SENATOR DEAN SMITH
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE SHADOW TREASURER
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE COST OF LIVING
LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA
8 May 2026
SURVEY SHOWS PERTH COSTS RISING FASTER THAN WAGES
Perth families are being hit hardest by Australia’s cost-of-living crisis, with consumer prices rising 27 per cent over the past five years—the highest increase of any capital city.
This analysis of CPI figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) was undertaken by the Federal Parliamentary Library for Senator Dean Smith.
It provides a unique insight into price increases in Perth between the March 2021 and March 2026 quarters—most of which have occurred under Labor.
The findings highlight the growing financial pressure on Western Australian families, with adult weekly earnings rising by just 18.5 per cent over the same period—well below the increase in household costs.
Basic groceries have become significantly more expensive since 2021, with prices for eggs up 38.4 per cent, coffee, tea and cocoa up 39.4 per cent, bread up 31.2 per cent, breakfast cereals up 32.2 per cent, milk up 28.3 per cent, vegetables up 27.3 per cent, and beef and veal up 25 per cent.
Perth recorded the fastest increase of any capital city for several key items, including milk, lamb and goat, food additives and condiments, cleaning and maintenance products, holiday travel and accommodation, and new dwelling purchases by owner-occupiers.
The cost of dairy products rose by 27.6 per cent, while families with pets were also hit, with pet products increased by 23.7 per cent—adding further pressure to household budgets.
Education costs have also climbed sharply, with secondary education up 28 per cent and tertiary education rising 29.5 per cent over the past five years.
On top of these increases, Western Australians are facing an acute housing crisis, with the cost of building a new home in Perth surging by 71.9 per cent—the fastest increase of any capital city.
Recent ABS data underscores the scale of the problem nationally, with the CPI rising by 4.6 per cent in the 12 months to March 2026—the highest annual inflation rate since September 2023.
Housing—the largest component of the CPI—rose by 6.5 per cent over the year, while transport costs surged by 8.9 per cent, driven by sharp increases in fuel prices.
In March alone, fuel prices surged by 32.8 per cent – the largest monthly increase on record – lifting petrol from 171 to 228 cents per litre and diesel by 41 per cent, while electricity costs rose 25.4 per cent over the year as rebates were withdrawn.
Quotes attributable to Senator Dean Smith:
“Western Australian Families are being hit hardest where it hurt the most – at the checkout, at the bowser, and in their mortgage repayments.”
“Prices in Perth are up 27 per cent over five years while real wages have gone backwards, meaning families are working harder but falling behind.”
“This data confirms what households already know – Labor has lost control of inflation, and Western Australians are paying the price.”
“Inflation is not just a number on a page; it is the difference between putting food on the table or going without.”
“This cost-of-living crisis didn’t happen by accident – it is the result of Labor’s spending problem and its failure to keep the economy under control.”
‘Out- of- control government spending has fuelled inflation, and Western Australian families are now paying the price.”
“Until there is discipline in government spending and a serious plan to bring inflation down, the pressure on WA families will only get worse.”
Parliamentary Library research on ABS CPI index by capital city March 2021 to March 2025
| Capital City | % Change March 2021-March 2026 | March 2021 | March 2026 |
| Perth | 27.0 | 79.86 | 101.81 |
| Brisbane | 25.9 | 80.56 | 101.42 |
| Adelaide | 25.4 | 81.14 | 101.79 |
| Sydney | 23.7 | 82.33 | 101.81 |
| Hobart | 23.3 | 82.61 | 101.86 |
| Melbourne | 22.9 | 82.85 | 101.79 |
| Canberra | 22.6 | 82.99 | 101.71 |
| Darwin | 21.9 | 83.07 | 101.27 |
| Australia | 24.2 | 81.87 | 101.70 |
Parliamentary Library research on ABS CPI data March 2021 to March 2026 – revealing where Perth recorded the fastest increase of any capital city and the national average in these expenditure items.
| ITEM | Perth Increase | Next Highest Capital | Australia
Increase |
| New Dwelling purchase by owner- occupants | 71.9 | Hobart 59.5 | 42.4 |
| Holiday travel and accommodation | 26.1 | Melbourne 25.9 | 23.7 |
| Milk | 28.3 | Adelaide 28.1 | 28.2 |
| Lamb and Goat | 21.1 | Adelaide 20.0 | 17.8 |
| Food additives and condiments | 21.6 | Adelaide 21.1 | 21.0 |
| Cleaning and maintenance products | 23.2 | Sydney 23.0 | 18.8 |
Parliamentary Library research on ABS CPI index data March 2021 to March 2026 recording Perth increases against national average by expenditure items.
| ITEM
|
Perth Increase | Australia Increase |
| Bread | 31.2 | 30.1 |
| Breakfast cereals | 32.2 | 30.2 |
| Beef and veal | 25.0 | 23.8 |
| Pork | 16.5 | 16.3 |
| Fish and other seafood | 19.4 | 18.9 |
| Dairy and related products | 27.6 | 27.4 |
| Cheese | 25.9 | 25.7 |
| Ice cream and other dairy products | 28.6 | 28.0 |
| Vegetables | 27.3 | 22.1 |
| Eggs | 38.4 | 43.0 |
| Jams, honey and spreads | 20.4 | 18.6 |
| Food additives and condiments | 21.6 | 21.0 |
| Snacks and confectionary | 33.0 | 32.5 |
| Coffee, tea and cocoa | 39.4 | 36.7 |
| New dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers | 71.9 | 41.8 |
| Cleaning and maintenance products | 23.2 | 18.8 |
| Personal care products | 15.6 | 14.7 |
| Pets and related products | 23.7 | 23.5 |
| Secondary education | 28.0 | 29.5 |
| Tertiary education | 29.5 | 31.6 |
ABS Average Weekly Earnings, Western Australia Nov 2020-Nov 2025
| Year | Earnings, Adult, Full time WA |
| November 2020 | 1847.00 |
| May 2021 | 1875.00 |
| November 2021 | 1899.10 |
| May 2022 | 1937.70 |
| November 2022 | 1987.60 |
| May 2023 | 2043.80 |
| November 2023 | 2095.30 |
| May 2024 | 2107.50 |
| November 2024 | 2145.80 |
| May 2025 | 2162.20 |
| November 2025 | 2189.20 |