😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,310 in Perth versus $2,193 in Townsville.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,356 in Perth versus $3,259 in Townsville.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,402 in Perth versus $4,324 in Townsville.
😐Living in Perth is roughly 5% more expensive than Townsville, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth73% above, Townsville64% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Perth
Townsville
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.54A$23.16
$11.94A$16.72
38.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.3A$108
$61.0A$85.4
26.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.56A$14.79
$10.05A$14.07
5.07%
Cappuccino
$3.64A$5.09
$3.10A$4.34
17.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53A$3.54
$2.46A$3.45
2.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92A$2.69
$2.26A$3.16
-15.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.70A$10.77
$6.38A$8.94
20.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.45A$9.03
$5.05A$7.08
27.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Perth
Townsville
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47A$2.06
$1.53A$2.14
-3.92%
White Bread(500g)
$2.34A$3.27
$2.17A$3.04
7.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.01A$2.82
$1.68A$2.35
19.64%
Eggs
$4.51A$6.31
$4.24A$5.94
6.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.35A$11.70
$7.45A$10.42
12.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.18A$11.45
$8.11A$11.35
0.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.93A$19.50
$11.83A$16.56
17.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.55A$4.97
$3.82A$5.35
-7.07%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92A$4.09
$2.97A$4.16
-1.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83A$3.96
$3.18A$4.46
-11.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.76A$6.66
$4.32A$6.05
10.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.49A$3.49
$2.63A$3.69
-5.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73A$2.42
$2.49A$3.48
-30.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92A$2.68
$2.14A$3.00
-10.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46A$2.04
$1.93A$2.70
-24.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$32.49A$45.49
$24.09A$33.73
34.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.97A$15.35
$10.67A$14.94
2.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.87A$5.42
$3.36A$4.71
15.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05A$5.67
$7.75A$10.86
-47.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Perth
Townsville
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.93A$4.10
$1.99A$2.79
47.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.3A$99.9
$72.3A$101
-1.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.98A$5.58
$3.51A$4.91
13.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.21A$3.09
$1.45A$2.03
52.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.3A$70.4
$48.27A$67.6
4.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16A$1.62
$1.12A$1.57
3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6KA$40.0K
$22.4KA$31.4K
27.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KA$34.0K
$19.5KA$27.4K
24.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Perth
Townsville
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154A$215
$152A$213
1.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.61A$38.65
$34.74A$48.64
-20.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.5A$77.7
$58.4A$81.7
-4.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Perth
Townsville
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.08A$57.5
$43.34A$60.7
-5.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.77A$22.08
$14.40A$20.16
9.51%
Cinema Ticket
$16.38A$22.94
$15.20A$21.28
7.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Perth
Townsville
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,790A$2,506
$1,138A$1,593
57.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.3KA$17.2K
$12.2KA$17.0K
0.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Perth
Townsville
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.2A$98.3
$97.3A$136
-27.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.80A$68.3
$61.5A$86.1
-20.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103A$144
$99.0A$139
3.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105A$146
$119A$166
-11.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Perth
Townsville
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,527A$2,138
$1,225A$1,715
24.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,163A$1,628
$1,082A$1,515
7.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,488A$3,483
$2,376A$3,326
4.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,783A$2,496
$1,907A$2,669
-6.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,459A$9,042
$5,087A$7,122
26.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,912A$6,876
$4,154A$5,816
18.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Perth
Townsville
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,379A$6,131
$4,109A$5,753
6.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.42
6.06
5.94%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Perth: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Townsville: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,527 in Perth and $1,225 in Townsville. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Perth pays 7% 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: $77.0 in Perth vs $61.0 in Townsville. Groceries flip the comparison at $328 vs $329, with Perth cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Perth vs Townsville: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Townsville cheaper than Perth?
Townsville is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Perth or Townsville?
Perth pays 7% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Perth and Townsville?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,527 in Perth versus $1,225 in Townsville. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Townsville runs roughly 1% less than in Perth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,790 in Perth versus $1,138 in Townsville. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Perth or Townsville?
At $2,193 in Townsville versus $2,310 in Perth, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Townsville but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Townsville the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Perth or Townsville?
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.
Which city is safer, Perth or Townsville?
Safety-wise, Perth and Townsville are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Townsville gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.