Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Warrnambool Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Warrnambool

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,097 in Perth versus $2,604 in Warrnambool.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,250 in Perth versus $3,709 in Warrnambool.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,404 in Perth versus $4,814 in Warrnambool.

Living in Perth is roughly 19% more expensive than in Warrnambool, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 125% above, Warrnambool 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.52 A$28.68

$17.94 A$25.08

14.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.2 A$119

0.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 A$15.07

$9.58 A$13.39

12.53%

Cappuccino

$4.48 A$6.27

$4.24 A$5.92

5.66%

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

$2.91 A$4.07

$3.24 A$4.52

-10.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 A$3.18

$2.69 A$3.76

-15.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.63 A$12.06

$10.07 A$14.08

-14.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.68 A$12.13

$8.50 A$11.88

2.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 A$2.43

$1.65 A$2.30

5.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 A$4.50

$3.27 A$4.57

-1.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 A$2.96

$2.72 A$3.80

-22.06%

Eggs

$5.47 A$7.65

$4.85 A$6.78

12.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.53 A$13.32

$11.18 A$15.62

-14.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.67 A$13.52

$9.65 A$13.49

0.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 A$20.08

$15.46 A$21.60

-7.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 A$6.71

$4.19 A$5.85

14.56%

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.52

$1.75 A$2.44

85.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 A$5.01

$3.30 A$4.61

8.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 A$7.41

$4.99 A$6.98

6.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 A$4.19

$3.12 A$4.37

-3.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.74

$2.54 A$3.55

-22.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 A$3.38

$2.57 A$3.59

-5.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 A$1.90

$1.70 A$2.37

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$43.56 A$60.9

$45.76 A$64.0

-4.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.22 A$18.48

$12.25 A$17.12

7.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.58 A$6.40

$5.53 A$7.73

-17.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 A$4.92

$4.99 A$6.98

-29.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 A$3.57

$3.07 A$4.30

-16.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$103 A$144

$85.4 A$119

20.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 A$5.28

$4.26 A$5.96

-11.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 A$2.11

$1.41 A$1.97

7.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.37 A$59.2

$30.97 A$43.28

36.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 A$1.88

$1.31 A$1.83

3.05%

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

$28.8K A$40.3K

0.05%

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

$31.2K A$43.6K

$27.2K A$38.0K

14.72%

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

$207 A$289

$242 A$339

-14.56%

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

$34.58 A$48.34

$27.58 A$38.55

25.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 A$87.8

$56.4 A$78.9

11.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 A$79.1

$57.4 A$80.3

-1.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.54 A$31.51

$18.31 A$25.60

23.10%

Cinema Ticket

$17.91 A$25.03

$18.22 A$25.47

-1.70%

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

$2,360 A$3,299

$2,473 A$3,457

-4.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K A$33.1K

$33.6K A$46.9K

-29.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 A$108

$82.3 A$115

-6.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.4 A$92.8

$51.8 A$72.3

28.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 A$173

$49.41 A$69.1

150.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 A$218

$136 A$190

14.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,989 A$2,781

$1,442 A$2,015

38.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,634 A$2,284

$1,311 A$1,833

24.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 A$4,031

$2,269 A$3,172

27.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,284 A$3,193

$1,895 A$2,649

20.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,466 A$11.8K

$6,723 A$9,397

25.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,164 A$8,616

$5,274 A$7,372

16.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,375 A$6,116

$1,408 A$1,968

210.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

4.87

21.56%

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

Last update for Perth: September 7, 2026

Last update for Warrnambool: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,989 in Perth and $1,442 in Warrnambool. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 211% 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 $85.0 in Warrnambool for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $380 vs $384 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 Warrnambool: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 211% 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: $1,989 in Perth versus $1,442 in Warrnambool. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Warrnambool runs roughly 20% less than in Perth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,360 in Perth versus $2,473 in Warrnambool. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Warrnambool 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 Warrnambool 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 Warrnambool 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.