- The Savvy Promise
At Savvy, our mission is to empower you to make informed financial choices. While we maintain stringent editorial standards, this article may include mentions of products offered by our partners. Here’s how we generate income.
In this article
Over the last 12 months, there’s been a lot of ups and downs in rent affordability in Australia in terms of prices and yields. Cities which some thought were unaffordable are now within the grasp of more and more people, as you’ll see below.
This can be explained, at least in part, due to the pandemic and demographic changes. Work From Home has been the “push” for people who’ve wanted tree or sea-changes out of the cities and into the regions, as they no longer have to commute. Few new international student arrivals have also increased vacancies in major cities and suburbs.
If you’re wondering where the most affordable rents are in Australia, we’ve got the latest (January 2021) statistics so you can see which places are most affordable to least affordable, as well as information on regional alternatives and what you can do as an investor to attract higher yields.
The statistics at the end of 2020 – a snapshot
According to property market analytics firm CoreLogic Quarterly Rental Review (December 2020 Quarter), national rental rates rose by 0.6% over the month of December, taking national rents 1.9% higher than the previous calendar year. This was the largest rise since 2018.
Combined capital city rent averaged up 0.7% over the year while regional rents rose 2.9% over the final quarter of 2020 to finish the year 5.3% over 2019.
Unit rental rates declined by 3% although house rents rose 3.9% over 2020. National gross rental yields slipped down to 3.71%, down 0.1% compared to a year earlier. The national rental market ended the year 1.9% higher, against a 3% rise in dwelling values.
The most affordable capital city – Adelaide
The most affordable capital city for rent is Adelaide with a median rent of $410. The change in rents have been modest year-on-year, possibly due to lower city demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which usually catered to international medium-term visitors such as students or temporary visa holders. This is reflected in the rental yields dipping slightly.
| Combined | Houses | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Current Median Rent |
$410 |
$427 |
$348 |
|
Year-on-Year Change |
3.2% |
3.6% |
1.4% |
|
Current Yield |
4.27% |
4.11% |
5.15% |
|
Yield 2019 |
4.42% |
4.24% |
5.41% |
Perth
Though much is made about Perth and Western Australia being the “boom” capital thanks to the mining sector, the second most affordable rental market is indeed found out west, with a combined median rent for all dwellings of $428. This may not be for long, though, as rents rose 4.6% quarter over quarter and 9.7% over the last twelve months. Population growth also increased 1.5% during the 12 months to March 2020, with the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia tipping an increase of 10 to 15% throughout 2021.
Rental yields also nosed up a tad to 4.45% in 2020, compared with 4.31% a year earlier.
| Combined | Houses | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Current Median Rent |
$428 |
$435 |
$379 |
|
Year-on-Year Change |
9.7% |
10.1% |
6.8% |
|
Current Yield |
4.45% |
4.34% |
5.31% |
|
Yield 2019 |
4.31% |
4.21% |
5.17% |
The outlier – Melbourne
Most surprisingly, Melbourne, usually considered second only to Sydney in terms of affordability, has come in at the third cheapest on the list with a median rent of $438. This is most likely caused by the punishing 112-day lockdown. In Victoria, 8,000 people left Melbourne during the extended lockdown to less restrictive regional areas or interstate where life resumed more or less as normal. Rental yields also suffered as economic activity ground to a halt for most of 2020 dipping from 3.25% to 3.12%.
| Combined | Houses | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Current Median Rent |
$438 |
$435 |
$415 |
|
Year-on-Year Change |
-2.9% |
0.7% |
-7.6% |
|
Current Yield |
3.25% |
2.82% |
3.68% |
|
Yield 2019 |
3.12% |
2.84% |
4.07% |
Brisbane
Brisbane house and unit rents are at record highs with a combined $448 median rent, beating out Melbourne thanks to their low vacancy rate. There has been a reduction in demand for rents due to the ongoing international border closures. This is reflected in a dip in yields by 0.15%.
| Combined | Houses | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Current Median Rent |
$448 |
$472 |
$396 |
|
Year-on-Year Change |
1.8% |
2.7% |
-1.1% |
|
Current Yield |
4.33% |
4.12% |
5.13% |
|
Yield 2019 |
4.48% |
4.28% |
5.24% |
Hobart
Median rents in Hobart have beat both Brisbane and Melbourne by a handy margin – $460. This is partly due to a drop in vacancies and increased competition. Hobart is the tightest rental market of all capitals at the moment; yields fell on average by 50 basis points also.
| Combined | Houses | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Current Median Rent |
$460 |
$475 |
$397 |
|
Year-on-Year Change |
-1.2% |
-1% |
-2% |
|
Current Yield |
4.53% |
4.47% |
4.79% |
|
Yield 2019 |
5.05% |
5.03% |
5.15% |
Darwin
Despite the mining boom being over, Darwin found itself in a prime position for relocation in 2020 recording almost no COVID cases and no lockdowns. WFH and NT’s local tourism destinations means demand was high, recording a combined $491 median rent and an increase in rental yields to boot.
| Combined | Houses | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Current Median Rent |
$491 |
$536 |
$409 |
|
Year-on-Year Change |
8.8% |
9.6% |
7.6% |
|
Current Yield |
6% |
5.52% |
6.95% |
|
Yield 2019 |
5.87% |
5.37% |
6.79% |
Knocked off top spot – Sydney
If you’re surprised by this result, most of the industry and market is too. A combined median rent of $556 is the result of a year-on-year change of negative 1.4%. Vacancies due to a lack of international students and job losses have converted some AirBnB apartments into longer-term rentals, shaping a different demand profile for the highly sought-after city. Rental yields also dipped slightly on the back of this shift.
| Combined | Houses | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Current Median Rent |
$556 |
$614 |
$504 |
|
Year-on-Year Change |
-1.4% |
1.5% |
-5.7% |
|
Current Yield |
2.89% |
2.69% |
3.30% |
|
Yield 2019 |
3.02% |
2.75% |
3.35% |
The least affordable capital city – Canberra
Canberra is officially the most expensive city to rent a house in at $624 and a combined median rent of $586. Canberra experienced virtually no shutdown, making it more attractive to visit or live in. Prices improved as a result as Sydney’s rents dropped. Yields dipped slightly by 0.17%.
| Combined | Houses | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Current Median Rent |
$586 |
$624 |
$496 |
|
Year-on-Year Change |
3.9% |
4.7% |
1.5% |
|
Current Yield |
4.47% |
4.19% |
5.57% |
|
Yield 2019 |
4.64% |
4.33% |
5.79% |
What about the regions?
NSW regions beat the city by wide margins – Bathurst median rents hover around $360; $450 in Newcastle, and $500 in Wollongong. Living in the Victorian Goldfields (Stawell etc.) has a median rent of $268. Bendigo ($350) and Geelong ($390) also come in under the overall median in Melbourne. Cairns in Queensland almost hovers around the median for Brisbane – the Gold Coast beats it roundly at $520, with the Sunshine Coast coming in at $510.
Is buying better than renting?
Buying a home is like buying a retirement; or growing your wealth. But is buying better than renting? The immediate benefits of paying off a mortgage builds equity in an asset; rent just goes to a landlord. However, this “puts your nest eggs in one basket” – if you can save on rent compared with buying, there is potential for funnelling that cash into shares or other diversified investments with higher yields – the ASX Top 50 dividend yield finished with an average 7.41% from 2004 to 2013. In 2019, an Ernst & Young study showed that a renter is better off compared with a buyer in terms of having leftover cash. In the same study, home-owning retirees have three times as much cash on hand as those who rented for most of their lives. Depending on where you live, or where you want to live, renting may be better than buying. It depends on your wealth creation strategy. It’s always best to talk to a financial adviser before making any major decision.
How you can attract renters and maximise rental yield
With yields slipping by 10 basis points (3.81% to 3.71%) nationally over 2020, the hunt for attracting higher quality renters and maximising yields is on in earnest. Here are a few simple tips so you can improve your property and offer a point of difference that renters will pay extra for.
One idea is to offer to furnish the unit. People will pay more for the convenience of moving into a home with couches, beds, fridges, TVs, and other furniture already present. Landlords can increase cashflow by over $200 a week through this alone.
Installing air conditioning or climate control is a big plus for renters – especially in Queensland, Adelaide, Perth, and areas where it can get very toasty during summer. Watch renters flock to heated premises in wintry cities such as Melbourne, Hobart, or Canberra.
Adding a second bathroom can help renters who are shacking up together combine their resources. It not only improves rental return but improves the overall property value.
Did you find this page helpful?
Written by 
Commentary by
Guest Contributor
Bill TsouvalasFact checked
This guide provides general information and does not consider your individual needs, finances or objectives. We do not make any recommendation or suggestion about which product is best for you based on your specific situation and we do not compare all companies in the market, or all products offered by all companies. It’s always important to consider whether professional financial, legal or taxation advice is appropriate for you before choosing or purchasing a financial product.
The content on our website is produced by experts in the field of finance and reviewed as part of our editorial guidelines. We endeavour to keep all information across our site updated with accurate information.
