Cost of Living in Perth

Reading these negative comments disappoints me as someone who grew up in Perth, although left to live elsewhere 20 years ago. The Perth I remember was golden sunsets, friendly locals, (although I was the victim of some severe bullying, even back then,)everybody on the beach by 2.00pm on a hot day, backyard BBQ's, sports mad people, & gym junkies. I'm hazarding a guess that what is happening culturally, is the same that's happening culturally here in Hobart, Tasmania, where I now live. Locals are sick of people swooping in from other places and trying to modernise the culture. Here they are relentless about stopping it and never stop or tire of ameliorating people who come from elsewhere, I've had my turn too, although on my part it was all a misunderstanding. I've no time for fancy restaurants either. Long live the cashed up bogans, with their 2-storey mansions, & swimming pools, who stay at home and never go anywhere, because that is what Perth is all about. People have to start realising that the world isn't free. Wherever you choose to live will have certain standards that they expect to be met and maintained. My sister always used to say that bullying came for a reason: because you were doing something out of bounds in the community that you are in. Learn the rules & play by them. Perth isn't Sydney or Melbourne. It's Perth for a reason.

Why are people exaggerating so badly? I've lived here 15 years. Rent has skyrocketed but will eventually come down. Expect to pay $3000 per month for a 2/3 bedroom 30 minutes from the city by car. It used to be $2000 before covid. Unlike eastern states, we have competition for grocery retailers. Everything is expensive at Woolies and Coles but you can save 30-40% if you shop around. Cheap restaurants are $20-30 per person and decent ones are $50-75. Public transportation is cheap but the infrastructure, while improving isn't great at the moment. It used to be a lot worse.

Prices indicated are no longer valid. Inflation is real and prices for groceries are going through the roof. 1kg beef is $25-$49, 1 kg salmon is around $30, potatos $3.5, cigarettes fun fact are $58 per box not a carton haha. Rent starts around $2000 per month for a small hole. A larger hole would set you back for double. If you want to grab a coffee it cost you $5.5 to go, having a meal at an a stage restaurant with bad service and meh meal would cost $100 a minimum for a couple with one drink each.

Perth isn't good. Here are some reasons why -

1. Too many rude migrants from China and India
2. High cost of living
3. Depressingly bad dating scene. Impossible to find a date here if you aren't white or a celebrity.
4. Nothing to do and you need a car to get around.
5. Racist locals that are tough to make friends with / don't like outsiders.

Extremely depressed here and I can't wait to leave.

Good news for larger families, small business owners and everybody else: Costco has a second location in Perth, it is Casuarina (Thomas Road and Kwinana Freeway). Keep on saving !

I live in Perth Metro area in Alkimos. It was a struggle to find rent under 400 per week for rent i now pay 400 per week.

These are the changes i would like to share

Before 2021-2022 financial Period

- $265 rent for a 2x1 right next to the train station
- $45 - $50 for a full tank of fuel per week
- $200 - $300 for a month of shopping
- $65 - $70 every 2 months for Gas

During 2021-2022

- $350 - $400 rent on a 3x2 with no bus stops or train station nearby, expensive internet and low phone reception.
- $65 - $80 for a Full tank of fuel per week
- $450 for a month of shopping
- $75 - $100 for gas every 2 months.

other utilities stayed about the same

Pros:
- Good climate
- Nice beaches
- Low unemployment rate
- Good public healthcare system
- Not a lot of poverty due to welfare system
- Lots of parks, sporting facilities and playgrounds in good condition

Cons:
- Too many politicians and layers of government
- Isolated
- Sense of entitlement
- Expensive

Your experience of any place will be shaped by your own interaction with it.

I can't say I've noticed the Xenophobic outbursts. I don't even know what an Eshay is.

I have young children and feel comfortable and safe in Perth.

People seem to forget that Perthites still harbour very deep resentment and feel humiliated by WA’s history and how they (or the Brits) obtained their homeland. Moreso among the older generations, but the same attitudes are passed down, to the point that the youngsters don’t really know why they hate outsiders but ‘they just do’. They believe that other nations are judging them or looking down on them, so they’re extremely defensive of their history / culture and will insult your country before you ‘get in there first’. The trouble is most people weren’t even thinking about ‘getting in there first’, which makes the random Xenophobic outbursts so shocking and bizarre.

The lack of positive, meaningful second nation culture or identity is a huge issue. The Aussie culture claims to be to ‘be a good bloke’ and ‘look after your mates’ - but it isn’t executed in the right way unfortunately. The end result is just pure nepotism. Generally speaking the only way for West Aussies to really establish an identity is via their wealth/status/postcode and people lose their minds trying to achieve that. You’ll find there is no relatively deep, ‘meaning of life’, alternative thinking from anybody. The mantra is Capitalise, buy property and die. To the detriment of who the f cares! I need my identity! My pool and my pick up truck! You’ll also notice Aussies are obsessed with ‘buying a piece of land’ - in other cultures we might say we’re building a home or developing a property but for Aussies the emphasis is always on buying a piece of land. Interesting wording I always think.

In such a new (second nation) country there are no deep rooted traditions, few extensive Australian family trees, little inherited religious/spiritual ideology to live by. Other cultures garner an identity via their social class, their place in history or even their ideology. These structures don’t really exist in Perth - wealth and status is King/God. The lack of morality when it comes to attaining that wealth and status is nasty and jaw dropping but only confirms this desperate scramble for a wealthy identity. There’s a feeling of ‘I’ll show the world what a bunch of supposed criminals can do’.

People mention that Perth has a boring ‘monoculture’. There is little creativity, expression, willingness to be unique, to step outside of the Perth prototype of a human existence. But why? Nobody can understand why nothing diverse or interesting ever takes off? Because to be different is a cardinal sin in Perth. Because anybody who doesn’t fit the mould is a threat to that slowly developing Aussie identity and must be targeted and bullied into submission. You can almost see the cogs turning when they encounter something new. ‘This isn’t what we know, I don’t understand this, this is a threat to us. Time to ostracise, bully and belittle.’

On the topic of racism, the easiest (yet most lethal) way to build bonds and allegiances with one another is via collective hatred of something or someone else. The lack of interest/fear of the wider world means that certain Perthites are fairly uncultured and often use Xenophobia and racism as a social bonding exercise. Not all - but many. Second Nation Western Australians are so effing lucky they are white. They love to dog whistle bad behaviour from the indigenous/black community - an unimaginative attempt to then justify their racism towards them. Reinforcing the idea that it’s okay to ostracise them. Oldest trick in the book. The emphasis on division further strengthens their supreme bonds to one another. You’ll note that for obvious reasons Western Australians tend to direct their Xenophobia/Racism towards the nations with the strongest sense of identity (Brits/Asians/Africans). This conveniently diverts attention away from their own. Again... old tricks. Many immigrants have experienced tribalism, bullying and Xenophobia from insecure Aussies.

I am willing to bet money that if Claire isn’t from the tourist board, she is a white Western boomer. I’ve no doubt that Claire may have had a good experience in Perth for those reasons. I myself fall into that category and was treated fairly well (when not being randomly verbally abused) but unfortunately I can’t ignore the treatment of ‘outsiders’ and don’t want to be part of the club so to speak. If you can’t bear the obsession with money, a superior race etc, don’t live in Perth or please just accept that it is what it is - it’s all far too deep rooted and won’t change for generations yet, if ever.