Sydney, New South Wales, has the highest rent prices in Australia, and is ranked in the top 10 most expensive places to rent on the planet.
One third of Australians currently rent, with that percentage expected to dramatically increase over the next decade.
So, what does $350 rent a week get you in Sydney? And how does that compare with a far less densely populated capital like Hobart? We did some research, and the differences are stark.
Sydney, NSW
When I searched places to rent in Sydney for $350 a week, the first page did not offer properties.
It offered exclusively car spots.
But eventually I came across some inner city apartments, which featured the basics. This one, in Ultimo, is three kilometres, or a 13 minute drive, from the city centre.
Sydney, NSW.
You’re looking at a one bedroom, one bathroom unit. Most were studio apartments, and this one seemed to only fit a single bed.
That price, of course, drops once you move further away from the city.
To view this property in full, visit realestate.com.au.
Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne offered no car spaces. Instead, for $350 you’re looking at a real life apartment with separate rooms and everything.
There are a number of modern options within five kilometres of the CBD.
But similar to Sydney, almost all options were one bedroom, one bathroom.
Melbourne, Victoria.
To view this property in full, visit realestate.com.au.
Hobart, Tasmania
Holy moley.
In Hobart, you can live in a three bedroom, one bathroom house, with two car spots and a backyard for $350 a week. With a shed. And Apricot trees.
Hobart, Tasmania.
This house is fully renovated, with heating, and is only 15 minutes from Hobart’s CBD.
For $350 in Hobart, your options are extensive.
To view this property in full, visit realestate.com.au.
Perth, Western Australia
In Perth, you can comfortably find a two bedroom apartment within 5km of the city centre for $350 or less.
Most are apartments or units, but are relatively spacious.
Perth, Western Australia.
This property has two bedrooms, one with an annex for a study. It’s newly renovated with it’s own garage, and 10 minutes from the city.
To view this property in full, visit realestate.com.au.
Adelaide, South Australia
Adelaide has a number of properties available for $350 and under, a number of which have more than one bedroom.
On average, they’re significantly more spacious than Melbourne or Sydney.
Adelaide, South Australia.
This apartment has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a car space, a renovated kitchen and air conditioning, and is a 12 minute drive to the CBD.
To view this property in full, visit realestate.com.au.
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin has their priorities straight.
Everyone has a pool.
Most apartment blocks offer facilities, including a gym. This property also happens to be “strolling distance to every City restaurant, café, cinema, and every CBD workplace”.
Darwin, Northern Territory.
Every property I looked at also had air conditioning, which is a non-negotiable in Darwin.
Although most were apartments, there were some houses that offered up to three bedrooms, and two car spaces.
To view this property in full, visit realestate.com.au.
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
In Canberra, you can easily rent a brand new, one bedroom apartment for $350 a week. All include a car space.
This property is a little further out from the city, approximately a 20 minute drive.
Canberra, ACT.
This apartment has a sky deck, a stone bench top, and stainless steel appliances.
To view this property in full, visit realestate.com.au.
Brisbane, Queensland
Similarly to Darwin, apartments in Brisbane boast facilities like a pool, an outdoor area and a gym.
Brisbane also understands the importance of air conditioning.
This particular property is situated less than four kilometres outside of Brisbane’s CBD.
Brisbane, Queensland.
Properties, especially high rise apartments, aren’t as inclined to come with a car spot, compared with somewhere like Adelaide.
To view this property in full, visit realestate.com.au.
******
Simply, $350 a week in rent does not mean the same thing, state to state.
In Hobart, you’re living in a family home.
In Sydney, you’ve got a damn good spot for your car.
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READ MORE:
From 2015: What does $350 rent get you in every capital city in Australia?
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This is the reality of raising your family in a rental property in Australia.
Top Comments
So, the Sydney property is the only one in the CBD out of all the properties you chose to list. Yet another way of making Sydney look even worse than it actually is...? If you want to make a relevant statement, compare CBD properties to CBD properties, or suburban properties to suburban properties. Of course Sydney CBD rentals will look like crap if you compare them to options in suburbia in other cities.
Ah, but Sydney is Sydney. Pretty great city.