What's it like to live in Sunshine Coast?
Laid-back beach towns north of Brisbane, popular with sea-changers.
Pros of living in Sunshine Coast
- Mild winters, with average winter days around 21°C.
- Main industries: Health, construction, tourism.
Cons of living in Sunshine Coast
- High rents, around $720 a week for a house.
- Very wet: about 1600 mm of rain a year, mostly in the wet season.
Cost of living in Sunshine Coast
The reported house figure is about $1.08M (median house sale price, Sunshine Coast, June 2025). Source: Sunshine Coast News, property boom (PropTrack data) ↗. A house rents for about $720 a week (indicative, not individually audited). Sunshine Coast has about 360,000 people (indicative). See every city's costs.
Different publishers, geographic boundaries and methods mean these house figures cannot be compared directly as a price index.
Weather in Sunshine Coast
Average summer days reach about 28°C and winter days about 21°C, with around 1600 mm of rain a year. Sunshine Coast and Sydney share a time zone for half the year. Sydney uses daylight saving, so the gap changes by an hour from October to April.
What Sunshine Coast is known for
Noosa, Mooloolaba and laid-back beach towns, plus the Glass House Mountains and Australia Zoo.
Getting around Sunshine Coast
There is limited public transport and a car is essential. Trains to Brisbane run from inland stations.
Day-to-day life and sport
A popular sea-change destination with a slower pace. Strong population growth has pushed up housing costs.
Surfing, triathlon and community rugby league.
Sources: Translink Queensland · Visit Sunshine Coast
Jobs in Sunshine Coast
The biggest industries are health, construction, tourism.
What locals are talking about right now
- High housing costs and low rental availability reshape Sunshine Coast communities
- Shifting civic priorities as law and order concerns edge higher
- Rising insurance, energy, and transit expenses squeeze household budgets
- Transport infrastructure demands grow alongside rapid suburban expansion
- An older population in one of Australia's fastest-growing regions
Frequently asked questions
Is Sunshine Coast a good place to live?
Laid-back beach towns north of Brisbane, popular with sea-changers. The main draws are mild winters, with average winter days around 21°c; the main drawback is high rents, around $720 a week for a house.
Is it expensive to live in Sunshine Coast?
A published house figure is about $1.08M (Median house sale price, Sunshine Coast, June 2025; source: https://www.sunshinecoastnews.com.au/2025/07/08/property-boom-continues-but-affordability-slows-growth/). Indicative house rent is about $720 a week; check current local listings before budgeting.
What is the weather like in Sunshine Coast?
Average summer days reach about 28°C and winter days about 21°C, with around 1600 mm of rain a year.
What are the main jobs in Sunshine Coast?
The biggest industries are health, construction, tourism.