Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Hedland and Perth

For one person, living is cheaper in Port Hedland: $2,517 a month against $3,053 in Perth, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Port Hedland, Australia
Perth, Australia
Port Hedland
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,517
/mo nomad
Perth
🇦🇺 Australia
$3,053
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Port Hedland and in Perth

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Port Hedland and in Perth actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,517 in Port Hedland versus $3,053 in Perth.

  • Port Hedland $2,517
  • Perth $3,053

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,643 in Port Hedland versus $4,180 in Perth.

  • Port Hedland $3,643
  • Perth $4,180

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,770 in Port Hedland versus $5,307 in Perth.

  • Port Hedland $4,770
  • Perth $5,307

Living in Port Hedland costs roughly 18% less than in Perth, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Port Hedland 86% above, Perth 126% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Hedland
Perth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.47 A$25.00
$20.83 A$29.82
-16.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.3 A$121
$85.3 A$122
-1.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.68 A$15.29
$10.48 A$15.01
1.91%
Cappuccino
$4.05 A$5.79
$4.51 A$6.46
-10.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 A$4.20
$2.85 A$4.08
2.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 A$3.28
$2.20 A$3.15
4.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.83 A$11.21
$8.65 A$12.38
-9.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.70 A$11.02
$8.62 A$12.34
-10.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Hedland
Perth
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 A$2.26
$1.77 A$2.53
-10.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.76 A$3.96
$3.21 A$4.60
-14.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 A$3.19
$2.00 A$2.86
11.50%
Eggs
$4.84 A$6.92
$5.28 A$7.56
-8.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.06 A$12.97
$9.21 A$13.19
-1.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.27 A$13.27
$9.11 A$13.04
1.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.47 A$20.71
$14.83 A$21.23
-2.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.73 A$5.33
$4.45 A$6.37
-16.18%
Banana (1kg)
$3.06 A$4.38
$3.24 A$4.64
-5.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.33 A$4.76
$3.43 A$4.91
-2.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.73 A$6.77
$4.78 A$6.84
-1.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.67 A$3.82
$2.89 A$4.14
-7.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.41 A$3.45
$1.92 A$2.75
25.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 A$3.43
$2.14 A$3.07
11.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 A$2.28
$1.37 A$1.97
16.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$42.72 A$61.2
$41.37 A$59.2
3.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 A$20.10
$12.36 A$17.69
13.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.82 A$6.90
$4.72 A$6.75
2.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.17 A$7.39
$3.34 A$4.77
54.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Hedland
Perth
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.81 A$4.03
$2.40 A$3.44
17.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.0 A$120
$98.9 A$142
-15.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.47 A$4.97
$3.98 A$5.70
-12.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 A$2.29
$1.51 A$2.16
5.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.98 A$58.7
$43.81 A$62.7
-6.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 A$1.86
$1.39 A$1.99
-6.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K A$42.8K
$30.3K A$43.4K
-1.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K A$38.0K
$27.9K A$39.9K
-4.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Hedland
Perth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 A$294
$199 A$286
3.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.81 A$39.82
$33.29 A$47.65
-16.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.3 A$82.0
$62.4 A$89.3
-8.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Hedland
Perth
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 A$80.7
$52.8 A$75.6
6.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.67 A$25.29
$20.62 A$29.52
-14.31%
Cinema Ticket
$14.12 A$20.22
$17.70 A$25.34
-20.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Hedland
Perth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,113 A$3,025
$2,249 A$3,219
-6.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.7K A$29.7K
$32.9K A$47.1K
-36.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Hedland
Perth
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.7 A$108
$79.2 A$113
-4.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.5 A$78.1
$64.4 A$92.3
-15.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 A$155
$122 A$174
-11.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 A$175
$158 A$226
-22.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Hedland
Perth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,387 A$1,985
$2,021 A$2,893
-31.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,210 A$1,733
$1,658 A$2,373
-26.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,223 A$3,182
$2,804 A$4,014
-20.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,843 A$2,638
$2,174 A$3,111
-15.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,770 A$8,259
$8,368 A$12.0K
-31.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,965 A$7,108
$6,211 A$8,891
-20.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Hedland
Perth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,106 A$7,309
$4,169 A$5,967
22.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
5.9
-

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

Last update for Port Hedland: November 1, 2026

Last update for Perth: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Port Hedland
$1.2K
Perth
$1.7K 37% $447
Groceries & Markets
Port Hedland
$367
Perth
$368 0.5% $1.9
Eating Out
Port Hedland
$296
Perth
$333 12.6% $37
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Hedland
$291
Perth
$295 1.5% $4.4
Clothing & Footwear
Port Hedland
$162
Perth
$191 17.5% $28
Getting Around
Port Hedland
$107
Perth
$120 12.4% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Port Hedland
$85
Perth
$88 4.3% $3.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,387 in Port Hedland and $2,021 in Perth. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Port Hedland pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84 in Port Hedland vs $85 in Perth for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $367 vs $368 per month, with Port Hedland cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Port Hedland
🇦🇺 Perth
🕒 Local time
04:00 4:00 AM
04:00 4:00 AM
Same time as Port Hedland
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,298
2,043,762
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.699 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.625 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Port Hedland Perth 1,320 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Port Hedland
  • Perth

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Port Hedland vs Perth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Hedland cheaper than Perth?
Port Hedland is about 18% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Port Hedland or Perth?
Average pay runs 22% higher in Port Hedland, 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 Port Hedland and Perth?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,387 in Port Hedland versus $2,021 in Perth. 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 Port Hedland runs roughly 15% less than in Perth. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $2,113 in Port Hedland versus $2,249 in Perth. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Port Hedland or in Perth?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Port Hedland is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Port Hedland or in Perth?
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, Port Hedland or Perth?
Safety-wise, Port Hedland and Perth are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

Port Hedland vs other spots: cost of living compared

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