Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Hedland and Perth Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Hedland and Perth

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,643 in Port Hedland versus $3,097 in Perth.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,791 in Port Hedland versus $4,250 in Perth.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,938 in Port Hedland versus $5,404 in Perth.

Living in Port Hedland costs roughly 15% less than in Perth, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Port Hedland 92% above, Perth 125% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 A$25.57

$20.52 A$28.74

-11.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.6 A$120

$85.2 A$119

0.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.87 A$15.22

$10.78 A$15.10

0.83%

Cappuccino

$4.10 A$5.75

$4.48 A$6.28

-8.48%

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

$2.98 A$4.18

$2.91 A$4.08

2.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 A$3.26

$2.28 A$3.19

2.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.79 A$10.91

$8.63 A$12.09

-9.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.64 A$10.70

$8.68 A$12.15

-11.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 A$2.38

$1.74 A$2.44

-2.30%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 A$3.89

$3.22 A$4.51

-13.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 A$3.24

$2.12 A$2.97

8.96%

Eggs

$4.99 A$6.99

$5.47 A$7.67

-8.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 A$13.46

$9.53 A$13.35

0.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 A$13.15

$9.67 A$13.55

-2.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.07 A$21.11

$14.36 A$20.12

4.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 A$5.00

$4.80 A$6.72

-25.63%

Banana (1kg)

$3.04 A$4.26

$3.24 A$4.53

-6.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 A$4.87

$3.58 A$5.02

-2.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.66 A$6.52

$5.30 A$7.43

-12.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 A$3.75

$3.00 A$4.20

-10.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 A$3.53

$1.96 A$2.75

28.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 A$3.40

$2.42 A$3.39

0.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 A$2.36

$1.36 A$1.90

24.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$39.83 A$55.8

$43.56 A$61.0

-8.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.22 A$19.91

$13.22 A$18.52

7.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.11 A$7.15

$4.58 A$6.42

11.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.50 A$7.71

$3.52 A$4.93

56.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.04 A$4.26

$2.55 A$3.58

19.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.1 A$119

$103 A$144

-17.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 A$4.96

$3.77 A$5.29

-6.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 A$2.26

$1.51 A$2.11

7.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.32 A$56.5

$42.37 A$59.3

-4.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 A$1.81

$1.35 A$1.89

-3.70%

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

$27.5K A$38.5K

$28.8K A$40.3K

-4.71%

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

$31.3K A$43.8K

$31.2K A$43.7K

0.21%

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

$215 A$302

$207 A$290

4.03%

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

$27.74 A$38.85

$34.58 A$48.43

-19.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.2 A$81.4

$62.8 A$87.9

-7.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 A$81.3

$56.6 A$79.3

2.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.20 A$25.49

$22.54 A$31.57

-19.25%

Cinema Ticket

$15.72 A$22.01

$17.91 A$25.08

-12.23%

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

$2,235 A$3,129

$2,360 A$3,305

-5.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.6K A$28.9K

$23.7K A$33.2K

-13.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.5 A$109

$77.0 A$108

0.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.1 A$78.5

$66.4 A$92.9

-15.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 A$156

$124 A$173

-10.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 A$181

$156 A$219

-17.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,488 A$2,084

$1,989 A$2,786

-25.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 A$1,836

$1,634 A$2,288

-19.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,314 A$3,241

$2,884 A$4,039

-19.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,911 A$2,676

$2,284 A$3,199

-16.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,581 A$9,217

$8,466 A$11.9K

-22.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,199 A$7,281

$6,164 A$8,632

-15.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,292 A$7,411

$4,375 A$6,128

20.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.85

5.92

-1.18%

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

Last update for Port Hedland: September 8, 2026

Last update for Perth: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,488 in Port Hedland and $1,989 in Perth. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Port Hedland pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $86.0 in Port Hedland vs $85.0 in Perth. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $380, with Port Hedland 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

Port Hedland vs Perth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Hedland is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 21% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,488 in Port Hedland versus $1,989 in Perth. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Port Hedland runs roughly 21% less than in Perth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,235 in Port Hedland versus $2,360 in Perth. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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.

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, Port Hedland and Perth 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 Port Hedland gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.