Essentials
- City
- Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Population
- Approximately 2,100,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 100 Mbps (NBN Fiber), 5G widely available
- Currency & Banking
- Australian Dollar (AUD). 1 AUD ≈ 0.65 USD, 1 USD ≈ 1.54 AUD
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality across the metro area
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type I sockets (three-flat-pin plug)
- SIM Card
- Telstra (best coverage), Optus, Vodafone. Available at Perth Airport (T1/T4) for approx. $30 AUD/30GB
- Banking for Expats
- Commonwealth Bank (CBA), ANZ, Westpac, NAB. Digital options: Wise, Revolut, Up Bank
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Flatmates.com.au (for rooms), Realestate.com.au (for long-term leases)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, extremely cashless; Apple Pay and tap-and-go accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Stayz, Nesuto Mounts Bay ($220 AUD/night)
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel G (80 Stirling St, approx. $55 AUD/night), Billabong Backpackers
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Perth CBD or Northbridge for nightlife; Scarborough for beach vibes
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Subiaco (vibrant, walkable), Fremantle (artsy, coastal), or South Perth (scenic, quiet)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Spacecubed (Riff) - 45 St Georges Terrace ($40 AUD/day pass)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Lowdown (166 Murray St) or Telegram Coffee (State Buildings). Friendly for short-duration laptop use
- Networking Events
- Morning Startup Perth (bi-weekly at Riff), Silicon Beach Perth Meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Perth Expat Meetup Group, InterNations Perth, Fremantle Expats Facebook Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Ola, DiDi (often cheaper), and Swan Taxis
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Beam and Neuron (orange/purple e-scooters) scattered across CBD/Fremantle via app
- Best Beach Nearby
- Cottesloe Beach (15 mins from CBD), City Beach, Scarborough
- Top Regional Airline
- Regional Express (Rex), QantasLink
- Top International Airline
- Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways
- Highway Access
- Mitchell Freeway (North), Kwinana Freeway (South), Graham Farmer Freeway (East-West)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Perth Station (Wellington St) and Perth Busport
- Public Transport Passes
- SmartRider card ($10 purchase, provides 10-20% fare discount)
- Regional Travel
- Transwa (Train/Bus to Margaret River/Albany) or Rottnest Express (Ferry to Rottnest Island)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Royal Perth Hospital (Victoria Square) or Sir Charles Gairdner (Nedlands)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Bodhi Wellness Spa (CBD), Yoga Lab (Fremantle), Bloom Yoga Room
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anytime Fitness (multiple locations), Revo Fitness ($15 AUD/week, 24/7)
- Laundry Services
- The Soap Bar (Laundromat & Cafe, various locations), Cloud Nine Dry Cleaners
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, DoorDash, Menulog
- Best Local Dish to Try
- WA Rock Lobster or a 'Continental Roll' from Re Store (Leederville)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Loving Hut (Victoria Park), Flora & Fauna (Northbridge)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Whisk Creamery (Subiaco), Chicho Gelato (Northbridge)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Spudshed (24/7 budget local produce), Kmart (general goods)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.com.au, eBay, Catch.com.au
- Grocery Delivery
- Coles Online, Woolworths, Milkrun (fast delivery)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Northbridge (James Street) and Leederville (Oxford Street)
- Local Brewery
- Little Creatures (Fremantle), Gage Roads (A Shed, Fremantle Port)
- Wine Bars
- Strange Company (Fremantle), Si Paradiso (Highgate)
- Street Food Stalls
- Twilight Hawkers Market (Forrest Place, Fridays during summer)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Authentic Dim Sum at Dragon Palace; Ramen Keisuke Tonkotsu King
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Kings Park and Botanic Garden, The Bell Tower, Elizabeth Quay
- Museums & Art Venues
- WA Museum Boola Bardip, Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA)
- Historical Sites
- Fremantle Prison (UNESCO listed), Round House
- Religious Sites
- St Mary's Cathedral, St George's Cathedral
- Annual Events
- Perth Festival (Feb), Fringe World (Jan/Feb), Sculptures by the Sea (March)
- Cultural Districts
- Northbridge Cultural Centre, Fremantle West End
- Theater Venues
- His Majesty's Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA
- Local Markets
- Fremantle Markets (Fri-Sun), Perth City Farm (Sat)
- Music Scene
- The Bird (Northbridge), Mojo’s Bar (North Fremantle)
- Cooking Classes
- Saltbush Cooking School, Matters of Taste (Bicton)
- Art Galleries
- PICA (Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts), Linton & Kay
- Historic Buildings
- The State Buildings (Old Treasury), Perth Town Hall
- Local Heritage
- Whadjuk Noongar Aboriginal heritage; Black Swan symbol of WA
- Street Art
- Wolf Lane (CBD murals), Fremantle alleyways
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Rottnest Island (Home of the Quokka), Swan Valley Vineyards
- National Parks Nearby
- John Forrest National Park, Yanchep National Park (koalas and caves)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Swan River Loop (10km bridge-to-bridge), Coastal path from Cottesloe to Swanbourne
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Lotterywest Federation Walkway (Kings Park), Zig Zag Scenic Drive (Kalamunda)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Lake Monger (Black Swans), Herdsman Lake
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally forbidden due to bushfire risk; only in designated regional campsites like Lane Poole Reserve
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Australia Post, StarTrack, Sendle
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Perth City (Hay St), Phone Rehab
- Table Tennis Spots
- Pot Black (Northbridge), North Perth Commonwealth Bowling Club
- Language Classes
- North Metropolitan TAFE, MILC (Multi-Lingual Language Centre)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- City of Perth Library (Hay St) - stunning architecture and quiet zones
- Community Centers
- Citiplace Community Centre (Perth Station)
- Gaming Lounges
- Escape Portal (Cannington), Palace Arcade (Bar/Gaming)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Crown Perth (Burswood)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $8,500 AUD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $340,000 AUD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $6,000 AUD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $240,000 AUD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $7,800 AUD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $468,000 AUD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $5,500 AUD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $330,000 AUD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $7,200 AUD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $576,000 AUD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $5,200 AUD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $416,000 AUD)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Base rate for small/medium business) or 30%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (often mitigated by tax treaties or franking credits)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents; Australia-sourced income for non-residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% for income over $190,001 AUD (Stage 3 tax cuts applied)
- VAT
- 10% GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, very comprehensive rules for Australian tax residents
- Property Tax
- Land Tax applies to investment properties; Stamp Duty on purchase
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp Duty varies (Approx. $15,000 on a $400,000 property for non-first home buyers)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; however, Medicare levy exemptions may apply for temporary residents