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: $3,097 in Perth versus $2,125 in Wollongong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,250 in Perth versus $3,347 in Wollongong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,404 in Perth versus $4,569 in Wollongong.

Living in Perth is roughly 46% more expensive than in Wollongong, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 125% above, Wollongong 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.52 A$28.68

$18.01 A$25.17

13.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.2 A$119

$86.0 A$120

-0.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 A$15.07

$10.88 A$15.21

-0.92%

Cappuccino

$4.48 A$6.27

$3.68 A$5.15

21.74%

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

$2.91 A$4.07

$3.20 A$4.47

-9.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 A$3.18

$2.36 A$3.30

-3.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.63 A$12.06

$7.38 A$10.32

16.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.68 A$12.13

$7.03 A$9.82

23.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 A$2.43

$1.23 A$1.72

41.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 A$4.50

$3.03 A$4.24

6.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 A$2.96

$2.25 A$3.15

-5.78%

Eggs

$5.47 A$7.65

$4.20 A$5.87

30.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.53 A$13.32

$10.92 A$15.26

-12.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.67 A$13.52

$9.71 A$13.57

-0.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 A$20.08

$16.14 A$22.56

-11.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 A$6.71

$3.03 A$4.23

58.42%

Banana (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.52

$2.55 A$3.57

27.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 A$5.01

$3.48 A$4.86

2.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 A$7.41

$4.78 A$6.68

10.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 A$4.19

$2.36 A$3.30

27.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 A$2.74

$2.69 A$3.77

-27.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 A$3.38

$2.71 A$3.79

-10.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 A$1.90

$1.46 A$2.05

-6.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$43.56 A$60.9

$46.82 A$65.5

-6.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.22 A$18.48

$14.40 A$20.13

-8.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.58 A$6.40

$4.54 A$6.35

0.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 A$4.92

$4.90 A$6.85

-28.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 A$3.57

$2.11 A$2.96

20.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$103 A$144

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 A$5.28

$4.14 A$5.79

-8.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 A$2.11

$1.62 A$2.26

-6.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.37 A$59.2

$44.47 A$62.2

-4.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 A$1.88

$1.29 A$1.81

4.65%

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

$28.8K A$40.3K

$28.1K A$39.3K

2.47%

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

$31.2K A$43.6K

$25.2K A$35.2K

23.86%

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

$207 A$289

$188 A$262

10.33%

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

$34.58 A$48.34

$27.70 A$38.71

24.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 A$87.8

$51.9 A$72.5

21.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 A$79.1

$84.2 A$118

-32.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.54 A$31.51

$14.16 A$19.79

59.18%

Cinema Ticket

$17.91 A$25.03

$13.56 A$18.95

32.08%

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

$2,360 A$3,299

$2,289 A$3,200

3.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K A$33.1K

$21.3K A$29.7K

11.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 A$108

$72.8 A$102

5.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.4 A$92.8

$58.3 A$81.5

13.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 A$173

$126 A$176

-1.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 A$218

$111 A$156

40.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,989 A$2,781

$1,024 A$1,431

94.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,634 A$2,284

$887 A$1,240

84.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 A$4,031

$2,054 A$2,871

40.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,284 A$3,193

$1,700 A$2,376

34.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,466 A$11.8K

$4,632 A$6,474

82.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,164 A$8,616

$3,771 A$5,270

63.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,375 A$6,116

$4,584 A$6,407

-4.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.92

5.23

13.19%

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

Last update for Perth: September 7, 2026

Last update for Wollongong: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,989 in Perth and $1,024 in Wollongong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wollongong pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $85.0 in Perth vs $86.0 in Wollongong. Groceries flip the comparison at $380 vs $369, 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 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Wollongong. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,989 in Perth versus $1,024 in Wollongong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Perth. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,097 per month in Perth versus $2,125 in Wollongong – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,125 in Wollongong versus $3,097 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 46% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.