Cost of living in Australia
Housing is what makes Australia expensive. Sydney is the most costly city by a wide margin; Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin and most regional cities are far cheaper to rent or buy in. Everyday costs like groceries and transport vary less between cities.
How we put this guide together
This guide is editorial, not sponsored. National claims cite sources in the references below; house figures in the city tables link to their individual articles and name their geography, period and measure. House figures are editorially reviewed, not automatically replaced by the weekly population and rent check. Other city figures remain indicative. If something looks out of date, tell us.
Housing is the biggest cost
Rent or mortgage repayments usually take the largest share of a household budget. The table below shows sourced house figures of different types and dates, plus indicative weekly rents, cheapest rent first. It is not a like-for-like house-price ranking.
Other everyday costs
Groceries, energy and insurance have all risen in recent years. Public transport is cheapest in cities with capped daily fares; Sydney and Brisbane drivers also face tolls.
Interest rates set by the Reserve Bank drive mortgage repayments, so check the current cash rate before budgeting.[1][2]
References
Cost of living by city
Capital-city house figures use Domain's September 2026 city-wide stratified medians, excluding apartments. They do not compare equivalent homes at the same distance from each city centre. Regional figures below use other sources and periods.
| City | Population | House figure and source | Weekly rent | Summer / winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballarat | 120,000 | $545k ↗ Median house sale price · Ballarat local government area · September quarter 2025 | $430 | 25° / 11°C |
| Bendigo | 125,000 | $600k ↗ Median house sale price · Greater Bendigo local government area · June quarter 2025 | $440 | 29° / 13°C |
| Launceston | 110,000 | $628k ↗ Median house sale price · Launceston · 2025 annual | $470 | 24° / 12°C |
| Geelong | 290,000 | $782k ↗ Median house sale price · Geelong · September 2025 | $500 | 25° / 14°C |
| Townsville | 200,000 | $626k ↗ Median house sale price · Townsville · October 2025 | $520 | 31° / 25°C |
| Hobart | 255,000 | $790k ↗ Domain stratified median house sale price (houses only) · Hobart capital-city market (Domain) · September quarter 2026 | $550 | 22° / 12°C |
| Alice Springs | 26,000 | $469k ↗ Quarterly median house sale price; small market, volatile · Alice Springs · December quarter 2025 | $550 | 36° / 20°C |
| Melbourne | 5.2 million | $1.01M ↗ Domain stratified median house sale price (houses only) · Melbourne capital-city market (Domain) · September quarter 2026 | $560 | 26° / 14°C |
| Adelaide | 1.4 million | $1.1M ↗ Domain stratified median house sale price (houses only) · Adelaide capital-city market (Domain) · September quarter 2026 | $570 | 29° / 15°C |
| Cairns | 160,000 | $775k ↗ Median house sale price · Cairns · December 2025 | $580 | 31° / 26°C |
| Newcastle | 500,000 | $989k ↗ Cotality median house value (not Newcastle-only sale median) · Newcastle and Lake Macquarie combined · August 2025 | $600 | 26° / 18°C |
| Wollongong | 310,000 | $1.18M ↗ Median house sale price; verify provider methodology · Wollongong local government area · 12 months to July 2026 | $620 | 25° / 17°C |
| Brisbane | 2.7 million | $1.15M ↗ Domain stratified median house sale price (houses only) · Brisbane capital-city market (Domain) · September quarter 2026 | $650 | 30° / 22°C |
| Darwin | 150,000 | $752k ↗ Domain stratified median house sale price (houses only) · Darwin capital-city market (Domain) · September quarter 2026 | $650 | 32° / 31°C |
| Perth | 2.3 million | $1.12M ↗ Domain stratified median house sale price (houses only) · Perth capital-city market (Domain) · September quarter 2026 | $680 | 31° / 19°C |
| Canberra | 470,000 | $1.03M ↗ Domain stratified median house sale price (houses only) · Canberra · September quarter 2026 | $680 | 28° / 12°C |
| Sunshine Coast | 360,000 | $1.08M ↗ Median house sale price · Sunshine Coast · June 2025 | $720 | 28° / 21°C |
| Sydney | 5.5 million | $1.66M ↗ Domain stratified median house sale price (houses only) · Sydney capital-city market (Domain) · September quarter 2026 | $750 | 26° / 17°C |
| Gold Coast | 730,000 | $1.25M ↗ Median house sale price · Gold Coast City Council · June quarter 2025 | $750 | 28° / 21°C |
House figures link to their exact articles and differ by period, boundary and method; they are not a like-for-like ranking. Rent, population and weather figures are indicative and have not been individually source-audited. Compare any two in Compare cities.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest city to live in Australia?
Housing costs depend on the suburb and whether you rent or buy. See each city's dated house source and indicative rent in the table rather than ranking unlike measures.
What is the most expensive city in Australia?
Sydney is among the most expensive housing markets. See the dated, individually sourced figures in the table; different providers and periods cannot be compared directly.