Revealed: The areas with the highest rent across the country
Across Australia, it's not a secret that rent has generally been ticking upwards - much to the dismay of renters - with revealingly stronger growth in some areas than others.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics details show that Western Australia is the state that has grown more than any other, with a 77% uptick from 2006 to 2011. In 2006, it was recorded at $170 per week, however in 2011 it was noted as $300.
Speaking of growth in the statistics, the ABS director of rural and regional statistics, Lisa Conolly, said that while Western Australia overall grew the most, the area with the biggest uptick was in Queensland.
This was a terrifying headline figure of 570% growth over the period in Weipa, in Queensland's far north, and the picture overall looks fairly drab on the surface for renters.
Rental costs increased from $191 in 2006 to $285 in 2011 - an increase of 49%. Mortgage repayments have increased 39% during this time.
"Rental costs have also increased by twice as much as wages with the median weekly household income increasing from $1,027 in 2006 to $1,234 in 2011, up 20%," she explained.
However, Conolly said that it wasn't quite the unexpected drastic growth, for Weipa at least, that the figure suggests.
"Local government areas in Western Australia recorded some of the biggest growth in median rent payments in Australia, with eight out of the 10 fastest growing regions located in Western Australia. However, Weipa, in far north Queensland, came in at the top, reflecting a change from employer owned housing to private rental arrangements," recorded Conolly.
Despite this, in what will come as a surprise to almost no one, it remains local government areas (LGA) in Sydney that record the highest rent. And, as can be attested by the overwhelming 'red' on all of the zoomed in capital cities, it's costly to rent in Australia's capitals.
LGAs with the highest rent: (Note: the suburb linked to each LGA is that closest to the relevant council chambers. For more specific suburb data, you can use our free data tool here)
New South Wales and ACT
- Ku-ring-gai - $575 per week
- Woollahra - $550 per week
The LGA in New South Wales with the fastest growth over the period was Gwydir, and it was noted that while areas outside of the capital city had lower overall rental payments, they showed the most significant growth over time.
The ACT was noted as having the highest median rent overall across Australia - recorded at $380 per week. The Queanbeyan area grew from $185 per week in 2006 to $289 per week in 2011, a 56.2% increase.
Western Australia
The fastest growth costs in Greater Perth occurred in Serpentine-Jarrahdale, which doubled from $155 per week to $306 per week, or a 99.4% rise, however it is noted that the LGA has one of the highest proportion of home ownership (with a mortgage) areas across the country, with just 14.7% rentals.
Victoria
The LGA across the state with the fastest growth was West Wimmera, despite maintaining a lower rent than other LGAs. In Greater Melbourne, Maribyrnong saw the fastest recorded growth with a 64.7% increase to $280 per week from $170 per week.
Queensland
- Brisbane - $350 per week
- Gold Coast - $350 per week
- Redland - $350 per week
In Greater Brisbane, Somerset was one of the fastest growing, rising 60% to $240 per week, from $150 per week.
Northern Territory
- Darwin - $360 per week
- Palmerston - $360 per week
The LGA with the fastest growth across the territory was Palmerston, which grew 89.5% over the recorded period.
South Australia
- Adelaide - $320 per week
The fastest growing LGAs across South Australia included Peterborough, and Southern Mallee, which both saw a 66.7% uptick, while in Greater Adelaide it was West Torrens, 54.4% growth to $247, from $160 per week, that took out the growth record.
Tasmania
- Kingborough - $275 per week
The fastest growing LGA in Tasmania was in the Central Highlands and the Tasman, with a 60% uptick. In Greater Hobart, Brighton rose 58.1% to $185, from $117 per week.
Conolly reminded viewers of the statistics that the cost of renting in a region can change due to a number of factors.
These may include:
- Workforce demand
- Population growth or decline
- Changing tenure arrangements
"Nationally, rental costs increased by more than mortgage repayments with the median weekly household rent rising from $191 in 2006 to $285 in 2011 - an increase of 49%. Whereas mortgage repayments have increased 39% during this time," she said.
