The Average Rent in Australia 2024-2025
The pandemic has deeply affected the rental market in Australia, and as things cool down, it’s difficult to predict how the prices will change. If you are planning on moving this guide details the cost of renting in each state and gives insight into the most expensive and cheapest places to live in Australia. Read on for the state-by-state breakdown of average rent prices in Australia.
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Average Rent in Australia 2024-2025
The average weekly rent in Australia has seen some unusual trends over the course of the pandemic, as the population of Australia has shifted dramatically.
Below, you will find the results of the September 2024 Domain Rental Report, outlining the average rent in Australia by major city.
(Keep in mind, that the 2025 rates have yet to be published.)
| Average weekly rent House | Average weekly rent Unit | |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney, NSW | $775 | $720 |
| Canberra, ACT | $680 | $550 |
| Melbourne, Victoria | $580 | $550 |
| Brisbane, QLD | $625 | $590 |
| Adelaide, SA | $600 | $495 |
| Perth, WA | $660 | $570 |
| Hobart, Tasmania | $550 | $460 |
| Darwin, NT | $680 | $550 |
| National | $650 | $630 |
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What Are the Most Expensive Cities for Renters in Australia?
The cost of rent in Australia varies wildly, depending on where you live. Not just by state, but by whether you live in regional Australia or a city, and even what part of the city you live in. Below you will find a breakdown of the four most expensive Australian major cities to rent in, for both houses and units. Keep in mind, this details rates over the past year.
Sydney, New South Wales
Sydney is the most expensive city for renters in Australia. Average rent in Canberra for a house will cost you $775 a week. If you'd rather rent a smaller space, the average rent in Sydney for a unit is $720. The average rent for a unit in Sydney is more expensive than renting a house in the center of 6 different Australian capital cities.
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Behind Sydney, Canberra comes in as the second most expensive city for renters in Australia. The average rent in Canberra is $680 for houses and $550 for units. Currently the rental prices for units and houses are decreasing in Canberra. Units are down1.8% and houses are down 0.7% vs last year.
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin has some of the highest average rent in the nation, and ties with Canberra for the second most expensive city for renters in Australia. During the pandemic, rental prices for new houses and units rose dramatically - up 14.6% for houses, and 13.2% for units. However, since September 2024, the average rent in Darwin has begun to level off. The average rent in Darwin is $680 for houses and $550 for units.
Perth, Western Australia
While once considered one of the most affordable cities in Australia, Perth is now the third most expensive city for renters in Australia. The average rent in Perth is around $660 a week for a house, while the average rent for a unit in Perth will cost you $570.
What Are the Most Affordable Cities for Renters in Australia?
One of the biggest shifts we've seen has been working from home. More and more people realized that as long as they had a fast internet connection they could not only work from home, but work from anywhere. While it’s too soon yet to see how this could affect rent in the long term, it does mean that many people are choosing to move to cheaper cities even if their job is in a more expensive one. If you’re looking for a cheaper city to move to, regardless of your reason, keep reading below to find the cities with the cheapest rent in Australia.
While these cities offer more affordable rental options, it's important to remember that tenants are typically responsible for maintaining the property in a clean and tidy condition. This can include significant costs for professional house cleaning or end-of-lease cleaning services.
If you are planning on renting for the first time and are looking for information? Check out our guides on tips for movers and our moving checklists to help you organize your moving budget and deal with removalists.
Melbourne, Victoria
As rental conditions get more difficult in Perth and Adelaide, Melbourne might has become the most affordable Australian city. Despite rent prices rising in Melbourne, it now has the cheapest rent in Australia thanks to the consistent decrease in rental costs that we saw throughout 2024. Recently, however, house rental costs in Melbourne have jumped to $580 per week. The average weekly rent for a unit in Melbourne has maintained stable at $550 per week. Like other cities, however, this isn’t consistent across the city and some areas within Melbourne saw record-high rental costs.
Adelaide, South Australia
Adelaide is not far behind Melbourne and ranks the second most affordable city for renters in Australia. There has been a recent uptick in new rental applications, and thanks to a shrinking vacancy rate, higher competition for rentals available, and a slowing down of investment and construction for new buildings, house costs and unit rental costs have jumped. Versus the same time last year, rent prices have gone from $550 to $600 for houses, and from $450 to $495 per week for units.
Brisbane, Queensland
Rental prices across Queensland, not just in Brisbane, have reached record highs thanks to more and more Australians moving out of their states to be in the sunshine state. In Brisbane, house rent has increased 5.9% over the last year, up to $625 a week, while units rent for just $35 less on average at $590 per week. This a new record high in rent prices for a unit in Brisbane.
Average Rent in Regional Australia 2024
The cities are expensive, which is why regional Australia can be an attractive choice for a tenant looking to save money or those on rent assistance. While each region varies in terms of the cost of rent, below you can find the average regional rents by state.
| Location | Regional Average Rent Houses | Regional Average Rent Units |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | $775 per week | $720 per week |
| Victoria | $580 per week | $550 per week |
| Queensland | $625 per week | $590 per week |
| South Australia | $600 per week | $495 per week |
| Australian Capital Territory | $680 per week | $550 per week |
| Western Australia | $660 per week | $570 per week |
| Tasmania | $550 per week | $460 per week |
| Northern Territory | $680 per week | $550 per week |
Source: Rent Property Data February 2025.
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How much of their income do Australians spend on rent per week?
They say you should never spend more than 30% of your income on rent, but how much of their average weekly earnings does the average Australian living in a major city put towards renting their home?
Below, we’ve taken the average weekly earnings for each major Australian city and the average weekly rent for the same to see just how much income is spent on rent every week.
| Average weekly earnings | Percentage of rent - house | Percentage of rent - unit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney, NSW | $1,751.90 | 34.25% | 27.97% |
| Canberra, ACT | $1,890.20 | 35.71% | 28.04% |
| Melbourne, Victoria | $1,718.50 | 25.89% | 21.82% |
| Brisbane, QLD | $1,615.40 | 29.71% | 26.00% |
| Adelaide, SA | $1,542.60 | 29.17% | 23.34% |
| Perth, WA | $1,840.50 | 24.99% | 21.19% |
| Hobart, Tasmania | $1,488.10 | 33.60% | 28.76% |
| Darwin, NT | $1,703.70 | 35.22% | 28.17% |
| National | $1,711.60 | 29.15% | 25.47% |
Source: Average weekly income in Australia - Australian Bureau of Statistics. Average weekly rent in Australia - Domain Weekly Rental ReportFebruary 2025.
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