Cost of living in Perth — is your salary enough?
Perth rents average A$1,800/month, driven by a strong resources sector and low housing supply. Perth earners benefit from high resources-sector wages, often saving above Australia's mid-income benchmark.
Rent in Perth
Other monthly costs
How different incomes stack up
At typical Perth costs (A$1,800 rent)
See your personal verdict for Perth
Cost figures are estimates based on reported median rents and typical spending patterns. Savings benchmarks from ABS Household Expenditure Survey 2022/23. Figures in AUD.
Frequently asked questions — Living in Perth
How much does it cost to live in Perth?+
Core monthly costs in Perth run about A$3,500 — roughly A$1,800 for rent and A$1,700 for other living expenses (food, transport, utilities, basics). Perth rents average A$1,800/month, driven by a strong resources sector and low housing supply.
What is the median rent in Perth?+
The median rent in Perth is around A$1,800 per month. Perth is classified as a moderate cost cost-of-living city in Australia.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Perth?+
Using the 70%-rule (core costs ≤ 70% of gross), you need roughly A$60,000 per year before tax to live comfortably in Perth. That leaves room to hit the 8% savings benchmark for Australia.
Is Perth expensive compared to the rest of Australia?+
Perth sits in the moderate cost tier within Australia. Perth earners benefit from high resources-sector wages, often saving above Australia's mid-income benchmark.
How much of your income should rent take in Perth?+
The standard rule is no more than 30% of gross income on rent. At A$1,800/month in Perth, that means a gross income of at least A$72,000 per year to stay under the 30% threshold.
Can you still save money living in Perth?+
Yes — the Australia benchmark for mid-income earners is 8% of gross income. In a moderate cost city like Perth, hitting that rate is comfortably achievable for most mid-income households.
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