Renters In Aussie Cities Are ‘Thousands of Dollars’ Worse Off Than Last Year
Image: Photo by Catarina Sousa
New data analysis has highlighted that renters in Australian capital cities are ‘thousands of dollars worse off’ at the end of this year, compared to last year.
While some capital cities haven’t had dramatic shifts, others have had a shocking jump up in annual rent prices — like in Adelaide, with some annual rents are $3,600 higher than they were a year ago.
An organisation called Everybody’s Home, which leads a national campaign aiming to fix Australia’s housing crisis, analysed SQM Research weekly asking rents data, which has showed the alarming jump up. The group was launched in 2018 by a coalition of housing, homelessness and welfare organisations to achieve the change needed so everybody has a safe and decent place to live.
Australian renters paying average of $1.5k more rent since last year
The analysis by Everybody’s Home shows that renters across all of Australia’s capital cities are paying an average of $1,593 more annually (compared to last year) for a house, and $1,084 more to rent a unit/apartment.
Adelaide has seen the largest rise by miles for units, with a rise in annual rental costs of $3,634.28, and Perth following up with $2,865.72 per year.
However, Perth saw the largest rise for houses with $2985.84 per year, with Adelaide behind on $2,648.98, and Canberra following up with $2,567.76 (despite the latter seeing next to no increase in rents for units).
Here’s the full table of rental increases between 2023 and 2024, for both units and houses, across all Aussie cities:
| Capital City | Weekly unit increase | Extra rent paid for units in 202 | Weekly house increase | Extra rent paid for houses in 2024 |
| Sydney | $7.48 | $388.96 | $21.30 | $1,107.60 |
| Melbourne | $23.74 | $1,234.48 | $33.00 | $1,716.00 |
| Brisbane | $23.00 | $1,196.00 | $24.63 | $1,280.76 |
| Perth | $55.11 | $2,865.72 | $57.42 | $2,985.84 |
| Adelaide | $69.89 | $3,634.28 | $50.94 | $2,648.98 |
| Darwin | $46.51 | $2,418.52 | $37.39 | $1,944.28 |
| Hobart | $25.16 | $1,308.32 | $13.33 | $693.16 |
| Canberra | $0.56 | $29.12 | $49.38 | $2,567.76 |
| Capital City Average | $20.86 | $1,084.72 | $30.64 | $1,593.28 |
*Analysis of SQM Research Weekly Rents Index for week ending 20 December 2024, showing the weekly and annualised rise in median unit and house asking rents since December 2023.
Australians having to ‘sacrifice the basics’ to make rent
Spokesperson for Everybody’s Home, Maiy Azize, said that the “top item on most renters’ wishlists this Christmas is a rent cut”.
“Right now when Australians should be enjoying time with loved ones, many will be worrying about the cost of keeping a roof over their head,” said Azize.
“This Christmas, too many families will be forced to choose between paying their rent and putting food on the table or presents under the tree. More people are being pushed into severe housing stress and homelessness, and sacrificing the basics like cooling on hot summer days just to make the rent.
“Australians are struggling under the weight of ever-increasing rents. Paying hundreds or thousands of dollars extra in rent over the past year adds to an already unaffordable burden. Every additional dollar people have to find to cover their rent matters, pushing them closer to the brink.
“We need immediate action to make renting a viable, affordable housing choice for Australians and we urge all parties and candidates running in next year’s election to make it a priority. That means committing to a plan that ends Australia’s massive social housing shortfall, scrapping investor tax handouts, raising Centrelink payments and protecting renters from unfair rent increases.”
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