Perth
UWA · Curtin · Murdoch · ECU
Studying in Perth?
Open your university's guide for a tailored plan and questions from students already there.
Isolated but affordable — stunning beaches and a tight student community
Food & eating in Perth
Perth's main entertainment and dining precinct. Wide range of cuisines in a compact area. Good for casual weeknight meals across most price points.
Albany Highway in Victoria Park is Perth's most diverse casual dining street. Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, and more — mostly under $20 a meal.
Close to Curtin University. Southeast Asian food — Vietnamese, Malaysian, and Chinese — at student-friendly prices.
Open Friday–Sunday. Fresh produce, artisan food, and street food in the historic Fremantle market hall. Tourist prices at adjacent restaurants but markets are good value.
Cicerello's and Kailis Bros for fish and chips. More expensive than average but a classic Perth experience worth doing once.
The Cannington area has the best Asian grocery stores in Perth. Rice, noodles, sauces, and Asian vegetables at significantly better prices than Coles or Woolworths.
What to do in Perth
Cottesloe, Scarborough, City Beach, and Trigg are all within reach by public transport. Perth's beaches are genuinely among the best in Australia — clear water, white sand, and relatively uncrowded.
1 hour by ferry from Fremantle. No cars on the island — you hire bikes to visit quokkas, snorkel in clear water, and see over 60 beaches. One of Australia's best day trips.
Enormous free bushland reserve in the city with views over the Swan River. The largest inner-city park in the world. Good for runs, picnics, and seeing native wildflowers in spring.
Historic port city 25 min by train from Perth CBD. A completely different character — live music, independent cafes, street art, and markets every weekend.
Perth's geographic isolation (2,700km from Melbourne) means international students form a particularly close community. Curtin and UWA both have active international student associations.
Cost of living
Best suburbs for students
Right next to Curtin, very affordable, large Indian community
Walking distance to UWA, more expensive but convenient
Trendy cafes, diverse food scene, 10 min to city
What will it cost you?
Based on your selections below. Estimates only.
Things Perth students wish they knew
Sunscreen year-round — Perth is the sunniest capital city in Australia and UV is dangerously high even in winter months.
Public transport has genuine gaps. Some suburbs have limited bus frequency in the evenings — check routes before renting in an area that requires a car.
Everything closes earlier on Sundays than other capital cities. Plan grocery shopping before 5pm on Sunday.
CAT buses (Red, Blue, Yellow) in the Perth and Fremantle CBDs are completely free — useful for getting around without spending Go Card credit.
SmartRider gives 15% off fares. Go to a Transperth InfoCentre in person with your student ID for the concession card — can't be done online.
Full transport guide →Mediterranean climate — hot dry summers (Jan: 35°C+, little rain) and cool wet winters. Best weather in Australia from Sep–Nov.