Perth Student Guide

Remote but rewarding — beaches, sunshine, and a mining boom

Perth is Australia's most isolated major city, closer to Singapore than to Sydney. But that remoteness comes with stunning beaches, consistent sunshine, and a strong economy driven by mining. It's a great option for students seeking a more relaxed lifestyle with good earning potential, especially in engineering and resources sectors.

Cost of living

• Rent: $200-340/week for a room in a sharehouse
• Groceries: $80-110/week
• Transport: $40-60/week with SmartRider
• Utilities: $25-35/week

Universities

• University of Western Australia
• Curtin University
• Murdoch University
• Edith Cowan University

Popular student suburbs

• Nedlands — Near UWA, leafy, more expensive
• Victoria Park — Young population, cafes, affordable
• Fremantle — Beach town vibes, markets, historic
• Northbridge — CBD adjacent, nightlife, multicultural food
• Bentley — Near Curtin, student-focused, affordable
• Scarborough — Beach suburb, younger crowd

Pros

• Beautiful beaches and sunshine
• Lower rent than east coast cities
• Strong job market in mining/resources
• Relaxed lifestyle
• Easy access to Asia for travel

Cons

• Very isolated — flights to other cities are expensive
• Smaller international student community
• Some areas feel spread out
• Fewer cultural events than Melbourne/Sydney