In case you’ve been living under a rock (or couch surfing because the housing market is insane), renting in Australia’s major cities ain’t cheap! But for the first time in what feels like forever, Aussie renters have something to celebrate: rental growth for both houses and units has finally stalled.
According to Domain’s September 2025 Rental Report, house rents across Australia’s combined capitals have held steady for five straight quarters – the longest period of stability since 2014–16 – with annual growth at zero for the second straight quarter. This is the first time in ten years that this has happened (mega!). Meanwhile, unit rents have slowed to their lowest point since 2021, even falling in two major Aussie capitals.
Melbourne is enjoying its longest period of rent stability in more than a decade (five straight quarters), sitting at a median of $580 per week – the equal lowest in Australia alongside Hobart. Adelaide recorded its first growth pause in five years, with the second-cheapest house rents in the country at $620. Meanwhile, rents in Sydney ($780), Perth ($700) and Canberra ($700) have also stalled.
Brisbane and Darwin are the only capital cities where both house and unit rents are still rising. In Brisbane, house rents rose $10 from last quarter to $660, while Darwin saw a $5 increase to $580.
While house rents were the first to stabilise, unit rents are finally catching up. The September 2025 report reveals that although rents remain at record levels across most capital cities, growth has plateaued, with year-on-year growth slowing to 3.2 per cent – the weakest since 2021.
Perth and Hobart are the two outliers, where unit rents are actually falling. Costs to rent an apartment in Perth have dropped 3.2 per cent since last quarter to $600 per week, while Hobart has seen a two per cent decline to $490. Despite the dip, Hobart still boasts the country’s most competitive rental market, with a vacancy rate of just 0.2 per cent – a record low last seen in 2022.
Unit rents have flattened in Melbourne ($575), Adelaide ($520) and Canberra ($580) – all below the combined capitals’ median of $650. Only Sydney ($750), Brisbane ($630) and Darwin ($580) are still seeing minor quarterly increases.
How much it costs to rent a house in Australia (per week)
- Sydney – $780
- Darwin – $720
- Canberra – $700
- Perth – $700
- Brisbane – $660
- Adelaide – $620
- Hobart – $580
- Melbourne – $580
How much it costs to rent a unit in Australia (per week)
- Sydney – $750
- Brisbane – $630
- Perth – $600
- Canberra – $580
- Darwin – $580
- Melbourne – $575
- Adelaide – $520
- Hobart – $490