Perth airport to city centre: trains, buses, taxis and costs

Perth Airport sits about 12 km east of the CBD, so every option is a short trip. The catch is that the two terminal precincts — T1/T2 and T3/T4 — are separate, and only some services stop at both. Check which terminal your flight uses before you book anything.

For one or two people arriving in daylight, the bus is the cheapest way in. For groups, late arrivals or anyone with heavy bags, a taxi or rideshare is the simplest and still reasonable. A shuttle bus suits travellers who want a fixed price and a hotel drop-off.

Taxis wait at ranks outside each terminal, and rideshare pick-up points are signed — follow the app instructions, because drivers cannot stop at the taxi rank. Fares to the CBD run about A$45–60 depending on traffic and terminal, with a small airport surcharge. The run takes 20–30 minutes outside peak times and longer in the morning and evening rush.

Rideshare apps usually quote slightly less than a metered taxi, and the price is fixed before you accept. Both are easy at any hour, which matters if you land after midnight when buses have stopped.

Public buses connect the airport area to the city, but routes and stops have changed with the rail works, so confirm the current service before you rely on it. Fares are cheap — around A$5 — and you need a SmartRider card or a contactless tap. With luggage and a change of bus, this is the slowest option.

Shuttle buses run door to door to CBD hotels and hostels. They cost more than the public bus but less than a taxi, and you book a seat in advance. They suit solo travellers who want a fixed price without navigating the bus network.

Budget about A$50 for a taxi or rideshare into the centre, or A$20–30 for a shuttle. The public bus is the only genuinely cheap option at roughly A$5, but it costs you time. If you are splitting a taxi between two or more people, the per-person cost often beats the shuttle.