Perth Travel Guide

Perth Travel Costs

Hostel prices – This city is one of the more expensive cities in Australia due to the high cost of living from all the mining money in town. Good, central, and cheap accommodations are hard to find. You can find beds in dorm rooms that sleep 8-12 people for 20 AUD ($15 USD). Smaller dorms will be closer to 25 AUD ($19 USD). Private rooms start at 60 AUD ($46 USD). Free Wi-Fi is standard and a few hostels in the city also include free breakfast.

If you’re traveling with a tent, you can find basic plots without electricity for around 14 AUD ($11 USD) outside the city.

Budget hotel prices – Budget hotel rooms start around 120 AUD ($92 USD). These hotels usually have AC, a private bathroom, free Wi-Fi, and occasionally free breakfast.

On Airbnb, private rooms start at 50 AUD ($38 USD) but average closer to 100 AUD ($75 USD). For an entire home or apartment, expect to pay at least 110 AUD ($84 USD).

Average cost of food – Restaurants in Perth are expensive. Most main dishes at restaurants serving traditional Australian cuisine cost between 20-30 AUD ($15-23 USD). Grab and go places cost around 10 AUD ($7 USD) for sandwiches. Fast food like McDonald’s is around 12 AUD ($9 USD) for a combo meal. The best value food are the Thai/Chinese/Indian spots where you can get a really filling meal for under 20 AUD ($15 USD).

A beer costs around 10 AUD. A cappuccino or latte costs closer to 5 AUD. Expect to pay around 3AUD for a bottle of water.

If you cook your meals, expect to pay 90 AUD ($65 USD) per week for groceries that will include pasta, vegetables, chicken, and other basic foodstuffs.

Backpacking Perth Suggested Budgets

On a very strict backpacker budget, you can do it for 70-90 AUD per day. You can get by on this budget if you stay in large hostel dorms or camp, cook most of your meals, limit your drinking, take part in free activities, and use public transportation.

On a mid-range budget of 230 AUD, you can stay in a budget hotel or Airbnb, eat fast food or takeaway food for most meals, rent a car to get around, do some day tours (like wine tasting on the Margaret River), and enjoy a few drinks out at the bar.

On a “luxury” budget of 430 AUD per day or more, you can stay in a four-star hotel, eat out for all your meals, rent a car to get around, and do more day trips and tours, including a trip to Rottnest Island. The sky is the limit!

Here’s a chart with suggested budgets to help you plan. Prices re in AUD:

Perth Travel Guide: Money Saving Tips

Perth is one of the most expensive cities in Australia but there are a few ways to save money as a traveler if you know a few little acks. Here are some ways you can cut down on costs in Perth:

• Watch for sales – Airfare to Perth is usually very expensive, which is why so few people are able to visit the city. Jetstar is your best bet so sign up for their newsletter to find deals.
• Couchsurf – Accommodation in Perth is pricey. If you plan ahead, you can usually find a Couchsurfing host. This way, you not only have a place to stay, but you’ll have a local host that can tell you the best places to go and things to see.
• Take the ferry – If you are going to Fremantle, take the ferry. It’s slower but cheaper than the train.
• Work for your room – Many hostels offer travelers the chance to work for their accommodation. In exchange for a few hours a day of cleaning, you get a free bed. Commitments vary but most hostels ask you to stay for at least a week.
• Drink goon (box wine) – Goon is infamous on the Australian backpacker hostel trail. This cheap box of wine is the best way to drink, get a buzz, and save a lot of money at the same time.
• Cook often – The best way to reduce your costs is to cook as many meals as possible. ALDI is the cheapest supermarket in the country, followed by Coles and then Woolworths. Book a hostel or Airbnb with a kitchen to save money.
• Take a free walking tour – Volunteers from Visit Perth lead a variety of free walking tours, including an orientation tour and a street art tour. It’s a great way to familiarize yourself with the city! just be sure to tip your guide!
• Save money on rideshares – Uber is way cheaper than taxis and is the best way to get around a city if you don’t want to wait for a bus or pay for a taxi.
• Get a reusable water bottle – The water in Perth is safe to drink so bring a water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw makes reusable bottles that also have built-in filters so you can be sure your water is always safe and clean.

Where To Stay in Perth

Perth has some excellent accommodations. Here are my favorite places to stay in Perth:

• The Witch’s Hat
• The Shiralee Hostel
• The Hive Hostel
• Britannia on William

How to Get Around Perth

Bus – Perth has a great public bus system run by Transperth. To use it, you’ll need to buy a Smartrider card for 10 AUD ($8 USD) and then load it with a 10 AUD ($8 USD) minimum. You can pick one of these up from most convenience stores, newsagents, and some bus and train stations. Fares are between 2.20 AUD ($1.68) per ride when paying cash and 1.76 AUD ($1.35 USD) with the Smartrider card.

A single-day pass with unlimited travel is 13.10 AUD ($10 USD).

There’s also a free bus service (the CAT bus) in the city center and in Fremantle, that drives multiple loops. They stop at many of the city’s attractions and are handy for getting between Perth or Fremantle’s downtown hotels and sights.

Trains – Perth’s train system is great for getting around the city and beyond, especially into the suburbs. They work alongside the bus system, so you can use your Smartrider card as you would for the buses. Two of the biggest stations are Perth Station and Elizabeth Quay Station, from which you can get just about anywhere.

Ferries – With your Smartrider card you can take the public ferry across the Swan River from Elizabeth Quay Jetty. It leaves every 15-30 minutes and takes 8 minutes.

You can also take a private ferry to visit Rottnest Island. The Rottnest Express costs 70 AUD ($54 USD) while the SeaLink Ferry costs around 50 AUD ($38 USD) return.

Bicycle – Since Perth is so sprawled out, renting a bicycle is a great way to get around if you want some freedom and flexibility. However, rentals aren’t cheap – most start at about 25 AUD ($19 USD) per day.

Car Rental – If you want to do some exploring around Perth, a car rental is a great option. You can rent a small vehicle for about 75 AUD ($60 USD) per day.

Taxi – Taxis are crazy expensive so if you aren’t going to walk, bus, or train it, use Uber. It’s much cheaper. An Uber to the airport is 30 AUD ($23 USD) versus 50AUD ($38 USD) with a taxi!

When to Go to Perth

September to the end of November are both excellent months for visiting Perth, as winter is transitioning into spring. The weather is comfortable, the wildflowers are in bloom, and the skies are always clear. Temperatures average between 53-73°F (11-23°C), and there’s very little rainfall.

December through February is Perth’s summer, and the temperature can soar as high as 100°F (38°C)! If you want a beach vacation, however, this might work for you. June through August is Perth’s winter, which is the low season with chillier temperatures (as low as 46°F/8°C) and lots of rain. It’s also the cheapest time to visit, as tourists tend to avoid the city this time of year.

How to Stay Safe in Perth

Perth is an incredibly safe place to backpack and travel. There’s very little crime here. Use caution like you would any other big city but there’s a slim chance of anything going seriosly wrong.

When in doubt, always trust your instincts. If a taxi driver seems shady, get out. If your hotel or accommodation is seedier than you thought, go somewhere else. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID, before you travel in case of an emergency.

Most incidents here tend to occur because visitors are not used to the country’s unique climate and wilderness. Be sure you have plenty of sunscreen and stay as hydrated as possible. Be on the lookout for snakes and spiders, and if you’re bitten, seek immediate care. Furthermore, if you’re swimming, heed the red and yellow flags. Yellow flags indicate swimming conditions may be dangerous; red flags mean the beach is closed.

As a general rule, if you wouldn’t do it at home, don’t do it when you’re in Perth. Follow that rule and you’ll be fine.

The most important piece of safety advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Perth Gear and Packing Guide

If you’re heading on the road and need some gear suggestions, here are my tips for the best travel backpack and for what to pack!

The Best Backpack for Travelers

What’s the best backpack for traveling long-term? I recommend the REI Flash 45 Pack. It’s light and comfy, top loading, and fits perfectly in an airplane’s overhead bin.
Size: 45-47L
Straps: Thick and cushy with compression technology that pulls the pack’s load up and inwards so it doesn’t feel as heavy.
Features: Removable top lid, pocket at the front, hydration compatible, contoured hip belt

If you want something different, refer to my article on how to choose the best travel backpack for tips on picking a pack and other backpack suggestions.

What to Pack for Your Trip

Clothes

• 1 pair of jeans (heavy and not easily dried, but I like them; a good alternative is khaki pants)
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 bathing suit
• 5 T-shirts (Unbound Merino is my preferred company. If you’re a member of NM+, you can get 15% off your purchase)
• 1 long-sleeved T-shirt
• 1 pair of flip-flops
• 1 pair of sneakers
• 6 pairs of socks (I always end up losing half)
• 5 pairs of boxer shorts (I’m not a briefs guy!)
• 1 toothbrush
• 1 tube of toothpaste
• 1 razor
• 1 package of dental floss
• 1 small bottle of shampoo
• 1 small bottle of shower gel
• 1 towel
• Deodorant

Small Medical Kit (safety is important!!!)

• Band-Aids
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Antibacterial cream
• Earplugs
• Tylenol
• Hand sanitizer (germs = sick = bad holiday)

Miscellaneous

• A key or combination lock (safety first)
• Zip-lock bags (keeps things from leaking or exploding)
• Plastic bags (great for laundry)
• Universal charger/adaptor (this applies to everyone)
• LifeStraw (A water bottle with a purifier)

Female Travel Packing List
I’m not a woman, so I don’t know what a woman wears, but Kristin Addis, our solo female travel guru, wrote this list as an addition to the basics above:

Clothing

• 1 swimsuit
• 1 sarong
• 1 pair of stretchy jeans (they wash and dry easily)
• 1 pair of leggings (if it’s cold, they can go under your jeans, otherwise with a dress or shirt)
• 2-3 long-sleeve tops
• 2-3 T-shirts
• 3-4 spaghetti tops
• 1 light cardigan

Toiletries

• 1 dry shampoo spray & talc powder (keeps long hair grease-free in between washes)
• 1 hairbrush
• Makeup you use
• Hair bands & hair clips
• Feminine hygiene products (you can opt to buy there too, but I prefer not to count on it, and most people have their preferred products)

For more on packing, check out these posts:

• What I Pack For My Travels
• The Ultimate List For Female Travelers
• How to Choose and Buy the Right Backpack