🇦🇺 ABS Data · Feb 2026
Perth
Cost of Living
Real ABS data on what it costs to live in Perth. CPI, wages, jobs, earnings, and property — no spin.
1st most expensive
of 8 capital cities by CPI inflation0.0%
CPI Inflation (YoY)
vs
+3.7%
National Average
101.2
CPI Index
📊 Source: ABS Consumer Price Index (6401.0)
CPI Trend
Perth CPI over time
All Groups CPI index for Perth vs the national average. Higher = more expensive. Hover for detail.
Perth
National (dashed)
Inflation Breakdown
What's getting more expensive in Perth?
Year-on-year inflation by CPI subcategory. Red = prices rising fast. Green = prices falling.
Electricity
+288.9%
Utilities
+62.6%
Housing
+14.8%
Beef and veal
+14.3%
Coffee, tea and cocoa
+10.8%
Rents
+5.8%
Gas and other household fuels
+5.1%
Restaurant meals
+4.6%
Alcohol and tobacco
+4.2%
Meals out and take away foods
+4.1%
Medical and hospital services
+3.7%
Take away and fast foods
+3.5%
Food and non-alcoholic beverages
+3.1%
Milk
+3.0%
Water and sewerage
+2.7%
Eggs
+2.3%
Motor vehicles
+2.2%
Bread
+1.0%
Poultry
+0.9%
Communication
+0.8%
Private motoring
+0.0%
Transport
-0.1%
Cheese
-0.2%
Pharmaceutical products
-2.1%
Automotive fuel
-6.6%
City Comparison
Cost of living vs other cities
All Groups CPI YoY inflation across capital cities. Higher = prices rising faster.
#1
Perth you are here
+4.9%
#2
Hobart
+4.0%
#3
Sydney
+3.8%
#4
Brisbane
+3.7%
#5
Canberra
+3.5%
#6
Adelaide
+3.4%
#7
Melbourne
+3.3%
#8
Darwin
+3.2%
Wage Price Index
Wages in WA
WPI measures wage growth. WA vs national. Are wages keeping up with Perth inflation?
159.6
Latest WPI Index
+4.1%
WA WPI YoY
+3.4%
National WPI YoY
-0.8%
Real Wage Growth
WA WPI
National (dashed)
Job Market
Employment in WA
Unemployment rate and labour force participation for Western Australia.
4.2%
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
National Unemployment
68.6%
Participation Rate
66.9%
National Participation
WA Unemployment
National (dashed)
Average Weekly Earnings
What WA earns
Full-time adult average weekly earnings for Western Australia. ABS Cat. 6302.0.
$2,304
Weekly (WA)
$119,787
Annual (WA)
$2,129
National Weekly
23%
Gender Pay Gap
$2,515/wk
Males
$1,937/wk
Females
Property Market
Housing in WA
Mean dwelling price and affordability for Western Australia. ABS Cat. 6432.0.
$1,014,200
Mean Dwelling Price
▲ 16.8% YoY
$1,074,700
National Average
8.5x
Price / Annual Earnings
9.7x
National Ratio
WA Mean Price
National (dashed)
Dwelling Prices by State
New South Wales $1,301,100
Queensland $1,066,000
Western Australia $1,014,200
Australian Capital Territory $973,800
South Australia $938,100
Victoria $933,100
Tasmania $703,800
Northern Territory $580,000
Explore
Other capital cities
Compare the cost of living across Australia.