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The capital of West Australia is Perth. It has an amazing site that has the Swan River on the southwest coast. Sandy beaches of suburbs, a beautiful King Park, and a Botanic garden on Mount Eliza. The cost of living in Perth for international students is around 2700 A$ per month including rent.
The overall cost of living in Perth is lower than that of major Australian cities due to affordable accommodation and transportation. Moreover, Perth is a popular destination for international students. But in 2024, how much will it cost to live in Perth as an expat student? In this blog post, we will show the various aspects of Perth’s expenses, such as education, housing, food, transportation, utilities, healthcare, and many others. So, let’s begin our discussion without any further delay.
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Why Live and Study in Perth?
Perth is a lively and cosmopolitan city that offers a high quality of life experience for students. Compared to other countries in the world, the cost of living in Perth is relatively low for international students, which makes studying in Perth easy and affordable. In terms of education, Perth consists of some world’s top universities that have top-notch programs and a high global ranking, such as University of Western Australia (UWA), Murdoch, Curtin, Notre Dame and ECU.
Perth’s educational system is ever-evolving, continuously changing to meet the needs of the latest international education system and economy. The teachers in Perth’s universities are competent and experienced in their respective fields.
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Cost of Living in Perth for International Students
Perth is an outstanding hub for shopping, recreation, nature parks, institutes, libraries, beaches, festivals, and other activities. Apart from this, the cost of living in Perth for international students is 1,777 A$ per month without rent, which is more affordable.
Here we have given the general breakdown of the cost of living in Perth for International Students in various categories, from which they can get an idea of how much they have to keep with them before moving to Perth:
Cost of Housing in Perth
This cost of living in Perth for a single person or student comes to around 2,669 A$ per month. There are various accommodation options available for expat students depending on their budget and lifestyle too. Some of the costs of housing in Perth are as follows:
| Apartment Location | Approx. Monthly Rent |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | 2,669 A$ |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | 1,945 A$ |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | 3,912 A$ |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | 2,937 A$ |
Cost of Grocery in Perth
The average cost of groceries in Perth is around 260 A$ per month, including food, milk, water and other items. Groceries costs can affect the cost of living in Perth because groceries are everyday expenses for all. So here below is the list of grocery items and their prices available in the country:
| Grocery Item | Approx. Cost |
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | 2.63 A$ |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | 3.57 A$ |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | 3.47 A$ |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | 6.42 A$ |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | 15.80 A$ |
| Apples (1kg) | 5.33 A$ |
| Banana (1kg) | 4.15 A$ |
| Oranges (1kg) | 4.90 A$ |
| Tomato (1kg) | 6.04 A$ |
| Potato (1kg) | 3.74 A$ |
| Onion (1kg) | 3.05 A$ |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 3.59 A$ |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | 2.64 A$ |
| Other non veg food items | Around 30 A$ |
Cost of Utilities in Perth
The Basic Utility Cost in Perth is around 2,667 A$ for one person, which is very nominal compared to the cost of living in Perth. This utility cost includes heating, electricity, gas, a mobile plan, and internet access. For your reference, Here’s a breakdown of the costs for basic Cost of Utilities in Perth for international students in the country:
| Utility Type | Approx. Monthly Cost |
| Basic Utility for 85m2 Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 352 A$ |
| Monthly Plan of Mobile Phone (with Calls & 10GB+ Data) | 49 A$ |
| Internet (60+ Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | 85 A$ |
Cost of Transportation in Perth
Transportation in Perth is very convenient, and people can go anywhere they need to quickly and affordably. It offers an expansive public transport network run by Transperth that includes trains, buses, and ferries. Transportation contributes to around 172 A$ per month in the overall cost of living in Perth. Here are various modes of transportation costs every month on can be required:
| Mode of Transport | Approx. Monthly Cost |
| One-way Ticket(Local Transport) | 4.60 A$ |
| Monthly Pass(Regular Price) | 168.00 A$ |
| Taxi Start(Normal Tariff) | 7.00 A$ |
| Taxi 1km(Normal Tariff) | 3.00 A$ |
| Taxi 1 hour Waiting(Normal Tariff) | 85.00 A$ |
Also Read: Cost of Living in Cambodia: A Guide on Expected Expenses
Average Tuition Fees in Perth
The cost of living in Perth for international students also includes their university tuition fees. Before moving to Perth one of the most important things for students is whether they can afford the average tuition fees of the Universities or not.
For that, we have given the cost of average tuition fees assessed by the universities in Perth in the table below:
| Course Type | Average Tuition Fees |
| Bachelor Degree | 20,000 A$ to 45,000 A$ |
| Postgraduate masters degree | 22,000 A$ to 50,000 A$ |
| Doctoral degree | 20,000 A$ to 42,000 A$ |
Things to Consider Before Moving to Perth
Now that you have understood the cost of living in Perth in various categories in detail. Besides finalising the budget for living expenses in Perth, there are plenty of options for international students, including academic excellence, environment and recreational opportunities. Here are some essential things expat students should consider before moving to Perth for their higher studies:
Student Visa Costs in Perth
The Student visa fee in Perth, Australia, is 650 A$. For visa requirements, students need to organise OSHC, which stands for Overseas Student Health Cover, which should be valid for the tenure of their stay. Remember, the University you choose should be government-approved; if you get selected, you don’t need to use university recommendations for a visa. Moreover, Perth’s visa cost is not included in the cost of living in Perth.
Work Opportunities in Perth
One can find more work opportunities in Perth’s local job market, but you must plan to find a job there. Work opportunities can help students to manage the cost of living in Perth. To help you with your job search, here are some famous sectors of Perth that provide more job opportunities:
- scientific and technical services
- safety and health care assistance
- professional services
- Mining
Amazing Weather in Perth
There is a Mediterranean climate in Perth, with dry summers and wet winters. Perth has opposite weather conditions. February is the hottest month in this city, with a temperature of around 31.6°C (88.9°F), while the coldest month is July, with a temperature of around 7.9°C (46.2°F). Rainfalls in Perth occur from May to September.
Health Insurance is Required
Anyone who considers living in Pert, including students and employed people, will have to pay for their health care bills using cash, which can be very high, or they will have to take private health insurance. It means you have to include health insurance cost in the cost of living in Perth budget.
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FAQs
Answer: The average monthly salary in Perth is 5,417 A$, which is enough for one person because the cost of living in Perth without rent is 1,777 A$. This means that you can save some money and send it to your home.
Answer: The average cost of living in Perth is around 1,485 A$ to 1,773 A$ per month without tuition fees. This means the cost of living for a student is decent compared to other countries worldwide.
Answer: Yes, living in Perth is a good decision for students because it is a city of opportunity. It has a friendly, inclusive community, beautiful year-round sunshine, a wide range of job prospects, and a lower cost of living in Perth compared to other major cities.
So, this was all about the cost of living in Perth. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad.
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