Perth for Newcomers
The guide I wish I had read before landing.
Supermarkets, phone plans, shops, petrol, banks and paperwork: what actually works in Perth, Western Australia — written by someone who learned it the hard way.
Everything here comes from my own first months in Perth. It is deliberately local: half of this only applies to Western Australia. Prices and rules change — always check the date on each topic.
Last update
Groceries & food
Supermarkets
Where to buy food in Perth without burning your pay — from Aldi to Spudshed, and when each one is actually worth it.
Home & shopping
Shops and setting up a home
Kmart, Bunnings, JB Hi-Fi, op shops and Marketplace — where to buy what a new place needs without spending a fortune.
Phone & internet
Phone and internet
Which telco to pick, why coverage matters more than price outside the city, and how to leave the airport already on an Australian number.
Car & transport
Petrol, cars and transport
Perth's weekly fuel price cycle, the government site that shows everything, and how to get around before you own a car.
Money & paperwork
Banking, TFN and paperwork
The right order to sort a bank account, TFN, myGov and super — and why doing it in week one changes your first payslip.
Work
Work and certificates
White Card, First Aid, RSA and forklift — the tickets that open doors here, what they cost, and the order to get them in.
Health & emergency
Health and emergencies
How seeing a doctor works in Australia, what bulk billing means, and why Brazilians on a working holiday need insurance.
Prices, plans and rules change fast — and I am one person with one experience. Treat this as a starting point, not as official advice.