But few people find this a problem as it has also spawned the creation of various employment opportunities for both qualified locals and expatriates.
Accommodation
Various housing options have been recently offered in Perth in line with Australia's open policy on immigration. Expatriates can have a wide range to choose from including apartments, traditional houses with large yards and fancy condominiums in the central areas. Most prefer to live in the suburbs, however, where rent can be significantly cheaper. The average rate of suburban rentals is AUD 445 per week and possibly AUD 600-721 going into the more expensive neighborhoods.
Buying a Property
The median price for houses in Perth has been on an uptrend and is now at AUD 512,178. Many expatriates have been finding home in suburban neighborhoods such as Beldon, Edgewater, Joondalup and Ocean Reef, which compose the lower end of this average. These areas also comprise about 25% of the city's total population. More expensive districts such as Nedlands and Dalkeith which are closer to the city centre and the Swan River have prices going up to as much as AUD 2.5 million. The highest paid professionals in Perth are generally found in the central and northern outskirts of the city.
Food
For a family of four, a grocery budget is around AUD 500 a week, with price differences among items depending on where they are sourced. Seafood is generally affordable but can be exorbitantly priced when bought from certain fishing villages. Fruits and vegetables are cheap while meat and milk are the cheapest owing to the large number of cow ranches scattered around the country. Locally acquired and processed food such as beef, lamb or kangaroo along with exotic varieties like crocodile, shark, ostrich and emu meat are generally affordable. A typical restaurant bill per week for a family of the same size could be around AUD 100 including meals, drinks and takeaways. Generally, food is cheaper compared to other international cities.
Utilities
Perth ranks 42nd out of 282 cities in the world in terms of household utility costs and is relatively more expensive in comparison to other Australian cities. Annual average costs can amount to AUD 1200 for electricity, AUD 575 for gas, AUD 1450 for a telephone, AUD 1190 for water supply and usage, AUD 480 for broadband Internet and about AUD 23,328 for mortgage.
Transportation
Perth is relatively isolated in terms of geography in Australia, but in return, the city has invited transport investments which are now paying off. Getting around it has become very convenient with its network of freeways and highways, trains, buses and ferries, plus two major airports which hold a lot of economic promise for the city. Taxi fare begins at a minimum of AUD 10 and runs for about AUD 10 per ten minutes while a weekly bus ticket can cost from AUD 0.80 - 1.20.
Perth is not the cheapest place in the world to live, but employment opportunities are not hard to come by. For
expatriates, living an expensive lifestyle in this city is nothing out of the ordinary and simply a comfortable way of life.
More Expat Resources
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
PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0iaXRlbSBibG9jX2ltYWdlIiBzdHlsZT0iYmFja2dyb3VuZDp1cmwoaHR0cDovL2hvbWUuZXhwYXRmaW5kZXIuY29tL2RhdGEvaW1ncy9jbXMvcnViNF8xMzIyMjEzNjI0NDA1NzIxMDAuZ2lmKSBuby1yZXBlYXQgI0YyRjJGMjtiYWNrZ3JvdW5kLXBvc2l0aW9uOjMwcHggMjBweDsiPg0KCTxoMz5HZXQgRnJlZSBNb3ZpbmcgUXVvdGVzPC9oMz4NCgk8ZGl2IGNsYXNzPSJkZXNjcmlwdGlvbiI+UHJlcGFyaW5nIHRvIG1vdmUgdG8gQXVzdHJhbGlhPyAgR2V0IHVwIHRvIDYgZnJlZSBxdW90ZXMgZnJvbSBwcmUgc2NyZWVuZWQgbW92aW5nIGNvbXBhbmllcyB3aGVuIHlvdSBzZXR0bGUgaW4gU3lkbmV5LCBDYW5iZXJyYSwgTWVsYm91cm5lIG9yIGFueXdoZXJlIGFyb3VuZCB0aGUgY291bnRyeS48L2Rpdj4NCgk8ZGl2IGNsYXNzPSJjbGlja2JvdXRvbiI+DQoJCTxhIGNsYXNzPSJidXR0b24gYmNzX2IxNDBfNDUgZjE0IiAgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL21vdmluZy5leHBhdGZpbmRlci5jb20vaW50ZXJuYXRpb25hbC1tb3ZlcnMtZnJlZS1xdW90ZXMiPjxzcGFuPkdldCBGcmVlIFF1b3Rlczwvc3Bhbj48L2E+DQoJPC9kaXY+DQoJPGRpdiBjbGFzcz0ic2VwYXJhdGlvbiI+Jm5ic3A7PC9kaXY+DQo8L2Rpdj4NCg0K
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
