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Cost of Living: Gold Coast vs Perth (2026)

Australia vs Australia — relocation comparison

Your passport:
65
Livability Score
🇦🇺 Gold Coast
Australia
Full profile
68
Livability Score
🇦🇺 Perth
Australia
Full profile
Gold Coast
Perth
$2267/mo
Rent
$1821/mo
65/100
Livability
68/100
92/100
Safety
92/100
87/100
Healthcare
86/100
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Sourced from Numbeo · Updated April 2026

TL;DRPerth is 20% cheaper on rent ($1821/mo vs $2267/mo). Both countries will let you complain about the government in public — and mean it.
Too close to call — 68 vs 65. Perth has a slight edge, but Gold Coast might suit you better depending on your priorities.
Household
Gold Coast
Metric
Perth
$2267/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1821/mo
$763/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$611/mo
$13,623
🧳
Cost to land
$11,432
0.8 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.8 / 100k
28°C
☀️
Summer high
29°C
11°C
❄️
Winter low
9°C
7.3 μg/m³
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
5.3 μg/m³
8.8 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.8 / 10
100/100
🗣️
Street English
100/100
$72k
💼
GDP per capita
$72k
3.2% · Boringly steady
📈
Inflation
3.2% · Boringly steady
65 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
68 / 100

Sources: Numbeo · UNODC · Ookla · WHO · EIU · World Bank · Freedom House · Updated April 2026

💰
Cost of Living
Perth
$446/mo cheaper on rent alone

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
stable
improving
Inflation trend
improving

Visa stamps:Easy <90 daysModerate 3–6 moComplex 6+ mo

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

Reproductive Rights

Because your body shouldn't need a visa too

On request
Abortion access
On request
24 wk
Gestational limit
24 wk

Legal in all states/territories; gestational limits vary by state (16-24 weeks on request).

Legal in all states/territories; gestational limits vary by state (16-24 weeks on request).

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

The Short Version

  • Rent is 20% cheaper in Perth ($1821/mo vs $2267/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Perth (29°C vs 28°C).

Gold Coast vs Perth — Common Questions

Is Gold Coast cheaper than Perth?

Perth is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1821/month in Perth vs $2267/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Gold Coast or Perth?

Perth is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Gold Coast has a rate of 0.83 per 100,000 and Perth has 0.83 per 100,000.

Should I move to Gold Coast or Perth?

Too close to call — 68 vs 65. Perth has a slight edge, but Gold Coast might suit you better depending on your priorities. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

What's the cost of rent in Gold Coast vs Perth?

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $1821/month in Perth, $2267/month in Gold Coast (Numbeo). That's 20% cheaper rent in Perth.

Plot twist: other matchups exist

Maybe the real city was the comparisons we made along the way.

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