National median weekly rents rose 1.6% in the June quarter of 2026, according to the latest Cotality figures. Median rents across all Australian dwellings have still hit a record high of $705 per week, while in capital cities, median rents are now $739.
But if that’s out of your budget, don’t despair. The cheapest median rent in any capital city suburb is nearly half that—$376 per week.
We look at the cheapest suburbs to rent in Australia and at the state capitals where you can expect to pay more.
What’s the average rent cost in Australia?
When deciding on a rental agreement, cost is likely to be at the front of your mind. Nationally, rents rose 5.9% over the year to June. This is largely due to a lack of supply, according to Cotality. Across the nation, just 1.6% of rentals were available for tenants in the three months ended June.
And those are just the latest figures. The datahouse highlights that rents are up 40.6% over the last five years, adding an extra $204 to an average renter’s housing costs.
That said, rents vary markedly city-to-city, and even suburb-to-suburb. Here are some of the cheapest out there.
Where are the cheapest cities to rent in Australia?
Hobart still holds the title as the cheapest capital city to rent in Australia, but only just. Rental properties in the Tasmanian capital currently command a median weekly rent of $632. That’s $209 cheaper than median rent in the most expensive capital city, Sydney.
Below, capital cities are listed from the cheapest overall median rental prices to the most expensive, as calculated by Cotality.
1. Hobart: $632 per week
If you’re in search of the cheapest rent in Australia, Hobart takes out top billing across the state capitals.
But, according to Cotality, the median weekly rent in Hobart has gone up 8.6% over the past year.
The most affordable suburb for units is Brighton, around 25 kilometres from the city, where median rents are $503 per week.
For houses, Bridgewater takes the title of cheapest suburb for rent, with the median house setting a tenant back $505 a week.
Conversely, Sandy Bay houses are the city’s most expensive to rent, at a median $797 a week.
2. Melbourne: $641 per week
Not too far behind (just $9 per week, in fact) is Australia’s most populous city, Melbourne. The median rent in Melbourne for all dwelling types has risen 4.9% over the year to June.
On the hunt for cheap rent? You might want to look at Melton South for units. It’s not only the most affordable suburb to rent in Melbourne, it’s also got the cheapest median rent of any Australian capital city suburb, demanding just $376 per week. Next door, Melton is Melbourne's cheapest suburb to rent a house, with median rents of $420.
On the other side of the coin, Brighton is Melbourne’s most expensive suburb to rent, with rents coming in at a median $1,555 per week.
3. Adelaide: $662 per week
The median weekly rent in Adelaide jumped 4.8% over the past year.
Its most affordable suburb for units can be found north of the city, in Salisbury, where the median rent on a unit is $477 per week.
For houses, Elizabeth South, which is also north of the city, demands median weekly rents of $504.
But if you’re looking to fork out more, Adelaide’s most expensive suburb is Hyde Park, where rent on a median house is $1,018 per week.
4. Canberra: $706 per week
Canberra has risen up the affordability ranks in recent years, now coming in as the fourth most affordable capital city to rent a property. This is up 3.2% year-on-year, which is actually the lowest increase across the state capitals.
Of Canberra’s 30 most affordable suburbs for rent, houses don’t feature at all. Instead, renters looking for the lowest-priced units might consider Curtin, Downer, or Lyons, where median weekly rents could set you back $507, $535, or $541 respectively.
On the other hand, Canberra’s most expensive median rent is found in Campbell, where a typical house goes for $967 per week.
5. Darwin: $725 per week
Median weekly rent values in Darwin have climbed 10.1% over the past year. That’s the fastest increase of any Australian capital city.
If you’re looking for cheap rent in Darwin, you could consider units in Karama, which go for a median $552 per week.
If houses are more your thing, Moulden offers the lowest median rent, at $640 per week.
If you’re looking for the most expensive rent in the Northern Territory capital, Fannie Bay is where it’s at, with houses commanding median weekly rents of $1,040.
6. Brisbane: $734 per week
According to Cotality, median weekly rent in Brisbane has risen 6.4% over the past year.
Raceview, in Ipswich, is Greater Brisbane’s most affordable suburb for rent, at a median $443 per week for units.
For houses, Russel Island, the biggest of the southern Moreton Bay islands, is Brisbane’s most affordable suburb, at $508 per week.
On the flipside, Bulimba is Brisbane’s most expensive suburb to rent, with houses demanding a median $1,206 per week.
7. Perth: $784 per week
Perth’s median weekly rent increased 7.8% over the past year.
South of Perth is where you’ll find the most affordable suburbs.
The satellite city of Mandurah is the most affordable for houses at a median $576 per week, whereas the suburb of Shoalwater, in Perth’s south west, is most affordable for units at $470 per week.
For the bougie amongst us, Dalkeith houses demand a median $1,660 per week in rent.
8. Sydney: $841 per week
Sydney continues to be the nation’s most expensive capital city for renters. It has a median weekly rent of $841, up 5.9% year-on-year.
If you’re looking for cheap (or cheaper) rent in Sydney, you might consider units in Carramar, Tahmoor, or Leumeah. The trio offer the cheapest weekly median rent, coming in at $466, $491, and $493 respectively for units.
For houses, Shalvey has the lowest median rent, at $563 per week.
Comparatitively, Sydney’s most expensive suburb for rent is Vaucluse, which demands a median $2,582 per week.
Rent or buy in Australia: how does renting compare to home ownership?
Cotality’s latest figures show the median weekly rent across Australia as $705 per week. How does this stack up against home ownership?
Well, the median dwelling value in Australia came in at $928,421 in August 2026.
Assuming you have a 20% deposit and an interest rate of 6% p.a., your repayments could be around $1,027 a week.
While this example shows weekly mortgage repayments can be higher than the median weekly rent, it’s important to note that this doesn’t take into account all home ownership and renting variables.
Want to work out how the cost of a mortgage could stack up against your rent? Our home loan repayments calculator could help.
