💰 This page covers the street-level details of spending money in Perth: the Free Transit Zone and Transperth fares, the airport train, Rottnest Island, card and weekend surcharges, Fremantle, and which machines to use. For Australia-wide ATM tips, DCC warnings, tipping norms, and exchange rate advice:
Read the Australia Money Guide →🎧 Order Australian Dollars Before You Fly
Perth barely needs cash, but a small float helps at the markets. Insured delivery, 2–5 days.
Order AUD → CEI Currency ExchangeDo You Need Cash in Perth?
Barely. Australia is one of the most cashless countries in the world, and Perth is no exception: cafes, pubs, the Transperth network, taxis and even many market stalls take contactless cards and phones. Keep A$50 or so in notes for the odd market stall, a sausage sizzle, a coin-operated barbecue or locker, and as a backup. The Australia money guide covers the national picture.
Where Cash Still Helps
Some market stalls at Fremantle and the weekend farmers' markets. Sausage sizzles outside hardware stores and at events. Small takeaways that set a card minimum. Coin lockers and laundromats. Tips, which are optional.
Where Cards Work Fine
Everywhere else: cafes, restaurants, pubs, Kings Park cafes, the Perth Mint, the Rottnest ferries, taxis and rideshare, and Transperth trains, buses and ferries by tapping a contactless card.
The Free Transit Zone, Free Sundays and the Flat Fare
Free buses in the centre. Perth's Free Transit Zone covers the city centre and parts of Northbridge and East Perth. Buses within it are free, including the colour-coded CAT buses that loop the centre every few minutes, and so is train travel between the central stations. Fremantle and Joondalup have their own free CAT loops. You do not tap a card for free journeys, but if you start or finish outside the zone, tap as normal.
A flat fare everywhere else. Since January 2026, every Transperth journey costs a single Go Anywhere fare of around A$3.50, valid for three hours on trains, buses and ferries across the whole network, from Mandurah to Joondalup.
Free Sundays. Transperth is free on Sundays for anyone tapping a SmartRider or a contactless bank card. That makes Sunday the day for the train to Fremantle, the ferry to South Perth or the beaches at Cottesloe.
Contactless works. Transperth accepts contactless Visa and Mastercard, phones and watches. Tap on when you board and off when you leave; fares are capped. A visitor does not need to buy a SmartRider card, which is mainly worth it for concessions and discounts on frequent travel.
Rottnest Island and the Quokkas
The ferry includes the island fee. Rottnest Island, 19 kilometres off the coast, charges an admission fee to every visitor, and ferry companies include it in the ticket. A return trip from Fremantle costs roughly A$80 to A$120 for an adult; from Barrack Street in Perth or from Hillarys, a little more. Book online by card, especially for summer weekends and school holidays.
Getting around the island. Cars are not allowed. Most visitors hire a bicycle, around A$30 to A$50 a day, often bundled with the ferry, or ride the hop-on hop-off island bus for a fee. Snorkel sets can be hired too.
The quokkas are free. Rottnest's small marsupials are everywhere around the settlement, and taking a photo with one costs nothing. Feeding or touching them is illegal and carries a fine.
Prices on the island. The bakery, cafes, pub and general store all take cards, at island prices. Bring water for a long cycle; there are few places to buy it away from the settlement.
Card Surcharges and Sunday Surcharges
A card fee at the till. Australian law lets businesses pass on the cost of accepting cards, and many do: a surcharge of around 1 to 2 percent is common at cafes, taxis and small shops, and higher for American Express. It must be disclosed at the point of sale and cannot be more than the business's own cost. Your foreign card is charged the same as a local one.
Sunday and public holiday surcharges. Because staff are paid penalty rates on Sundays and public holidays, many restaurants and cafes add 10 to 15 percent to the bill on those days. It is legal if it is shown on the menu or a sign. Check before you order if it matters.
Prices include GST. Shelf and menu prices include Australia's 10 percent GST. Visitors can claim back GST on purchases of A$300 or more from one shop through the Tourist Refund Scheme at the airport.
Paying by Card in Perth
Perth is card-first almost everywhere. The differences are in surcharges and prices, not acceptance.
CBD and Elizabeth Quay
Shops, restaurants and the ferries to South Perth. Cards everywhere; the Free Transit Zone covers it.
Northbridge
Bars, Asian restaurants and the cultural centre. Contactless everywhere, with Sunday surcharges at many restaurants.
Fremantle
Cafes, pubs and breweries take cards; some stalls at the Fremantle Markets prefer cash.
Cottesloe and Scarborough
Beach cafes and pubs. Card-first, with weekend crowds.
Swan Valley
Wineries, breweries and chocolate shops. Tastings and cellar doors take cards.
Kings Park
Free to enter. Cafes and the restaurant take cards; free guided walks.
ATMs in Perth
Look for these logos. Westpac is Bank of America's Global ATM Alliance partner in Australia.
Westpac
Commonwealth Bank
ANZ
NABATM Locations
The big four banks, Westpac, Commonwealth Bank, ANZ and NAB, have machines throughout the CBD, along Hay Street and Murray Street malls, in Fremantle and at Perth Airport. They stopped charging Australian cardholders in 2017, and any fee for a foreign card is shown before you confirm. Westpac is Bank of America's Global ATM Alliance partner in Australia, so a BoA debit card avoids BoA's flat non-network withdrawal fee at its machines. BoA's 3 percent international transaction fee still applies and is never waived.
⚠ Standalone Machines in Pubs and Shops
Independent machines in pubs, convenience stores and Northbridge clubs charge a surcharge of a few dollars and may offer to convert your withdrawal into US dollars. Use a bank's machine, and choose Australian dollars at every screen and card terminal. Our DCC explainer covers the conversion offer.
The Airport Train, Taxis and Fremantle
The Airport line. Since 2022, trains run from Airport Central station, serving Terminals 1 and 2, and Redcliffe, a short walk or shuttle from Terminals 3 and 4, to the city centre in around 20 minutes. The fare is the standard Transperth fare, paid by tapping a contactless card. Our Perth Airport guide covers the terminals and the machines.
Taxis and rideshare. A taxi from the airport to the city costs roughly A$45 to A$60; Uber and DiDi are cheaper off-peak. All are paid by card, and taxis add a card surcharge.
Fremantle. The port city is 30 minutes by train from Perth station. The Fremantle Markets open from Friday to Sunday, the prison tours are paid by card, and the free CAT bus loops the town.
Car hire. Needed for the Pinnacles, Margaret River and the south-west. Hire desks take a credit card for the bond, and Western Australia's highways have no tolls.
Tipping in Perth
Tipping is not expected in Australia, as the Australia guide explains. Staff are paid a full wage. Rounding up or 10 percent for very good service at a restaurant is a kindness, not an obligation, and many card terminals now offer a tip screen; skipping it is normal. Do not tip on top of a Sunday surcharge out of guilt.
Prices in Perth
Perth is expensive by global standards, though a little cheaper than Sydney for accommodation.
| Item | Price (AUD) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Flat white | A$5–6.50 | $3.30–4.30 |
| Pint of beer in a pub | A$12–16 | $8–10.50 |
| Fish and chips at Fremantle | A$20–30 | $13–20 |
| Dinner for two, mid-range | A$100–160 | $66–106 |
| Transperth Go Anywhere fare | around A$3.50 | around $2.30 |
| Transperth on Sundays | free by contactless | free |
| Taxi, airport to city | A$45–60 | $30–40 |
| Rottnest ferry return with admission | A$80–120 | $53–79 |
| Bike hire on Rottnest, per day | A$30–50 | $20–33 |
| Swan Valley wine tasting | free–A$20 | free–$13 |
| Mid-range hotel night | A$180–300 | $119–198 |
USD estimates use approximately A$1 = $0.66. Rates fluctuate.
Day Trips from Perth
Rottnest Island (25 to 90 minutes by ferry)
Book the ferry with bike hire included, and bring water and snorkels.
Swan Valley (about 30 minutes)
Wineries and breweries along the river. Cellar-door tastings are often free or a few dollars, refunded with a purchase.
The Pinnacles (about 2.5 hours)
Limestone spires in Nambung National Park; a park entry fee per vehicle is paid by card at the gate.
Margaret River (about 3 hours)
Wineries, caves and surf. Cave tours and tastings are paid by card; take a car or a tour.
Perth Quick Reference
| Destination | Cards? | Cash Needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transperth | ✅ Contactless | Free on Sundays | A$3.50 flat fare |
| Free Transit Zone | Free | No tap needed | CAT buses in the centre |
| Airport train | ✅ Contactless | Standard fare | About 20 minutes |
| Rottnest ferry | ✅ Book online | Admission included | A$80–120 return |
| Restaurants and cafes | ✅ Yes | Sunday surcharge 10–15% | Card fees ~1–2% |
| Fremantle Markets | ✅ Mostly | Some stalls cash | Fri to Sun |
| ATMs | Westpac, CommBank, ANZ, NAB | Westpac for BoA | Avoid pub machines |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is public transport free in Perth?
Partly. Buses within the Free Transit Zone in central Perth, including the CAT buses, are free, and so are trains between certain city stations. Travel on the whole Transperth network is also free every Sunday for SmartRider users and contactless bank cards. Outside those, a flat fare of around A$3.50 covers any journey within three hours.
Can I use my credit card on Perth trains and buses?
Yes. Transperth accepts contactless Visa and Mastercard, phones and watches at the readers. Tap on and tap off, and fares are capped daily. Contactless is charged at the standard fare; concessions still need a SmartRider card.
How do I get from Perth Airport to the city?
By train. The Airport line runs from Airport Central, serving Terminals 1 and 2, and Redcliffe, near Terminals 3 and 4, to the city in around 20 minutes for the standard Transperth fare, payable by contactless card. A taxi costs roughly A$45 to A$60.
How much does a trip to Rottnest Island cost?
A return ferry from Fremantle or Perth costs roughly A$80 to A$120 for an adult, including the island admission fee. Bike hire on the island adds around A$30 to A$50 a day. Book ahead in summer and school holidays, by card online.
Do Perth shops add a card surcharge?
Some do. Australian businesses may add a surcharge of around 1 to 2 percent for card payments, and many restaurants and cafes add a surcharge of 10 to 15 percent on Sundays and public holidays. Both must be disclosed. Check the menu and the receipt.
Which ATMs should I use in Perth?
The big four banks' machines: Westpac, Commonwealth Bank, ANZ and NAB, which do not charge Australian cardholders a fee and show any charge for a foreign card before you confirm. Westpac is Bank of America's Global ATM Alliance partner, so a BoA debit card avoids BoA's flat non-network fee there, though the 3 percent international transaction fee still applies.
Pay Smart in Perth
The Wise card converts at the real mid-market rate, taps onto Transperth trains, buses and ferries, and pays card surcharges in Australian dollars without a foreign fee.
Get the Wise Card →Perth money toolkit
Country-specific deep dives for Perth: which card to bring, where the no-fee ATMs are at the airport, and how to dodge the local DCC traps.
Hero photo: Elizabeth Quay Bridge and the Perth skyline, by Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.