Cost of Living in Perth for Students

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Perth is the capital of Western Australia and the 4th largest city in the country, located on the banks of the Swan River.

The cost of living in Perth will cover your rent, food, transport, utilities, etc.

Perth is less expensive than living in Sydney.

Perth has the lowest living expenses compared to the main cities in Australia. Thus, it makes Perth the most preferred study destination.

Student accommodation in Perth is available, and plenty to find close to universities. There are various types of accommodations in Perth.

You can reduce your living expenses by staying close to the university and even sharing an accommodation. Please bear in mind that the cost of living will depend on your lifestyle, etc.

For more personalized information, use our cost of living calculator to estimate your desired area’s average cost of living.

Is Perth a fun and open-to-nightlife city?

Yes, the Nightlife in the City of Perth is flooded with students on the weekends who take a break from study life and socialise with friends and students from other universities.

Before we list the details of the cost of living in Perth, let’s summarize its cost.

Expenses	Cost (Average)
Average Tuition Fees	A$25,000 – A$50,000 / Year
Accommodation	A$900 – A$2,500 / Month
Local Transport	A$226 / Month

Costs of Tuition Fees

Before you decide to study in Perth, you should know that the cost of living excludes your rent and tuition fees. This means that you need to keep aside tuition fees for your studies. The university fee will depend on your course and the university you decide to study.

Undergraduate Tuition Fee	Post-Graduate Tuition Fee
A$25,000 to A$45,000 / Year	A$30,000 to A$50,000 / Year

Student Accommodation Costs

The cost of your accommodation will impact your expenses in Perth. With so many choices, you can live in the best areas in Perth.

There are three types of student housing in Perth, where you can opt to stay on-campus or off-campus.

There are student housing (PBSA), private apartments, and university halls. Below is a brief on the types of student accommodation you can choose to stay in while studying in Perth. You can find more detailed information on the top 5 student accommodations in Perth.

Student Housing

If you choose to stay in student housing, you should know it is one of the most preferred options. You will not be far off from the university and get your private space with top-class amenities. The building is built or refurbished with modern infrastructure.

Most of the accommodations are at a distance of under 3 miles. While the ones outside of the city center are upto 20 miles.

Student Housing	Price
Ensuite/ Studio	A$900 – A$1,250 / Month

Private Apartment

Private apartments are available for students to rent while studying. They range from luxurious to budget-friendly ones. The rooms are furnished with the best amenities and living environment.

Apartment	Price
Private	A$1,800 – A$2,500 / Month

University Halls

The university halls are rooms provided to students who want to live in the university. They have a wide range of rooms, but limited seats. The building is usually old, has fewer amenities, and with no utility bills included.

University Hall	Price
Ensuite/ Studio	A$500 – A$1,200 / Month

Food

Perth is expensive when it comes to food. For instance, the cost of groceries for a person will come to 1-2 weekly. If you eat outside, a meal will cost A$26, a drink will cost A$5, and a glass of beer will come to around A$11.

Utility Bills

The utility bills include water, electricity, gas, internet, etc. If you stay in student housing bill will be included in your rent.

Transportation

Perth has many modes of public transportation and is easy to get around by bus, train, or ferry. If you buy a Transperth SmartRider card, you can use it on these networks. It’s hassle-free and can save travel costs instead of paying for a single ticket.

How to cut the cost of living expenses in Perth?

Find a budget-friendly, safe, and secure place to stay

Rent is expensive in Perth, if you share an accommodation with a friend, it will help cut your expenses. There are many affordable student housing available to meet your budget.

Get a part-time job

Getting yourself a part-time job will help you with extra expenses or in times of need.

Use student discount cards

The best part about being a student is you get the privilege to use your student discount cards. Apart from this, you can also look for travel cards, shopping cards, etc. Make use of discounted cards!

Buy used books

What’s the point of wasting money every year on books you are never going to use again? Right? If you can find some used books from a shop or even materials online, do it!

Try to use free WiFi

Phone bills can be expensive; the less of your internet, the less your mobile billing. If you are in the accommodation, cafe, library, etc, opt for free Wi-Fi.

Cook meals at home

Cooking meals at home is healthy and saves you a lot of money.

Walk or Cycle in Perth

If you can walk or cycle to universities or anywhere else, do it!