Money & Payments in Perth (2026)

Bring cash for Perth public transport fares or purchase a Transperth smart card at the station
Card surcharges are common in Australia—you may see additional fees at merchants, particularly for smaller transactions
Service charges may be automatically added to restaurant bills; check your receipt before deciding to tip
Tipping with local currency (AUD) is preferred; avoid tipping in foreign currency as it creates exchange complications for staff
Australia's minimum wage ensures hospitality staff earn a liveable wage, making tips genuinely optional rather than expected

Networks: Global ATM Alliance partnerships available; major banks (Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, St. George, Westpac) operate networks accepting international cards.
Availability: ATMs are abundant across Perth and major Australian cities, found at airports, shopping centers, banks, convenience stores, and main streets.
International Cards: Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at ATMs. American Express and Discover require specific bank ATMs.
Fee Notes: ATM fees vary by provider and your home bank. Using ATMs from your home bank's partner network (if available) or Global ATM Alliance members may reduce fees.

Bars: Not customary to tip at bars for counter service. If you receive table service over multiple hours, $5-10 cash is warmly received.
Hotels: Not expected for standard service. Housekeeping or concierge staff do not expect tips, though $5-10 left for exceptional service is appreciated.
Taxis And Transport: Drivers do not expect tips. Rounding up the fare is common but optional.
Trend Note: Tipping culture has been gradually increasing in urban centers (Melbourne, Sydney) post-2021, with approximately 35-40% of full-service restaurant diners now tipping, but this remains optional and not mandatory.
Cultural Context: Tipping is not expected in Australia because hospitality workers earn a liveable minimum wage. Tipping is voluntary and optional.

Fine Dining: 10% tip for excellent service is increasingly common, though not obligatory. Some establishments may add a service charge automatically.
Cafes And Counter Service: Not expected. You may leave loose change in a tip jar if desired, but it is not standard practice.
Casual Restaurants And Pubs: Tipping is not expected. If you receive good service, rounding up the bill or leaving 5-10% is polite but not customary.

Details: Most restaurants, shops, and services accept cards. However, some markets, food trucks, and smaller venues remain cash-only. Card surcharges are common but variable.
Overview: Cards are widely accepted across Perth and Australia. Mastercard and Visa are the most reliable networks, with American Express accepted at major establishments.

Overview: While not essential for most transactions, cash is needed for specific situations.

Perth public transport (Transperth) does not accept cards for individual fares—you need either a local smart card or cash
Farmers markets and craft markets often accept cash only
Some food trucks and pop-up vendors
Small independent shops or venues that explicitly decline cards

Account Fees: There is no fee in most cases to open a bank account in Australia although monthly fees can apply, so compare a few accounts looking at all relevant fees before signing up.
In Country Activation: Even if you apply online in advance, most traditional banks will still require you to visit a local branch in person after arrival to verify your identity and fully activate the account.
Account Opening Overview: No Australian legislation prohibits foreigners from opening a bank account, with no strict restrictions preventing non-residents or non-citizens from setting up an account.

Banks: Australia's four big banks are National Australia Bank (NAB), Commonwealth Bank (CBA), Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ Bank), and Westpac.
Non Resident Eligibility: All four big banks allow non-residents from overseas to open an Australian bank account online and you can even do this before you get to Australia.

ANZ: ANZ provides a 'Moving to Australia' program, including pre-arrival account opening and support for newcomers.
NAB: National Australia Bank offers no monthly account fees for the first year for new arrivals and a straightforward online application process.
Westpac: Westpac offers a dedicated 'Choice' account for migrants and expats, with the ability to open your account up to 12 months in advance.
CommBank: Commonwealth Bank is known for its user-friendly online banking and expat-friendly account options, allowing you to open an account online before you arrive and offering English-speaking support.

Phone: Most banks use two-factor authentication and you will need a local Australian mobile number to receive security codes and updates.
Address: An Australian Residential Address is needed; a temporary address might be accepted initially, but proof of address is usually verified via a local utility bill less than three months old.
Identity: Your foreign passport is the most widely accepted form of photo ID and will be required across all Australian financial institutions.
Tax Identification: Under international compliance laws, Australian banks are legally required to record your foreign tax residency details using your home country's TIN.
Visa And Residency: Most banks will want to confirm your specific visa class via the digital visa linked to your passport or an official letter from Australia's Department of Home Affairs.

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

More About Perth

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.