Is Perth safe?
Safe with normal care. Property crime is common and Northbridge can be rowdy at night; violent crime against visitors is uncommon.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-29.
- Homicide rate in Australia: 0.9 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Australia: 4.9 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 000 · Ambulance 000 · Fire 000 · All emergencies 000.
Safety in Perth at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Car break-ins, theft from beaches and bags, and fights around Northbridge late on weekends. |
| At night | CBD empties after 10 pm outside Northbridge. Trains run late on weekends; use Uber after that. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Avoid empty train stations late at night and use app rides. |
| Other risks | Heatwaves above 40°C and bushfires in summer; Rip currents and shark sightings; swim at patrolled beaches; Strong UV year-round |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake rental listings asking for a bond before any viewing
- Toll and parcel text messages with payment links
Take care
- Northbridge late at night: fights and spiked drinks
- Beaches without lifeguards: strong rips and shark sightings
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Driving while holding a phone is caught by cameras and brings large fines
- Nicotine vapes are legally sold only by pharmacies
- Drinking alcohol is banned in many streets, parks and beaches (alcohol-free zones)
How Perth compares in Australia
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Hobart | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Noosa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Blue Mountains | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sunshine Coast | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Great Ocean Road | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Port Douglas | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Canberra | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Margaret River | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Launceston | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Magnetic Island | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sydney | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Melbourne | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Brisbane | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Gold Coast | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Perth | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cairns | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Byron Bay | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Adelaide | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bondi Beach | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Whitsundays | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Uluru | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Darwin | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| K'gari | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Fremantle | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Broome | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Newcastle | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Manly | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Alice Springs | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Perth safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Avoid empty train stations late at night and use app rides.
Is Perth safe at night?
CBD empties after 10 pm outside Northbridge. Trains run late on weekends; use Uber after that.
What is the crime rate in Perth?
Car break-ins, theft from beaches and bags, and fights around Northbridge late on weekends. Nationally, Australia records 0.9 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Perth?
Police 000 · Ambulance 000 · Fire 000 · All emergencies 000.
More about Perth
Going to Perth solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Transperth
- Perth Airport
- Experience Perth
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.