The Perth Landing Guide
What you need to understand before you start improvising. A clear base to start on the right foot.
No decoration here — just real, practical advice you can act on.
Get your bearings before you move
Without orientation, everything costs more.
Before looking for work or a permanent rental, you need to understand the terrain. Moving without a map makes everything slower and more expensive. Perth is split into areas with different dynamics: not everywhere has the same access to transport, jobs or services.
Where am I standing? How to read the city
Perth is divided into suburbs, and moving between them will be part of your routine. A few pointers:
- CBD
- City centre. Banks, offices, shops, and free transport inside the Free Transit Zone.
- Northbridge
- Nightlife, restaurants, bars and cultural events.
- Suburbs for new arrivals
- Victoria Park, Bentley, Cannington, Morley and Maylands. Well connected and close to universities and work areas.
TipUse Google Maps or the Transperth app to orient yourself and plan bus or train routes.
Check average room rental prices in PerthFlatmates.com.auGetting around
- Phone service
- Plenty of carriers are fine, but we strongly recommend Felix for the best deal. Unlimited data at a reduced price.See the Felix offer
- Transperth app
- It will tell you how to get from A to B by train or bus.
- CAT buses
- Inside the CBD you can travel free on the CAT buses.
- Student fares
- If you are a student you can access reduced fares. Just present your documents at a Transperth service centre.
Sort out your practical life
Adapting is not only working. It is sustaining yourself.
Working without financial order creates constant stress. Knowing where to shop, how much to spend and which terms to handle makes a real difference to your day in Perth.
Supermarkets
- Spudshed
- Cheap, lots of promos. But careful — buy meat and fresh produce only if you will cook it soon or freeze it.
- Aldi
- Cheap, good own-brand products. Less variety, but very useful for the basic pantry.
- Coles and Woolworths
- The most common and the widest range. Good for specific products or known brands.
- IGA
- Small shops, pricier, but handy when you need something quick and close.
- MCQ
- The hidden gem. Ideal for fruit, vegetables and a few Latin surprises. There is a very good one in Morley.
Adapting is not only earning money. It is knowing how to manage it from day one.
Glossary of key terms
What you will see on every official document.
These are the terms you will see most in documents, official emails, government sites, and when looking for work, study or housing.
| Australia | What it means | Mexico | Colombia | Chile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATO | National tax office | SAT | DIAN | SII |
| TFN | Personal tax number | RFC | NIT | RUT |
| ABN | Registration for freelance or business | RFC actividad empresarial | RUT Económico | RUT |
| Super | Retirement system | AFORE | AFP | AFP |
| Payslip | Pay statement | CFDI | Desprendible | Liquidación |
Self-assessment checklist
Quick diagnosis: where do you stand?
Tick what you already have clear. This is not to judge you — it is to give you clarity about your next steps. Honesty here saves you weeks of improvising.
- Getting aroundI understand how to move around Perth and I know the Transperth system.
- TFNI know how to get my Tax File Number and why it is urgent.
- CertificationsI know the certifications my line of work requires.
- Basic costsI understand my monthly costs and I know where to optimise.
Your action plan: three days to land with an advantage
Three days used well.
- 1
Legal order
- Apply for your TFN
- Research and choose a Super fund
- Work out whether you need an RSA or White Card
- Keep every document in one digital folder
- 2
Strategic mobility
- Download the Transperth app
- Buy a SIM and activate data
- Identify 3 suburbs that work for your situation
- Work out your maximum rent budget
- 3
Work preparation
- Adapt your CV to the Australian format
- Identify 2 sectors where you could start
- Join at least 2 job groups
- Prepare a short personal pitch (30 seconds)
Three days. More organised than most new arrivals. But this is only the start. Real adaptation is not improvised — it is built with structure, step by step.
What changes when you stop improvising?
- Clear decisionsNo noise, no second-guessing.
- Fewer costly mistakesEvery step on purpose.
- Less anxietyYou know what comes next.
- You move fasterThan most people improvising.
These three days organise the start. But real adaptation is sustained by structure over time.
The five pillars of a real adaptation
Starting well takes days. Adapting well takes structure. And that structure is built on:
- 1
Paperwork and legal base
- 2
Strategic housing
- 3
Smart job entry
- 4
Community
- 5
Emotional health
When these pillars line up, adaptation stops feeling chaotic — and starts feeling like yours.
And after the guide?
The guide gave you the base. The 5 Pillars give you the whole map: daily life, work and rights, housing, community and the emotional side of migrating.
Also free, also complete on the site. No email needed to read it.
See the 5 Pillars