Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Wagga Wagga Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Wagga Wagga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,096 in Perth versus $1,889 in Wagga Wagga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,187 in Perth versus $2,943 in Wagga Wagga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,277 in Perth versus $3,996 in Wagga Wagga.

Living in Perth is roughly 64% more expensive than in Wagga Wagga, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 126% above, Wagga Wagga 38% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.79 A$29.21

$13.79 A$19.37

50.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.6 A$122

$92.2 A$130

-6.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.62 A$14.92

$10.64 A$14.95

-0.19%

Cappuccino

$4.58 A$6.43

$4.01 A$5.63

14.21%

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

$2.96 A$4.16

$3.12 A$4.38

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 A$3.25

$2.81 A$3.95

-17.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.67 A$12.19

$8.74 A$12.28

-0.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.69 A$12.21

$10.18 A$14.30

-14.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 A$2.47

$1.58 A$2.22

11.39%

White Bread (500g)

$3.01 A$4.23

$3.27 A$4.59

-7.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 A$2.96

$2.73 A$3.84

-22.71%

Eggs

$5.23 A$7.34

$5.29 A$7.43

-1.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.07 A$12.75

$14.30 A$20.09

-36.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.19 A$12.91

$7.27 A$10.21

26.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.32 A$20.12

$16.52 A$23.22

-13.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.73 A$6.65

$4.04 A$5.68

17.08%

Banana (1kg)

$3.32 A$4.66

$3.28 A$4.60

1.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.50 A$4.91

$3.60 A$5.05

-2.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.12 A$7.20

$5.19 A$7.29

-1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 A$4.08

$3.11 A$4.37

-6.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 A$2.70

$2.84 A$3.99

-32.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 A$3.20

$2.71 A$3.81

-15.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 A$1.92

$1.45 A$2.04

-5.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$42.95 A$60.4

$46.21 A$64.9

-7.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.79 A$17.97

$15.01 A$21.09

-14.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.46 A$6.27

$4.89 A$6.87

-8.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 A$5.05

$5.73 A$8.05

-37.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 A$3.60

$3.30 A$4.64

-22.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 A$142

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 A$5.23

$4.25 A$5.97

-12.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 A$2.01

$1.68 A$2.35

-14.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.88 A$58.9

$44.82 A$63.0

-6.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 A$1.88

$1.34 A$1.89

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

$28.0K A$39.4K

$27.3K A$38.3K

2.78%

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

$30.3K A$42.6K

$30.4K A$42.7K

-0.39%

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

$205 A$288

$184 A$259

11.25%

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

$34.01 A$47.78

$28.11 A$39.50

20.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.2 A$88.8

$56.1 A$78.9

12.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 A$79.4

$28.23 A$39.66

100.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.21 A$31.21

Cinema Ticket

$18.16 A$25.52

$16.57 A$23.29

9.60%

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

$2,378 A$3,341

$2,219 A$3,118

7.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K A$33.4K

$20.8K A$29.3K

13.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.3 A$107

$78.7 A$111

-3.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.4 A$94.7

$56.5 A$79.4

19.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 A$170

$123 A$173

-2.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 A$210

$134 A$188

11.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,941 A$2,727

$930 A$1,306

108.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 A$2,322

$708 A$994

133.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,851 A$4,006

$1,545 A$2,170

84.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,256 A$3,169

$1,129 A$1,586

99.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,414 A$11.8K

$3,538 A$4,971

137.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,063 A$8,518

$2,479 A$3,482

144.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,268 A$5,997

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

5.95

-0.50%

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

Last update for Perth: September 15, 2026

Last update for Wagga Wagga: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,941 in Perth and $930 in Wagga Wagga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $87.0 in Perth vs $92.0 in Wagga Wagga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $370 vs $399 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 Wagga Wagga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wagga Wagga is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,644 in Perth and $2,834 in Wagga Wagga to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,941 in Perth versus $930 in Wagga Wagga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Perth pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,096 per month in Perth versus $1,889 in Wagga Wagga – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,889 in Wagga Wagga versus $3,096 in Perth, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Wagga Wagga but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Wagga Wagga 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 Wagga Wagga 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 Wagga Wagga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.