Living in Perth

Welcome to lively, sunny Perth ­– known as Boorloo by the Whadjuk Nyungar people – Perth is a safe, prosperous and multicultural city set against the stunning backdrop of the Swan River, which flows into the Indian Ocean. As Australia’s fourth largest city, you can expect great entertainment options and authentic international food while living here.

Affordable living

Perth ranks among the more affordable major cities in Australia, with lower living costs than Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Housing is generally more affordable, particularly for renters and first-home buyers, while everyday expenses such as transport, dining and entertainment are often lower than in Australia's larger east coast cities. Although grocery and utility costs are broadly comparable to the national average, Perth's relatively high wages and strong employment opportunities—particularly in mining, construction, healthcare and engineering—help offset living expenses, making it an attractive option for students, professionals and families seeking a high quality of life at a lower overall cost.

Popular time zone

A quarter of the world's population lives in the same time zone as Perth (GMT+8), which includes major economic and cultural hubs such as Beijing, Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. This strategic location makes Perth one of Australia's most connected cities to the Asia-Pacific region, enabling convenient real-time communication and collaboration with businesses, universities and organisations across Asia. The shared time zone also facilitates international trade, investment, education and travel, strengthening Perth's role as a gateway between Australia and some of the world's fastest-growing economies.

Exciting developments

Optus Stadium, a new multipurpose venue, won the Prix Versailles 2019 Sports Award and was awarded the title of the most beautiful sporting facility in the world. Yagan Square, named after a 19th century Nyungar leader, is a meeting point for many, offering easy access to both new and established restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs, and a variety of global cuisine. Along the riverside, Elizabeth Quay offers many exciting seasonal events.

“Perth is very community-based even though it is a city. The people here are friendly and welcoming and I enjoy the almost continuous sunny days.”

Melina Schuett, Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance)

Magnificent weather

Perth is Australia’s sunniest state capital city, averaging more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. To make the most of the beautiful weather, many locals head to our beautiful beaches during summer. Others travel to the Swan Valley, the home of world-class wineries, cheese shops, chocolate factories and breweries.

Beautiful nature and wildlife

There are many magnificent parks and gardens in and around Perth. Kings Park, which is larger than New York’s Central Park, showcases more than 3,000 species of WA’s unique flora. Caversham Wildlife Park has many Australian animals, including kangaroos you can handfeed. Rottnest Island, just 20 kilometres offshore, is one of the world’s last homes of the cute and friendly quokka.