Perth is the closest Australian city to India in time zone and the most isolated one from the rest of Australia. Rents here have risen faster than in most capitals, so it is no longer the cheap option it was. This guide uses figures checked in October 2026. Visa fees, funds and work rules are in our Australia student visa guide.
Quick facts
| Main universities | University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Murdoch University, Edith Cowan University, University of Notre Dame Australia |
| Median rent, whole dwellings | A$784 a week, second only to Sydney in our guides, up 7.8% over the year |
| A room in a share house | Roughly A$230 to A$320 a week, based on published listing data |
| Transport concession | Student concession fares on SmartRider have been reported as available to international students. Confirm with Transperth. |
| Time difference from India | 2.5 hours ahead all year, the smallest gap of any Australian city |
| Climate | Hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters |
Time zone and distance
Perth is only 2.5 hours ahead of India and has no daylight saving, so calling home is easy. The other side of that is distance. Perth is far from the eastern cities, so flights to Sydney or Melbourne are long, and many students rarely leave the west coast during their degree. Think about whether that suits you.
Universities
- University of Western Australia (UWA): a leafy campus at Crawley beside the Swan River, close to Nedlands and Subiaco.
- Curtin University: a large campus at Bentley in the south-east, with strong links to engineering and resources industries.
- Murdoch University: in the southern suburbs, with its own train link and a veterinary school.
- Edith Cowan University (ECU): campuses at Joondalup in the north and Mount Lawley near the city.
- University of Notre Dame Australia: in the port city of Fremantle.
UWA and Curtin both appear in the Department of Education’s allocation reports, so ask your admissions contact how that affects visa timing. For course shortlists, see top universities for Indian students in Australia.
What it costs
The median weekly rent across all Perth dwellings was A$784 in the June quarter of 2026 (Cotality), with very tight vacancy and one of the fastest annual rises of any capital (7.8%). That is for a whole home. Rooms in share houses run roughly A$230 to A$320 a week according to published listing data, and at A$280 a week that is about A$14,600 a year before food and bills.
The visa benchmark of A$29,710 is the same everywhere. On median rent Perth now costs more than Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, so do not assume it is cheap from older guides. Check live prices on Study Australia’s cost of living tool and in real listings.
Where students live
- UWA: Crawley, Nedlands, Subiaco.
- Curtin: Bentley, Victoria Park, Cannington.
- Murdoch: Murdoch, Kardinya, Bull Creek.
- ECU: Joondalup, Mount Lawley, Perth city.
Main student accommodation providers in Perth
Perth’s options split into three groups: city-centre purpose-built buildings (PBSA), villages on or beside campuses, and residential colleges. This is a guide to the main providers, not a ranking, and prices are “from” prices that vary by room type and semester.
| Provider | What it offers in Perth | Indicative starting price |
| UniLodge | UniLodge Perth Central in the CBD, with ECU City and Curtin Perth City within about ten minutes’ walk, plus UniLodge at Curtin (Guild House, Twin Dolphin Hall, Vickery House, Kurrajong Village) | From A$375 a week at Perth Central (UniLodge’s site). Curtin buildings roughly A$280 to A$380, according to listing sites. |
| Campus Perth, The Switch and Yugo | City-centre PBSA. UWA College lists The Switch, Juno House, Campus Perth and UniLodge as preferred providers. | Roughly A$295 to A$440 a week at some buildings, according to listing sites |
| Murdoch University Village | On campus at Murdoch | Around A$240 to A$250 a week, according to listing sites |
| ECU Village Mount Lawley | Beside ECU’s Mount Lawley campus | Around A$242 a week, according to listing sites |
| UWA residential colleges | University Hall, Trinity Residential College and St Thomas More College, with meals and utilities included in some | From A$527 a week at University Hall in 2026 (UWA College). Trinity and St Thomas More start higher. |
| St Catherine’s College at Curtin | A residential college on the Curtin campus | Around A$585 a week, according to a listing site |
A share-house room costs roughly A$230 to A$320 a week, so campus villages at Murdoch and ECU are the cheapest PBSA-style options, while UWA’s colleges are the most expensive because they include meals. Match the building to your campus, because a CBD room can mean a long trip to Bentley or Murdoch. Book through the provider’s own website, ask what happens to your deposit if your visa is refused, and check the contract length.
Getting around
Transperth runs trains, buses and ferries on the SmartRider card. Student concession fares have been reported as available to international students, but check Transperth before relying on it. Perth is spread out along a long coastal strip, so the commute from cheaper outer suburbs can be long.
Is Perth the right city for you?
Perth suits you if you want an easy time difference with home, sunny weather, and strong engineering, mining and health courses. It is less suited to students who want a large job market in finance or media, or who expect to travel around Australia often. Compare it with Adelaide, which is cheaper on rent, and Brisbane.
Questions students ask
Is Perth cheaper than Sydney?
Yes, but not by much. The June quarter 2026 median rent was A$784 a week in Perth and A$841 in Sydney.
Is the summer too hot?
Summers are hot and dry, and temperatures can climb well above 35 degrees Celsius on some days. Most homes and campuses have air conditioning.
Can I work while I study?
Yes, up to 48 hours per fortnight during term. See the visa guide for details.
Need help choosing a city or a place to live?
If you are comparing cities, or want help matching student accommodation to your course and budget, send your details through our Talk to Our Expert page.
More Australian city guides
Compare Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Darwin, or read the Australia student visa guide for fees, funds and work rights. You can also go back to the Study in Australia from India overview.
Sources: Cotality Quarterly Rental Review, June quarter 2026 (via Canstar); published listing data; Department of Education provider allocation reports; Study Australia; Department of Home Affairs. Accommodation details from provider websites and listing sites. Last checked 8 October 2026. Confirm important details with the university or Home Affairs.
