.99

-8.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 A$5.76

$6.79 A$9.46

-39.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 A$4.14

$2.61 A$3.64

13.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.5 A$101

$63.9 A$89.1

13.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.02 A$5.59

$1.98 A$2.75

103.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 A$2.96

$1.44 A$2.00

47.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$48.71 A$67.9

$32.04 A$44.64

52.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 A$1.56

$1.15 A$1.60

-2.61%

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

$28.7K A$40.0K

$24.4K A$34.0K

17.53%

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

$24.1K A$33.6K

$20.8K A$29.0K

15.57%

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

$156 A$218

$75.7 A$105

106.51%

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

$28.43 A$39.62

$32.76 A$45.66

-13.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.5 A$78.7

$47.27 A$65.9

19.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.39 A$57.7

$31.57 A$43.99

31.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.53 A$21.64

$15.60 A$21.73

-0.45%

Cinema Ticket

$16.23 A$22.62

$13.03 A$18.15

24.56%

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

$1,810 A$2,522

$484 A$675

273.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K A$16.4K

$7,250 A$10.1K

62.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 A$97.0

$60.2 A$83.8

15.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.93 A$68.2

$48.61 A$67.7

0.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 A$143

$78.1 A$109

31.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 A$147

$125 A$174

-15.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,520 A$2,118

$989 A$1,378

53.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,135 A$1,582

$903 A$1,258

25.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 A$3,519

$1,439 A$2,006

75.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,810 A$2,522

$1,181 A$1,646

53.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,858 A$9,557

$3,437 A$4,790

99.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,398 A$7,522

$2,816 A$3,925

91.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,340 A$6,048

$4,034 A$5,622

7.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.5

-1.23%

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

Last update for Perth: June 1, 2026

Last update for Toowoomba: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,520 in Perth and $989 in Toowoomba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 8% 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 $58.0 in Toowoomba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $313 per month, with Toowoomba 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 Toowoomba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Toowoomba is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Perth pays 8% 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 $989 in Toowoomba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Toowoomba runs roughly 13% 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 $484 in Toowoomba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,924 in Toowoomba versus $2,294 in Perth, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Toowoomba but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Toowoomba 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 Toowoomba 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 Toowoomba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.