Confronting new analysis reveals renters in some of Australia's capital cities are thousands of dollars worse off this Christmas compared to last, with Sydneysiders facing an extra $3,770 in rent annually.
Everybody's Home has analysed SQM Research data on weekly asking rents to find the annual increase in rents from December 2024 to December 2025 across capital cities.
The analysis reveals renters in Sydney are paying an extra $72.50 per week to rent a house this year compared to last year, adding up to $3,770 extra annually, while unit renters face an additional $2,109.
Brisbane renters are paying $2,839 extra annually for a house, while renters in Perth are facing an additional $2,639.
On average across the capital cities, renters are paying $2,567 more annually to rent a house compared to last year, and an additional $1,823 to rent a unit.
The only capital city that is bucking the trend is Canberra where rent caps have kept increases significantly lower - just $0.79 extra per week to rent a house this Christmas compared to last.
Rent increases for units and houses
Capital city |
Weekly rent increase for units (12 months) |
Annual rent increase for units |
Weekly rent increase for houses (12 months) |
Annual rent increase for houses |
Sydney |
$40.55 |
$2,108.60 |
$72.50 |
$3,770 |
Melbourne |
$23.73 |
$1,233.96 |
$23.27 |
$1,210.04 |
Brisbane |
$38.54 |
$2,004.08 |
$54.59 |
$2,838.68 |
Perth |
$32.18 |
$1,673.36 |
$50.75 |
$2,639 |
Adelaide |
$24.75 |
$1,287 |
$19.26 |
$1,001.52 |
Darwin |
$50.04 |
$2,602.08 |
$16.35 |
$850.20 |
Hobart |
$26.53 |
$1,379.56 |
$40.46 |
$2,103.92 |
Canberra |
$14.69 |
$763.88 |
$0.79 |
$41.08 |
Capital city average |
$35.05 |
$1,822.60 |
$49.36 |
$2,566.72 |
*Analysis of SQM Research Weekly Rents Index for week ending 20 December 2025, showing the weekly and annualised rise in median unit and house asking rents since December 2024.
Rent increases for homes combined
Capital city |
Weekly rent increase (12 months) |
Annual rent increase |
Sydney |
$53.84 |
$2,799.68 |
Brisbane |
$47.10 |
$2,449.20 |
Perth |
$42.98 |
$2,234.96 |
Darwin |
$37.27 |
$1,938.04 |
Hobart |
$34.92 |
$1,815.84 |
Melbourne |
$24.45 |
$1,271.40 |
Adelaide |
$21.36 |
$1,110.72 |
Canberra |
$7.99 |
$415.48 |
Capital city average |
$41.70 |
$2,168.40 |
* Analysis of SQM Research Weekly Rents Index for week ending 20 December 2025, showing the weekly and annualised rise in median combined asking rents since December 2024.
Everybody's Home spokesperson Maiy Azize said: "This Christmas and holiday season, many Australians will have to scale back on many of the joys as soaring rents take priority. From festive food to presents, renters across the country are being forced to make trade-offs this Christmas just to keep a roof over their heads.
"Renters are paying hundreds if not thousands of dollars extra in rent this year compared to last, on top of already expensive rents. Every year, rents continue to climb leaving Australians worse off at Christmas.
"Canberra is bucking the trend, with rent caps limiting house rent increases to less than a dollar this Christmas, far below the rises seen in other capital cities.
"People can only pay so much, and Australians are forgoing anything and everything they can before they default on rent or mortgage repayments.
"Our latest survey shows people are skipping meals and medical care, cutting back on driving and cooling their homes in summer, falling into debt and relying on charities to cover the rent. What were once extreme trade-offs expected in times of distress like a pandemic or war, are fast becoming everyday realities for more and more Australians.
"In the new year, we need the federal government to step up its ambition to end this housing crisis for good. The federal government urgently needs to build more social housing, scrap investor tax breaks, improve protections for renters and raise Centrelink payments, so that renting becomes a fairer and affordable housing choice in our wealthy country."
