Savings rate in Perth — are you on track?

In Perth, a savings rate of 8% of gross income is the expected benchmark for mid-income earners in Australia. A rate below 4% is considered a minimum floor — anything less means you are not building meaningful financial resilience. Reaching 19% or above puts you in a strong position relative to others at your income level.

The median rent in Perth is around A$1,800 per month. Perth rents average A$1,800/month, driven by a strong resources sector and low housing supply. This makes rent one of the biggest factors in your ability to save — especially for renters, who typically face higher housing cost burdens than homeowners with fixed mortgages.

A typical budget in Perth includes approximately A$1,800/month for rent and A$1,700/month for other living expenses, for a combined A$3,500/month in core costs. Perth earners benefit from high resources-sector wages, often saving above Australia's mid-income benchmark. Any income above this baseline is what is available for saving or investing.

Yes — but it requires a savings rate in the 4–13% range to match the benchmark for Australia. Perth is a moderate cost city, so housing and living costs are moderate, giving more room to hit the savings benchmark. Perth earners benefit from high resources-sector wages, often saving above Australia's mid-income benchmark.

The benchmark is derived from ABS Household Expenditure Survey 2022/23, the official national household expenditure survey for Australia. Savings rates are calculated by income band — so the expected rate adjusts based on what you earn, not a single national average. This makes the benchmark more relevant to your actual financial position in Perth.