Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Wollongong Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Wollongong

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,351 in Perth versus $1,929 in Wollongong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,434 in Perth versus $2,776 in Wollongong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,517 in Perth versus $3,623 in Wollongong.

Living in Perth is roughly 22% more expensive than in Wollongong, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 76% above, Wollongong 44% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.37 A$23.38

$14.81 A$21.15

10.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.6 A$111

$86.2 A$123

-9.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.26 A$14.65

$9.97 A$14.23

2.91%

Cappuccino

$3.77 A$5.38

$3.31 A$4.73

13.90%

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

$2.50 A$3.57

$2.56 A$3.66

-2.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 A$2.83

$2.25 A$3.21

-12.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.77 A$11.10

$5.87 A$8.38

32.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.53 A$9.32

$7.53 A$10.75

-13.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 A$2.09

$1.13 A$1.62

29.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 A$3.38

$2.19 A$3.12

8.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 A$2.82

$1.61 A$2.30

22.36%

Eggs

$4.40 A$6.29

$3.51 A$5.02

25.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.42 A$12.03

$10.09 A$14.41

-16.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.57 A$12.24

$8.45 A$12.06

1.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.74 A$19.62

$14.50 A$20.70

-5.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 A$4.89

$2.84 A$4.06

20.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.94 A$4.20

$2.54 A$3.63

15.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.82 A$4.03

$2.29 A$3.28

23.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.75 A$6.78

$4.08 A$5.83

16.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 A$3.59

$2.07 A$2.96

21.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 A$2.56

$1.79 A$2.55

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 A$2.86

$2.49 A$3.56

-19.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 A$2.17

$1.02 A$1.45

49.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$31.35 A$44.77

$31.03 A$44.31

1.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.07 A$18.66

$13.56 A$19.36

-3.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.77 A$5.39

$2.87 A$4.10

31.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 A$5.84

$3.52 A$5.03

16.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 A$4.21

$2.50 A$3.58

17.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.6 A$102

$47.67 A$68.1

50.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 A$5.69

$4.03 A$5.75

-1.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 A$3.02

$1.78 A$2.54

19.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.35 A$70.5

$40.78 A$58.2

21.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 A$1.66

$1.17 A$1.67

-0.85%

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

$29.2K A$41.6K

$28.4K A$40.6K

2.62%

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

$24.4K A$34.8K

$22.6K A$32.2K

8.00%

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

$155 A$221

$184 A$263

-15.83%

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

$28.24 A$40.32

$28.49 A$40.68

-0.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.1 A$80.1

$48.46 A$69.2

15.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.15 A$58.8

$75.4 A$108

-45.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.64 A$22.33

$15.42 A$22.02

1.43%

Cinema Ticket

$16.38 A$23.39

$11.81 A$16.86

38.70%

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

$1,799 A$2,568

$1,557 A$2,223

15.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K A$17.0K

$13.5K A$19.3K

-11.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 A$99.7

$59.3 A$84.6

17.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.14 A$68.7

$55.8 A$79.7

-13.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 A$149

$96.6 A$138

8.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 A$150

$112 A$159

-5.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,474 A$2,104

$965 A$1,378

52.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 A$1,673

$802 A$1,145

46.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,576 A$3,678

$1,962 A$2,802

31.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,823 A$2,604

$1,046 A$1,494

74.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,136 A$11.6K

$4,562 A$6,515

78.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,659 A$8,082

$3,605 A$5,148

56.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 A$6,149

$4,286 A$6,121

0.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.29

2.07%

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

Last update for Perth: July 13, 2026

Last update for Wollongong: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,474 in Perth and $965 in Wollongong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 0% 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 $86.0 in Wollongong. Groceries flip the comparison at $334 vs $309, with Wollongong cheaper for home cooking.

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 Wollongong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wollongong is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 0% 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: $1,474 in Perth versus $965 in Wollongong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Wollongong runs roughly 50% less than in Perth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,799 in Perth versus $1,557 in Wollongong. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,929 in Wollongong versus $2,351 in Perth, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Wollongong but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Wollongong 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 Wollongong 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 Wollongong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.