Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between South Yarra and Perth

For one person, living is cheaper in South Yarra: $2,514 a month against $3,080 in Perth, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

South Yarra, Australia
Perth, Australia
South Yarra
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,514
/mo nomad
Perth
🇦🇺 Australia
$3,080
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in South Yarra 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 South Yarra and in Perth actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,514 in South Yarra versus $3,080 in Perth.

  • South Yarra $2,514
  • Perth $3,080

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,591 in South Yarra versus $4,194 in Perth.

  • South Yarra $3,591
  • Perth $4,194

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,668 in South Yarra versus $5,309 in Perth.

  • South Yarra $4,668
  • Perth $5,309

Living in South Yarra 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: South Yarra 85% above, Perth 126% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Yarra
Perth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 A$25.10
$21.45 A$30.48
-17.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.6 A$119
$85.5 A$122
-2.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.62 A$12.25
$10.92 A$15.51
-21.06%
Cappuccino
$3.61 A$5.13
$4.55 A$6.47
-20.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 A$2.93
$2.79 A$3.96
-26.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 A$2.51
$2.26 A$3.21
-22.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.09 A$14.34
$8.31 A$11.81
21.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.31 A$11.81
$8.55 A$12.15
-2.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Yarra
Perth
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 A$2.23
$1.68 A$2.38
-6.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 A$4.05
$3.18 A$4.52
-10.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 A$2.02
$2.02 A$2.87
-29.70%
Eggs
$4.12 A$5.85
$5.28 A$7.51
-21.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.72 A$15.24
$9.51 A$13.51
12.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.85 A$9.74
$9.21 A$13.09
-25.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.97 A$21.27
$13.99 A$19.88
7.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 A$3.91
$4.60 A$6.53
-40.22%
Banana (1kg)
$2.16 A$3.06
$3.15 A$4.48
-31.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.42 A$2.01
$3.52 A$5.00
-59.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.83 A$4.02
$4.84 A$6.88
-41.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.36 A$1.94
$2.79 A$3.97
-51.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 A$3.07
$1.88 A$2.68
14.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.38 A$3.39
$2.21 A$3.13
7.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 A$2.23
$1.34 A$1.90
17.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.45 A$44.68
$42.80 A$60.8
-26.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.67 A$18.01
$12.65 A$17.97
0.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.56 A$7.90
$4.35 A$6.19
27.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.21 A$7.40
$3.37 A$4.78
54.60%
🚌 Getting Around
South Yarra
Perth
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.70 A$3.84
$2.41 A$3.42
12.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.6 A$122
$99.6 A$142
-14.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.43 A$6.30
$3.59 A$5.10
23.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 A$1.97
$1.46 A$2.07
-4.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.94 A$42.54
$40.46 A$57.5
-26.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 A$1.90
$1.35 A$1.92
-0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K A$42.5K
$29.6K A$42.0K
1.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K A$36.5K
$28.1K A$40.0K
-8.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Yarra
Perth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$233 A$331
$204 A$289
14.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.22 A$40.10
$33.62 A$47.77
-16.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.43 A$58.9
$64.8 A$92.1
-36.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Yarra
Perth
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 A$79.5
$54.0 A$76.7
3.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.24 A$21.66
$21.16 A$30.06
-27.98%
Cinema Ticket
$16.70 A$23.73
$17.29 A$24.57
-3.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Yarra
Perth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,427 A$3,449
$2,300 A$3,267
5.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.0K A$42.6K
$23.1K A$32.8K
29.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Yarra
Perth
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.6 A$115
$77.5 A$110
3.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.0 A$71.0
$63.7 A$90.6
-21.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 A$172
$121 A$172
-0.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 A$187
$166 A$235
-20.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Yarra
Perth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,415 A$2,011
$2,006 A$2,850
-29.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 A$1,740
$1,673 A$2,378
-26.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,227 A$3,164
$2,819 A$4,006
-21.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,812 A$2,574
$2,156 A$3,064
-15.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,985 A$8,504
$8,504 A$12.1K
-29.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,234 A$6,016
$6,037 A$8,579
-29.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Yarra
Perth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,224 A$6,002
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
5.96
-1.01%

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

Last update for South Yarra: October 27, 2026

Last update for Perth: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
South Yarra
$1.2K
Perth
$1.7K 36.6% $449
Groceries & Markets
South Yarra
$325
Perth
$365 12.6% $41
Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Yarra
$303
Perth
$302 0.2% $0.6
Eating Out
South Yarra
$293
Perth
$338 15.4% $45
Clothing & Footwear
South Yarra
$172
Perth
$193 11.7% $20
Getting Around
South Yarra
$108
Perth
$120 11.4% $12
Sport & Entertainment
South Yarra
$89
Perth
$89 0.9% $0.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,415 in South Yarra and $2,006 in Perth. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84 in South Yarra vs $86 in Perth for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $325 vs $365 per month, with South Yarra cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 South Yarra
🇦🇺 Perth
🕒 Local time
09:58 9:58 AM
06:58 6:58 AM
3 h behind South Yarra
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
25,147
2,043,762
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.704 USD). 1 EUR = 1.58 AUD (1 AUD = 0.632 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • South Yarra Perth 2,720 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • South Yarra
  • 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
South Yarra vs Perth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Yarra cheaper than Perth?
South Yarra is about 18% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $3,771 in South Yarra and $4,620 in Perth to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between South Yarra and Perth?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,415 in South Yarra versus $2,006 in Perth. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in South Yarra and in Perth?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Perth. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in South Yarra and in Perth?
All in, you’ll spend $2,514 per month in South Yarra versus $3,080 in Perth – South Yarra is about 18% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in South Yarra or in Perth?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. South Yarra 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 South Yarra 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, South Yarra or Perth?
Safety-wise, South Yarra and Perth are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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