How Much Do You Really Need to Earn to Live Comfortably in Perth?
Perth. The word itself conjures images of endless sunshine, pristine beaches, and a famously relaxed lifestyle. As Australia’s sunniest capital city, it’s a magnet for those seeking a better work-life balance. Whether you’re relocating with the help of professional removalists in Perth or simply considering a fresh start, one crucial question remains: How much do you actually need to earn to live comfortably here?
Forget just scraping by. We’re talking about a “comfortable” life – one where you can pay your bills without stress, enjoy a meal out, save for a holiday, and handle an unexpected expense without panic. This guide will break down the real cost of living in Perth in 2025, giving you the salary figures you need for your specific situation.
What Does ‘Comfortable’ Even Mean in Perth?
Before we dive into the numbers, let’s define “comfortable.” It’s a spectrum, but for most people in Perth, it means:
- Housing: Renting or owning a decent place in a safe suburb without being under severe financial pressure.
- Bills & Groceries: Covering all your utilities, food, and transport costs without having to choose between them.
- Lifestyle: Having a budget for regular social activities, like a few coffees a week, a meal out each fortnight, a gym membership, and streaming subscriptions.
- Savings: Being able to put aside at least 10% of your income for future goals, like a holiday, a house deposit, or just a rainy-day fund.
- Peace of Mind: Not living pay cheque to pay cheque.
Now, let’s break down where your money will go.
The Perth Cost of Living Breakdown: The Big Three
These three categories will make up the bulk of your budget. Getting a handle on them is the first step to figuring out your magic salary number.
1. Housing: Your Biggest Expense
There’s no sugar-coating it: Perth’s rental market is tight, and prices have risen significantly. Housing will be your single largest monthly cost.
- Renting: As of mid-2025, the median rent for a house in Perth is around $650 per week, while a unit or apartment is around $550 per week.
- Inner-city/Popular Coastal Suburbs (e.g., Subiaco, Leederville, Scarborough): Expect to pay a premium. A 2-bedroom apartment could be $650-$800+ per week.
- Middle-ring Suburbs (e.g., Morley, Canning Vale, Joondalup): A 3-bedroom family home might range from $600-$750 per week.
- Outer Suburbs: You’ll find more affordable options, but you’ll have a longer commute.
Estimated Weekly Rent:
- Single/Couple (1-2 bedroom apartment): $550 – $700
- Family (3-4 bedroom house): $650 – $850+
2. Transport: Getting Around the Sprawling City
Perth is a very spread-out city, and for many, a car is a necessity rather than a luxury.
- Driving: If you own a car, you need to budget for more than just fuel.
- Fuel: Roughly $60 – $100 per week, depending on your commute and car’s efficiency.
- Registration (“Rego”): About $800 – $1,100 per year.
- Insurance: Varies wildly, but budget $1,000 – $1,500 per year.
- Maintenance: A safe bet is to put aside $20-$30 per week for servicing and tyres.
Total Weekly Car Cost: Approximately $120 – $180
- Public Transport: Transperth offers a good network of trains, buses, and ferries. A SmartRider card is essential. With a daily cap, a regular commuter might spend $30 – $50 per week.
3. Groceries: Fuelling Your Lifestyle
Your weekly grocery bill will depend on your diet, where you shop (Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, or local markets), and how many mouths you have to feed.
Estimated Weekly Grocery Bill:
- Single Person: $100 – $150
- Couple: $200 – $280
- Family of Four: $300 – $450+
The ‘Other’ Essential Living Expenses
Beyond the big three, these are the recurring costs that make up modern life.
- Utilities (Quarterly Bills, broken down weekly):
- Electricity (Synergy): $40 – $70 per week (higher in summer with air-con).
- Gas (Alinta/ATCO): $20 – $30 per week (higher in winter for heating).
- Water (Water Corp): $25 – $40 per week.
- Internet/NBN: $20 – $25 per week.
Total Weekly Utilities: $105 – $165
- Healthcare: While Medicare provides a safety net, many opt for private health insurance to avoid long waits and cover extras like dental and optical.
- Cost: A basic-to-mid-range policy can cost a single person $30 – $50 per week, and a family $70 – $120 per week.
- Lifestyle & Entertainment (The ‘Comfort’ Factor):
This is what turns surviving into thriving.- Coffee & Takeaway Lunches: $50 – $80 per week
- Dining Out/Entertainment (pubs, cinema): $70 – $150 per week
- Subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, etc.): $10 per week
- Gym/Fitness: $20 – $40 per week
Total Weekly Lifestyle Budget: A comfortable range is $150 – $300
Putting It All Together: So, What’s the Magic Salary Number?
Let’s calculate the estimated after-tax weekly income needed and the gross annual salary required to earn that. These figures include a modest 10% for savings.
For a Single Person (Renting a 1-Bed Apartment)
- Rent: $580
- Transport (Car): $130
- Groceries: $120
- Utilities: $110
- Healthcare: $35
- Lifestyle: $180
- Savings (10%): $115
- Total Weekly Spend (After-Tax): ~$1,270
- Required Gross Annual Salary: To take home this amount after tax and superannuation, you would need to earn approximately $95,000 – $105,000 per year.
For a Couple (DINKs – Dual Income, No Kids, Renting a 2-Bed Apartment)
- Rent: $680
- Transport (One Car): $140
- Groceries: $230
- Utilities: $130
- Healthcare: $70
- Lifestyle: $250
- Savings (10%): $150
- Total Weekly Household Spend (After-Tax): ~$1,650
- Required Gross Household Income: This requires a combined income of roughly $140,000 – $160,000 per year. This could be two partners earning $75k each, or any other combination.
For a Family of Four (Renting a 3-Bed House)
- Rent: $750
- Transport (Larger Car): $180
- Groceries: $350
- Utilities: $160
- Healthcare: $90
- Kids’ Activities/Costs: $80
- Lifestyle: $200
- Savings (10%): $180
- Total Weekly Household Spend (After-Tax): ~$1,990
- Required Gross Household Income: To comfortably support this lifestyle, a family would need a combined pre-tax income of around $180,000 – $210,000 per year. This doesn’t include significant childcare costs, which can add another $100-$150 per day, per child.
Perth vs The East Coast: Is It Still Cheaper?
Historically, Perth has been significantly cheaper than Sydney or Melbourne. While the housing gap has closed recently, Perth still offers a compelling value proposition. You generally get more space for your money, and while wages in some sectors might be lower, they are very high in the dominant resources industry.
The key difference is that for a similar salary, your quality of life – measured in living space, commute times, and access to natural beauty – is often higher in Perth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is $100,000 a good salary in Perth?
Yes, for a single person, $100,000 is a very good salary that allows for a comfortable lifestyle with room for significant savings. For a single-income family, it would be a tight budget.
What is the average salary in Perth?
As of 2025, the average full-time salary in Western Australia hovers around $100,000 – $104,000 per year. However, this is skewed by very high mining salaries. The median salary is a more realistic representation for most people.
Can you live in Perth on $70,000 a year?
Yes, you can live on $70,000, but you would be on a strict budget. It would fall more into the “surviving” category than “comfortable.” You’d likely need to live in a share house or an outer suburb and be very mindful of your spending on lifestyle and entertainment.
What is the most expensive part of living in Perth?
Without a doubt, housing is the most significant expense in Perth, whether you are renting or paying off a mortgage. It will consume the largest portion of your income.
The Final Verdict
Perth’s incredible lifestyle comes with a price tag, but one that is still within reach for many. While the rising cost of living is a reality, the city continues to offer a fantastic balance of economic opportunity and unparalleled natural beauty.
To live comfortably, a single person should aim for a salary of $95,000+, a couple a combined $150,000+, and a family a household income of $180,000+. These are not minimums to survive, but targets for a life where you can truly enjoy everything the West Coast has to offer.