Do you plan to move to Western Australia? One of the biggest territories in the country, it provides an excellent balance of nature and indoor entertainment. It doesn’t have the same busy lifestyle as other states like New South Wales or Victoria.
Before you head to Perth or Donnybrook, however, learn more about how much it would cost you to live there.
1. Housing
In general, housing in Australia is expensive. But the degree of affordability can vary among the states. The data from Smart Company showed that the change in dwelling values for cities such as Sydney and Melbourne increased last September 2019. In these places, a home would cost you $790,072 and $626,703, respectively.
It’s a different story for cities like Perth, Western Australia’s capital. It shrunk to -0.5% during the same period. Around this time, you could own a house for less than $500,000. If you buy a Donnybrook house and lot, it might cost you even less. These planned neighborhoods often come with transport access to the nearest public facilities such as schools and hospitals.
2. Education
Australia has a lot of public schools, but they also don’t come free. On a 20 March 2019 article in ABC, Saman Shad mentioned that parents still spend an average of $1,300 annually for education.
In their education index, ASG Planning revealed that government education in the metropolitan cost nearly $70,000 over the last 13 years. Understandably, it is pricier when the child is in private education. Catholic education alone could mean spending more than $125,000 a year.
The good news is that Western Australia offers more affordable schooling than the other regions. New South Wales is the most expensive in government education. Catholic schooling in Adelaide is the highest around the country.
3. Transport
Western Australia has a good transport system like most parts of the country. It has buses and trains with some routes running even late at night.
It provides many types of fares, including student fees with concessions or discounts. You can also buy a DayRider ticket that allows you unlimited day travel. Some passengers like kids four years old and below can also take advantage of free rides. The state even has zones where travel within the areas costs you nothing. Other high-frequency buses that ply the Central Area Transit are also free.
4. Utilities
Western Australia has one of the highest electricity prices in the country. According to Budget Direct, basic utilities in Perth amount to nearly $200 a month. In Sydney, it will cost you no more than $180.
Fortunately, it might be cheaper for you to own an Internet connection here than in New South Wales. A 60mbps Internet with unlimited data is worth $70.47 in Perth but $71.35 in Sydney.
Overall, living in Western Australia, especially in places like Perth or Donnybrook, has its pros and cons. The one advantage is it’s not the most expensive area. Either way, moving can bring a lot of uncertainties. Unload some of them by knowing the cost of living in Western Australia. This should help you settle down more quickly into your new life here.