What’s it like to live in Perth?
Want to live and study in one of Australia’s best and beautiful cities? How about Perth? It’s currently ranked #12 on The Global Liveability Index 2023 and has a reputation for warm sunshine, active outdoor living, academic excellence, and a fantastic arts scene. If you’re keen to learn more about the City of Light, our Perth quick guide for international students will answer many of your questions.
Quick Facts Perth
Perth is the capital city of Australia’s largest state — Western Australia. It sits on the banks of the Swan River and hugs the beaches and coastal waters of the spectacular Indian Ocean.
The city has a population of 2.1 million people and boasts a warm, sunny climate with more days of sunshine than any of the other state capitals. Which is fantastic because Perth has a well-established network of walking paths, cycleways, and mountain bike trails.
DID YOU KNOW? Perth is affectionately known as the City of Light. In 1962 the residents of Perth turned on all their lights to acknowledge NASA astronautJohn Glenn, who was all alone in space and passing overhead. The city lights were clearly visible from space and the incident gained global attention.
Academic Excellence
The city of Perth has plenty of education providers that accept international students including five globally recognised universities as well as TAFE colleges, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and language schools.
If you have Perth on your shortlist for suitable Australian destinations, you should definitely check out the five leading universities plus TAFE Western Australia:
DID YOU KNOW? The University of Western Australia (UWA) is currently ranked in the top 100 universities in the world and has won international awards for research, teaching, learner engagement, and student-teacher ratios. Not bad!
Food, Arts, and Live Music
Perth has a solid reputation for its vibrant food and arts scene. Whether you’re chilling to some live music at the Denmark Festival of Voice, or sipping Margaret River wines at a boutique winery, or enjoying alfresco dining in Freemantle, or checking out Sculpture by the Sea along Cottesloe Beach — you’re sure to find something fabulous that fits into your budget.
Employment
The Perth economy is one of the strongest in the world and international students can expect more job opportunities than many other regions in Australia. Even better, Perth is classified as a ‘regional destination’ so when you finish your studies there are extra opportunities for full-time employment and permanent residency.
International students with an active Student Visa 500 can work part-time to supplement their study funds. To find a job in Perth you can use some of the excellent tools on the government’s Study Perth site or do an internet search for job vacancies Perth. You can also check the active listings on Seek, CareerOne, Jora, Indeed, SimplyHired, and JobsWA.
Getting Around
Perth city has a very good public transport system that includes buses, trains, and river ferries. You’ll find services approximately every 15 minutes and there are free buses around the CBD.
The best way to use the Transperth services is to get yourself a Concession SmartRider card and enjoy much cheaper fares. Once you have your account setup you can add funds with your bank account or credit card. You can also reload at authorised retailers and ticketing agents around the city.
DID YOU KNOW? Transperth has been rated Best Australian Metropolitan Commuter Rail Network for seven consecutive years — receiving 5 stars from customers for comfort, cleanliness, reliability, scheduling, and cost of tickets.
Expenses and Living Costs
Perth is definitely not the cheapest study destination in Australia. While it’s more affordable than Sydney, you’ll find the cost of rent and essential services to be more expensive than most other Australian cities.
To find out if the beautiful city of Perth falls inside your budget, check out the Australian Government’s Cost of Living Calculator. This excellent tool helps you compare the cost of rental accommodation, food, entertainment, personal expenses, and transport costs across all of Australia’s state capitals.
Accommodation
Like every city in Australia, there is a lot of competition for student accommodation in Perth, so you want to get your living space sorted as soon as possible.
All the universities in Perth offer on-campus accommodation which include comfortable rooms, WIFI, quiet study spaces, meals and/or cooking facilities, as well as the use of gyms, recreation areas, and chill-out zones. Living on-campus also opens up an awesome calendar of social events and sports.
However, if you prefer to live independently, you can find yourself a private rental, share house, or homestay opportunity. Here are some helpful links to get you started:
Experience the Wild
When you live in Perth, you’re at the gateway to some amazing national parks, Aboriginal cultural heritage sites, and wilderness areas. And if you love hiking and bushwalking you really won’t find much better.
How about walking a leg of the 1,000km Bibbulum Track through ancient forests and heritage sites, or take a ferry ride to Rottnest Island then snorkel the turquoise waters and see the native quokkas, or get up to the Pilbara and experience some of the world’s oldest rock art and Aboriginal culture, or check out the incredible caves, bushlands and beaches of the famous Margaret River. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to take in the incredible wildflowers that bloom and blossom across Western Australia every springtime!