The rent price index in Australia in the first quarter of 2025 was *****, marking an increase from the same quarter of the previous year. Rent prices had decreased in 2020; in Melbourne and Sydney, this was mainly attributed to the absence of international students during the coronavirus outbreak. The current state of the rental market in Australia The rental market in Australia has been marked by varying conditions across different regions. Among the capital cities, Sydney has long been recognized for having some of the highest average rents. As of March 2025, the average weekly rent for a house in Sydney was *** Australian dollars, which was the highest average rent across all major cities in Australia that year. Furthermore, due to factors like population growth and housing demand, regional areas have also seen noticeable increases in rental prices. For instance, households in the non-metropolitan area of New South Wales’ expenditure on rent was around ** percent of their household income in the year ending June 2024. Housing affordability in Australia Housing affordability remains a significant challenge in Australia, contributing to a trend where many individuals and families rent for prolonged periods. The underlying cause of this issue is the ongoing disparity between household wages and housing costs, especially in large cities. While renting offers several advantages, it is worth noting that the associated costs may not always align with the expectation of affordability. Approximately one-third of participants in a recent survey stated that they pay between ** and ** percent of their monthly income on rent. Recent government initiatives, such as the 2024 Help to Buy scheme, aim to make it easier for people across Australia to get onto the property ladder. Still, the multifaceted nature of Australia’s housing affordability problem requires continued efforts to strike a balance between market dynamics and the need for accessible housing options for Australians.

Sydney topped the residential rental pricing market in Australia in March 2025, with house rent prices reaching an average of *** Australian dollars per week. The average weekly rent for a unit in Sydney was the highest among all capital cities in the country, followed by Brisbane.

As of June 2024, the average weekly rent for a house in Sydney was *** Australian dollars, which was the highest average rent across all major cities in Australia that year. That same year, the average weekly rent for a house in Melbourne was around *** Australian dollars.

Rent Inflation in Australia decreased to 4.50 percent in the second quarter of 2025 from 5.50 percent in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Australia Rent Inflation.

Australia Standardised Price-Rent Ratio: sa data was reported at 168.732 Ratio in Dec 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 171.919 Ratio for Sep 2024. Australia Standardised Price-Rent Ratio: sa data is updated quarterly, averaging 70.511 Ratio from Sep 1972 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 210 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 189.671 Ratio in Mar 2022 and a record low of 48.119 Ratio in Sep 1972. Australia Standardised Price-Rent Ratio: sa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.OECD.AHPI: House Price Index: Seasonally Adjusted: OECD Member: Quarterly. Nominal house prices divided by rent price indices. The long-term average is calculated over the whole period available when the indicator begins after 1980 or after 1980 if the indicator is longer. This value is used as a reference value. The ratio is calculated by dividing the indicator source on this long-term average, and indexed to a reference value equal to 100.

Quarterly summary of median private rent in South Australia by: suburb, postcode, State Government regions and Local Government Areas. The information relates to bonds lodged with Consumer and Business Services for private rental properties in South Australia.

Australia Price to Rent Ratio: sa data was reported at 127.172 2015=100 in Dec 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 129.574 2015=100 for Sep 2024. Australia Price to Rent Ratio: sa data is updated quarterly, averaging 53.143 2015=100 from Sep 1972 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 210 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 142.953 2015=100 in Mar 2022 and a record low of 36.267 2015=100 in Sep 1972. Australia Price to Rent Ratio: sa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.OECD.AHPI: House Price Index: Seasonally Adjusted: OECD Member: Quarterly. Nominal house prices divided by rent price indices

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the house price-to-rent ratio in Australia was estimated at *****, marking a decrease from the same quarter of the previous year. An indicator of how strong the property market is, the house price-to-rent ratio was calculated by dividing nominal house prices by rent price indices. Within the given period, after reaching a peak in the first quarter of 2022, the price-to-rent ratio decreased each quarter until the second quarter of 2023. From then on, the house price-to-rent ratio fluctuated, but largely trended downwards. Is Australia in a property bubble? Many industry experts believe the country is in a property bubble, indicated by the rapid increase in Australian property market prices to the point that they are no longer relative to incomes and rents, followed by a decline. The house price-to-income ratio was on an upward trend between the third quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2024. Nonetheless, after hitting its peak, it declined to ***** in the fourth quarter of 2024. Rental property demand In March 2025, the rental vacancy rate, which indicates how many properties are available for rent out of all the rental stock, was relatively high in Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney. That year, the average weekly rent prices varied across the country depending on the city, with the highest average weekly rents for houses and units in Sydney. Hobart, on the other hand, had the most affordable rental properties across Australia's capital cities.

Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Housing: Rents: Rents data was reported at 203.800 1989-1990=100 in Jun 2012. This records an increase from the previous number of 201.500 1989-1990=100 for Mar 2012. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Housing: Rents: Rents data is updated quarterly, averaging 107.000 1989-1990=100 from Sep 1972 (Median) to Jun 2012, with 160 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 203.800 1989-1990=100 in Jun 2012 and a record low of 19.400 1989-1990=100 in Sep 1972. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Housing: Rents: Rents data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.I008: Consumer Price Index: 1989-90=100.

This dataset provides values for PRICE TO RENT RATIO reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

In June 2025, retail property rent asking prices were forecasted to increase by around **** percent. The Commercial Property Asking Price Index tracks the monthly change in vendor sentiment towards commercial rental properties advertised in Australia.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Index: OECD Groups: Housing: Housing Excluding Imputed Rentals for Housing for Australia (AUSCPGRHO02GPQ) from Q4 1980 to Q3 2023 about imputed, Australia, rent, CPI, price index, indexes, and price.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Index: Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels (COICOP 04): Imputed Rentals for Housing: Total for Australia (AUSCP040200GPQ) from Q3 1998 to Q3 2023 about tobacco, alcohol, beverages, Australia, CPI, price index, indexes, and price.

In June 2025, industrial rental property asking prices were forecasted to witness a decrease of around **** percent. Within the given time period, the largest growth in industrial property rent prices was recorded in May 2022.

Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Perth: Housing: Rents: Rents data was reported at 124.200 2011-2012=100 in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 122.100 2011-2012=100 for Dec 2024. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Perth: Housing: Rents: Rents data is updated quarterly, averaging 56.300 2011-2012=100 from Sep 1972 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 211 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 124.200 2011-2012=100 in Mar 2025 and a record low of 12.200 2011-2012=100 in Sep 1972. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Perth: Housing: Rents: Rents data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.I007: Consumer Price Index: 2011-12=100: Eight Capital Cities.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Indices (CPIs, HICPs), COICOP 1999: Consumer Price Index: Housing Excluding Imputed Rentals for Housing for Australia (AUSCPGRHO02IXOBQ) from Q3 1980 to Q1 2025 about imputed, Australia, rent, CPI, price index, indexes, and price.

The Car Rental industry in Australia has exhibited very high volatility over recent years, with revenue recovering strongly from steep slumps during the pandemic. Air passenger movements and international travel to Australia have risen sharply, heightening demand as tourists rent cars for their stay. Fleet shortages resulting from vehicle supply chain issues have raised the average daily rates for rental cars. These price hikes can support revenue but also steer consumers away to alternatives. Ride-sharing services and price-comparison websites have become increasingly popular, which has created intense price competition. This has forced car rental companies to keep their prices in check to maintain market share, eroding profitability. Revenue is expected to have climbed at an annualised 1.0% over the five years through 2024-25 to $1.49 billion, with no expected change anticipated in 2024-25. Major players like Hertz and Avis dominate the Car Rental industry, which is highly concentrated. Smaller players struggle to capture market share since there are significant entry costs and it’s difficult to become entrenched in airports, which is essential for success. Consumer preferences have shifted from smaller passenger vehicles to medium and large ones because of their space and versatility. Car rental businesses are mainly located in high-population states and popular tourist destinations, as this provides easy access to customers. Looking ahead, economic recovery and expanded aviation routes between Australian cities and South-East Asia will drive increased international travel, benefiting industry demand. Price competition from aggregator websites and the rising popularity of substitutes will continue to pressure the industry, tempering rental prices. Car rental companies will keep developing their digital platforms, providing consumers with a more seamless hiring process. Revenue is forecast to climb at an annualised 2.4% over the five years through 2029-30 to $1.67 billion.

In the first quarter of 2025, the house price-to-rent ratio in Australia was estimated at 129, marking a decrease from the same quarter of the previous year. An indicator of how strong the property market is, the house price-to-rent ratio was calculated by dividing nominal house prices by rent price indices. Within the given period, after reaching a peak in the first quarter of 2022, the price-to-rent ratio decreased each quarter until the second quarter of 2023. From then on, the house price-to-rent ratio fluctuated, but largely trended downwards. Is Australia in a property bubble? Many industry experts believe the country is in a property bubble, indicated by the rapid increase in Australian property market prices to the point that they are no longer relative to incomes and rents, followed by a decline. The house price-to-income ratio was on an upward trend between the third quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2024. Nonetheless, after hitting its peak, it declined to 119.2 in the fourth quarter of 2024. Rental property demand In March 2025, the rental vacancy rate, which indicates how many properties are available for rent out of all the rental stock, was relatively high in Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney. That year, the average weekly rent prices varied across the country depending on the city, with the highest average weekly rents for houses and units in Sydney. Hobart, on the other hand, had the most affordable rental properties across Australia's capital cities.

Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Melbourne: Housing: Rents data was reported at 132.200 2011-2012=100 in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 130.600 2011-2012=100 for Dec 2024. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Melbourne: Housing: Rents data is updated quarterly, averaging 65.700 2011-2012=100 from Sep 1972 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 211 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 132.200 2011-2012=100 in Mar 2025 and a record low of 10.600 2011-2012=100 in Sep 1972. Australia Consumer Price Index (CPI): Melbourne: Housing: Rents data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.I007: Consumer Price Index: 2011-12=100: Eight Capital Cities.

This dataset presents the Rental Affordability Index (RAI) for 3 bedroom dwellings. The data uses a single median income value for all of Australia (enabling comparisons across regions), and spans the quarters Q1 2011 to Q2 2021. The RAI covers all states with available data, the Northern Territory does not form part of this dataset.

National Shelter, Bendigo Bank, The Brotherhood of St Laurence, and SGS Economics and Planning have released the RentalAffordability Index (RAI) on a biannual basis since 2015. Since 2019, the RAI has been released annually.

It is generally accepted that if housing costs exceed 30% of a low-income household's gross income, the household is experiencing housing stress (30/40 rule). That is, housing is unaffordable and housing costs consume a disproportionately high amount of household income. The RAI uses the 30 per cent of income rule. Rental affordability is calculated using the following equation, where 'qualifying income' refers to the household income required to pay rent where rent is equal to 30% of income:

RAI = (Median income ∕ Qualifying Income) x 100

In the RAI, households who are paying 30% of income on rent have a score of 100, indicating that these households are at the critical threshold for housing stress. A score of 100 or less indicates that households would pay more than 30% of income to access a rental dwelling, meaning they are at risk of experiencing housing stress.

For more information on the Rental Affordability Index please refer to SGS Economics and Planning.

The RAI is a price index for housing rental markets. It is a clear and concise indicator of rental affordability relative to household incomes, applied to geographic areas across Australia.

AURIN has spatially enabled the original data using geometries provided by SGS Economics and Planning. Values of 'NA' in the original data have been set to NULL.