What's getting more expensive in Brisbane
The ABS publishes the Consumer Price Index for whole capital cities, so this covers Brisbane as a whole, not individual suburbs. The chart overlays the national figure or any other capital; the city comparisons go category by category for every capital.
Annual change by category
Year to the most recent quarter, Brisbane. Open a category for its trend.
Brisbane prices rose most in Housing (+13.2%) and fell most in Transport (-0.7%) over the year to the most recent quarter.
Show the data table
| Category | Annual change |
|---|---|
| Recreation and culture | +2.3% |
| Insurance and financial services | +3.2% |
| Communication | +1.8% |
| Clothing and footwear | +3.5% |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | +3.3% |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | +0.9% |
| Housing | +13.2% |
| Health | +4.0% |
| Transport | -0.7% |
| Education | +4.7% |
| Alcohol and tobacco | +6.9% |
The headline rate over time
Brisbane annual CPI moved from 5.2% in 2023-Q3 to 4.7% in 2025-Q3, against 3.2% nationally most recently.
Show the data table
| Year | Brisbane | National |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-Q3 | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| 2023-Q4 | 4.2% | 4.1% |
| 2024-Q1 | 3.4% | 3.6% |
| 2024-Q2 | 3.4% | 3.8% |
| 2024-Q3 | 1.8% | 2.8% |
| 2024-Q4 | 1.8% | 2.4% |
| 2025-Q1 | 2.7% | 2.4% |
| 2025-Q2 | 2.5% | 2.1% |
| 2025-Q3 | 4.7% | 3.2% |
Renting in Brisbane
Median weekly rent for new bonds lodged with the Residential Tenancies Authority, Greater Brisbane. The RTA advises comparing year-on-year — quarterly moves are seasonal.
Median weekly rent in Greater Brisbane went from $562 in 2024-Q1 to $656 in 2026-Q2, up 17%.
Show the data table
| Year | Greater Brisbane |
|---|---|
| 2024-Q1 | $562 |
| 2024-Q2 | $590 |
| 2024-Q3 | $574 |
| 2024-Q4 | $594 |
| 2025-Q1 | $585 |
| 2025-Q2 | $624 |
| 2025-Q3 | $612 |
| 2025-Q4 | $633 |
| 2026-Q1 | $625 |
| 2026-Q2 | $656 |
Cheapest to rent · 2026-Q2
- Ipswich - Central$380
- Kelvin Grove - Herston$413
- Darra - Sumner$430
- Robertson$440
- Deagon$440
- Rocklea - Acacia Ridge$447
Priciest to rent · 2026-Q2
- Rochedale - Burbank$950
- Bridgeman Downs$900
- Hendra$900
- Carindale$900
- Chapel Hill$880
- McDowall$870
All dwellings, suburbs with at least 20 new bonds this quarter. Full rankings at the rankings hub.
Which suburb fits your budget?
Cost of living is largely set by where you live. Answer four quick questions and the finder matches you to Greater Brisbane suburbs on rent, direction and lifestyle.
Which direction or corridor interests you?
Choose a region, or “Open to any direction” to match across all 243 Greater Brisbane suburbs.
What it costs to move here
Before the weekly budget comes the one-off cost of the move itself — the removalist, a rental bond of four weeks’ rent and two weeks in advance (Queensland’s statutory caps), the end-of-lease clean, and the connection, vehicle and pet costs that catch people out.
Open the relocation cost calculatorBrisbane against every other capital
Annual CPI change by category, each capital against Brisbane, from the ABS Consumer Price Index. Widest gaps first.
Sydney vs Brisbane
Sydney has annual CPI of 2.9%, 1.8 points below Brisbane's 4.7%, against 3.2% nationally. The biggest gap is housing: +3.7% in Sydney vs +13.2% in Brisbane.
| Category | Sydney | Brisbane | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | +3.7% | +13.2% | −9.5 pts |
| Alcohol and tobacco | +4.6% | +6.9% | −2.3 pts |
| Transport | +1.3% | -0.7% | +2.0 pts |
| Clothing and footwear | +1.9% | +3.5% | −1.6 pts |
| Insurance and financial services | +1.9% | +3.2% | −1.3 pts |
| Education | +5.4% | +4.7% | +0.7 pts |
| Recreation and culture | +2.8% | +2.3% | +0.5 pts |
| Health | +4.4% | +4.0% | +0.4 pts |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | +2.9% | +3.3% | −0.4 pts |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | +0.8% | +0.9% | −0.1 pts |
| Communication | +1.9% | +1.8% | +0.1 pts |
The full Sydney comparison, with a household-budget example →
Melbourne vs Brisbane
Melbourne has annual CPI of 2.6%, 2.1 points below Brisbane's 4.7%, against 3.2% nationally. The biggest gap is housing: +1.3% in Melbourne vs +13.2% in Brisbane.
| Category | Melbourne | Brisbane | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | +1.3% | +13.2% | −11.9 pts |
| Transport | +0.9% | -0.7% | +1.6 pts |
| Education | +5.5% | +4.7% | +0.8 pts |
| Alcohol and tobacco | +6.4% | +6.9% | −0.5 pts |
| Clothing and footwear | +3.0% | +3.5% | −0.5 pts |
| Recreation and culture | +1.9% | +2.3% | −0.4 pts |
| Insurance and financial services | +3.6% | +3.2% | +0.4 pts |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | +1.2% | +0.9% | +0.3 pts |
| Health | +3.8% | +4.0% | −0.2 pts |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | +3.1% | +3.3% | −0.2 pts |
| Communication | +1.9% | +1.8% | +0.1 pts |
The full Melbourne comparison, with a household-budget example →
Perth vs Brisbane
Perth has annual CPI of 4.5%, 0.2 points below Brisbane's 4.7%, against 3.2% nationally. The biggest gap is transport: +1.4% in Perth vs -0.7% in Brisbane.
| Category | Perth | Brisbane | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | +1.4% | -0.7% | +2.1 pts |
| Housing | +11.5% | +13.2% | −1.7 pts |
| Insurance and financial services | +1.9% | +3.2% | −1.3 pts |
| Alcohol and tobacco | +5.8% | +6.9% | −1.1 pts |
| Clothing and footwear | +2.6% | +3.5% | −0.9 pts |
| Education | +5.6% | +4.7% | +0.9 pts |
| Health | +4.5% | +4.0% | +0.5 pts |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | +0.8% | +0.9% | −0.1 pts |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | +3.2% | +3.3% | −0.1 pts |
| Recreation and culture | +2.2% | +2.3% | −0.1 pts |
| Communication | +1.8% | +1.8% | 0.0 pts |
Adelaide vs Brisbane
Adelaide has annual CPI of 2.4%, 2.3 points below Brisbane's 4.7%, against 3.2% nationally. The biggest gap is housing: +1.5% in Adelaide vs +13.2% in Brisbane.
| Category | Adelaide | Brisbane | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | +1.5% | +13.2% | −11.7 pts |
| Clothing and footwear | +1.8% | +3.5% | −1.7 pts |
| Insurance and financial services | +1.8% | +3.2% | −1.4 pts |
| Transport | +0.2% | -0.7% | +0.9 pts |
| Recreation and culture | +1.6% | +2.3% | −0.7 pts |
| Alcohol and tobacco | +7.4% | +6.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | +1.4% | +0.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Education | +4.4% | +4.7% | −0.3 pts |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | +3.0% | +3.3% | −0.3 pts |
| Communication | +1.8% | +1.8% | 0.0 pts |
| Health | +4.0% | +4.0% | 0.0 pts |
Hobart vs Brisbane
Hobart has annual CPI of 4.3%, 0.4 points below Brisbane's 4.7%, against 3.2% nationally. The biggest gap is housing: +8.6% in Hobart vs +13.2% in Brisbane.
| Category | Hobart | Brisbane | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | +8.6% | +13.2% | −4.6 pts |
| Alcohol and tobacco | +9.1% | +6.9% | +2.2 pts |
| Clothing and footwear | +1.4% | +3.5% | −2.1 pts |
| Insurance and financial services | +4.4% | +3.2% | +1.2 pts |
| Transport | +0.5% | -0.7% | +1.2 pts |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | +4.2% | +3.3% | +0.9 pts |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | +1.4% | +0.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Health | +3.6% | +4.0% | −0.4 pts |
| Recreation and culture | +2.6% | +2.3% | +0.3 pts |
| Education | +4.5% | +4.7% | −0.2 pts |
| Communication | +2.0% | +1.8% | +0.2 pts |
Canberra vs Brisbane
Canberra has annual CPI of 2.8%, 1.9 points below Brisbane's 4.7%, against 3.2% nationally. The biggest gap is housing: +3.5% in Canberra vs +13.2% in Brisbane.
| Category | Canberra | Brisbane | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | +3.5% | +13.2% | −9.7 pts |
| Clothing and footwear | +0.4% | +3.5% | −3.1 pts |
| Alcohol and tobacco | +5.5% | +6.9% | −1.4 pts |
| Education | +6.0% | +4.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Transport | +0.6% | -0.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Health | +4.8% | +4.0% | +0.8 pts |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | +1.6% | +0.9% | +0.7 pts |
| Insurance and financial services | +2.6% | +3.2% | −0.6 pts |
| Recreation and culture | +1.8% | +2.3% | −0.5 pts |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | +3.1% | +3.3% | −0.2 pts |
| Communication | +1.9% | +1.8% | +0.1 pts |
Darwin vs Brisbane
Darwin has annual CPI of 2.5%, 2.2 points below Brisbane's 4.7%, against 3.2% nationally. The biggest gap is housing: +1.6% in Darwin vs +13.2% in Brisbane.
| Category | Darwin | Brisbane | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | +1.6% | +13.2% | −11.6 pts |
| Transport | +1.8% | -0.7% | +2.5 pts |
| Alcohol and tobacco | +4.7% | +6.9% | −2.2 pts |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | +2.4% | +0.9% | +1.5 pts |
| Health | +2.8% | +4.0% | −1.2 pts |
| Recreation and culture | +1.1% | +2.3% | −1.2 pts |
| Insurance and financial services | +2.2% | +3.2% | −1.0 pts |
| Clothing and footwear | +2.8% | +3.5% | −0.7 pts |
| Education | +5.1% | +4.7% | +0.4 pts |
| Communication | +1.7% | +1.8% | −0.1 pts |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | +3.4% | +3.3% | +0.1 pts |
Brisbane against other cities
The full side-by-side reads for Sydney and Melbourne, where most movers come from, plus a rent-only read against Queensland's other two big population centres. Every other capital has its own comparison on the Brisbane cost-of-living page.