While the rental crisis continues unabated across the country, it can look and feel different from city to city.
According to the most recent CoreLogic data, the median rent for all dwellings across the country is $577 a week, and $603 in capital cities.
That median figure for combined capitals has been steadily rising – and increased 11.7% over the past year.
So what does $600 of rent get you in each capital city? Here are some examples.
Sydney
Sydney has the highest average rent in the country, with the median increasing by more than 13% over the past year to $711 a week.
But value for money differs based on how far from the CBD a renter is willing to live. The choices are more compact in the inner-west or eastern suburbs compared to the city’s greater west or south.
These inner-city options are exemplified by this one-bedroom apartment in Petersham for $595 a week, featuring an “open plan” living area (the little kitchen is in said living room).
The listing says it has a “high quality finishes throughout”, as well as air-conditioning. But for $600, this is what you can expect in inner-Sydney areas: a small, one-bedroom unit.
Further west, options are larger, such as this freestanding three-bedroom house for $600 in Smithfield, about 30km from the city centre. It features a large kitchen, timber floors and built-in wardrobes in each bedroom.
Melbourne
At $535, the median rent in Melbourne is lower than Sydney’s, but again the options for $600 rentals vary wildly depending on their proximity to the CBD.
And just like in Sydney, inner-city options are usually single-bedroom apartments.
Some, such as this apartment in Collingwood, are relatively new and chic, with a listing that bravely suggests it is “redefining luxury with a New York state of mind”. It features another open plan living area (ie, the kitchen is in the living room), as well as a European laundry, stone bench tops and a “winter garden”.
Or, renters can get a two-bedroom apartment like this in St Kilda, complete with high ceilings and a “breakfast bar.”
Brisbane
While Brisbane has a variety of options at $600 a week, the median rent across the city is $604, behind only Sydney and Canberra.
But for that price renters can get something like this two-bedroom unit in Chermside, in inner-city Brisbane. The listing describes it as “very large”, with a “great sized balcony” and an en suite for its main bedroom.
For a more central location, you can get a two-bedroom house in West End, which is described as “charming” and being in a “prime location.”
Canberra
Canberra’s median rent is the second-highest in the country at $677 a week, but for $600 there are still some options.
Renters can expect something like this two-bedroom apartment in Braddon, relatively close to central Canberra and the Australian National University.
It is described as a perfect home for an “inner-city lifestyle”, complete with a spa in the en suite and a patio. The building also features a tennis court, an indoor heated pool and a gym.
Alternatively, you can get this three-bedroom semi-detached duplex in Farrer, in south Canberra, which also has two bathrooms, two living rooms and large yard space, for $30 less than the national average.
Perth
The median rent in Western Australia’s capital is $583, having grown by 13.2% over the past 12 months, the most of all the major cities. But there are still improved listings compared to Sydney or Melbourne.
For the same price as a one-bedroom apartment in Sydney, renters can secure a new two-bedroom house in Morley, about 10km from central Perth. The house has a double garage, ducted air-conditioning and a walk-in wardrobe.
Or, this three-bedroom house in Palmyra, east of Fremantle, which has been freshly painted and features a rear courtyard with wood decking.
Adelaide
Similarly, for less than the rent demanded for a small apartment in Sydney, renters in the South Australian capital can get a three-bedroom house in Collinswood, about five km north of central Adelaide. The house is described as a “roomy bungalow in a prime location” with lofty ceilings and a big back yard.
But the median rent in Adelaide still climbed by more than 10% over the past year to $534.
Despite that, renters can still score a four-bedroom family home in Warradale, south-west Adelaide, with three built in wardrobes, two living rooms and ducted air conditioning.
Hobart
The median rent in Hobart is $567, having climbed 0.5% in the past month. And for less than $600, renters can get something like this four-bedroom house in North Hobart, featuring “Tassie Oak floorboards,” a loft bedroom and a fresh coat of paint.
The listing describes it as a “character home” and says it is in a prime location, only a five minute drive from Hobart’s CBD.
Or, renters can get this “neat and tidy” three-bedroom house in Lindisfarne, on Hobart’s eastern shore. The home has been recently upgraded, with a spacious fenced-off back yard and is only a 15-minute drive from Hobart’s CBD.
Darwin
Along with Canberra, Darwin is the only other capital where the median rent has dropped this year, decreasing by 1.3% to $587.
That can get you something like this fully furnished three-bedroom apartment in Woolner, about 4km from the CBD, with city and water views. The unit has a “large entertainer’s balcony” and features “all the fun and convenience of a vibrant inner-city lifestyle,” according to the listing.
Or, there is this three-bedroom solid brick home in Woodroffe, south-east of Darwin, with its extended side veranda and wraparound kitchen counters.
