Brisbane vs Perth
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Brisbane leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Perth where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Perth's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Brisbane | Perth |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 64 | 64 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 42 | 43 |
| Climate | 95 | 96 |
| Safety | 59 | 59 |
| Summer °C | 25.0 | 24.8 |
| Winter °C | 14.3 | 13.3 |
| Top disaster risk | flooding | wildfire |
Brisbane vs Perth: the short answer
Perth comes out ahead on overall livability (64/100), only marginally above Brisbane (64/100). The two cities diverge most on cost of living. On affordability Perth is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Brisbane 42 vs Perth 43, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Brisbane runs warmer in summer (about 25.0°C peak vs 24.8°C in Perth), while winter lows sit near 14.3°C in Brisbane and 13.3°C in Perth. On natural-disaster exposure Perth is the safer choice (safety 59/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for Brisbane and wildfire for Perth.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Perth — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Brisbane — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Perth — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Perth — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Brisbane or Perth better to live in?
Perth scores higher overall — 64 vs 64 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Brisbane or Perth?
Perth has the lower cost of living (cost index 43 vs 42; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Brisbane or Perth?
Brisbane — summer highs reach about 25.0°C versus 24.8°C in Perth.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Brisbane or Perth?
Perth (disaster-safety 59/100). Main hazard: flooding in Brisbane, wildfire in Perth.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Brisbane?
flooding is the dominant modelled hazard for Brisbane on our risk index.
How is the Brisbane vs Perth comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.