Cost of Living in Perth

When you study in Perth you save, enjoying a lower cost of living compared to other major cities in Australia.

Live and study in one of Australia’s most affordable capital cities

With lower accommodation costs, lower transportation costs, and lower overall living expenses than some of the other major cities in Australia (and worldwide), it’s easy to see why Perth is such a popular destination for international students.

Perth is a city built on convenience, which makes getting around both affordable and easy, with an expansive public transport network, capped pricing and free buses in major entertainment and business districts.

A vibrant and cosmopolitan city that offers a high quality of life for students, you’ll be blessed with a near endless amount of options for accommodation, transport, food, entertainment and leisure.

Calculate your Cost of Living

With a variety of different living expenses to consider, working out how much you need to budget for can be difficult.

To make it easier for you to understand exactly how much money you’ll need to live comfortably in Perth, we’ve created a helpful Cost of Living calculator.

Use our Cost of Living Calculator

What are the main expenses international students should consider?

Perth offers a variety of cost-effective student accommodation types perfect for every budget.

Prices vary depending on the location, availability and accommodation type but here are some average prices for student accommodation in Perth:

Hostels and Guesthouses - $90 to $150 AUD per week
Shared Rental - $198 AUD per week
On campus - $90 to $280 AUD per week
Homestay - $345 AUD per week
Rental - $450 AUD per week
Boarding schools - $11,000 to $22,000 AUD per year

Accommodation options in Perth

Getting around Perth is both affordable and easy, with an expansive network, capped pricing and free buses in major entertainment and business districts.

International students receive a 40% discount as a Tertiary SmartRider. Register to be a Smart Rider here. Students also receive an additional 10% discount when using Transperth Autoload.

Public transport is FREE on the first Sunday of every month. Plus, all Central Area Transit (CAT) buses are FREE, and you can travel anywhere on public transport in Western Australia for no more than a two-zone fare. You can view the map here.

Weekly cost: $5 - $35 AUD
Annual cost: $240 - $1,680 AUD

Budgeting for utility bills is important.

Depending on whether or not they are included in your accommodation type, things like electricity, water, gas and internet need to be paid for.

If you’re sharing, these bills are generally split between tenants.

Average utilities in Perth cost:

Electricity: $500 per quarter
Water: $300 per quarter
Gas: $169 per quarter
Internet: $120 per quarter

During your stay in Australia, you will also need to factor in entertainment costs.

Whether it's going to the gym, heading to a movie or taking in a show, it all adds up.

Here are some average costs to factor into your budget:

Movies (student night): $7 - $9
Fitness: $15 - $30
Shows (comedy, plays etc): $50

Weekly Cost: $72 - $89
Annual Cost: $3,744 - $4,628

When coming to Australia on a student visa, you are required to have overseas student health insurance.

It covers any doctor’s appointments, hospital costs, ambulances, or prescription medications you may require during your time in Perth.

You can check the price of overseas health cover and book it online using the Overseas Health Cover (OSHC) tool.

The average student budget in Perth

To help you understand the cost of living in Perth, we’ve put together what your average weekly budget could look like.

Rent - City (Shared): AUD$225 per week
Utility Bill (Shared): AUD$40 per week
Grocery: AUD$60 per week
Phone and internet: AUD$25 per week
Public Transport: AUD$15 per week
Entertainment: AUD$80 per week

Total weekly budget: AUD$445

Living in Perth

Hear what our students think of living and studying in Perth.

Jan Andre Aquino (Andre)

"I really enjoy the community in Perth. Everyone is so interesting, and I love exploring the city."

Rutvi Timbadia

"Perth is a great place to pursue a mining career."

Sheldon Ying

"I love the work-life balance and the cultural diversity here."

Connect with our student community

Make new connections and form lifelong friendships by attending our range of events designed to help international students get the most out of their Perth experience.

See all upcoming events