News · 24 August 2026 · 4 min read
Weekly Rents: Perth Rises, Brisbane Pauses — Week Ending 23 August 2026
National advertised weekly rents eased $2.15 to $776.72 in the week ending 23 August 2026 — still up 7.2% on a year ago. Perth was the only capital where every segment rose (units now 8.7% up annually), Brisbane gave back ground after a strong run, and Darwin houses hold the strongest annual growth of any capital at 13.0%. Full data inside.
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Weekly Rents — Week Ending 23 August 2026
The national combined median asking rent was $776.72 per week in the seven days to 23 August, down $2.15 on the prior week and 7.2% higher than the same week last year, according to the Ripehouse Advisory rental listings database. The national rolling month sits at +0.4%, so the broader trend remains upward even as this week paused. National houses are at $775.79 (up 6.8% annually) and units at $778.07 (up 7.9%) — units remain ahead of houses nationally for the third consecutive week.
Perth the only capital rising across the board
Perth was the clear standout this week — the only capital where houses, units and the combined median all rose. Houses added $1.82 to $784.66, units $1.36 to $756.48, and the combined median $1.95 to $777.95. Perth units are now 8.7% higher than a year ago, the strongest annual unit growth of any mainland capital, and the rolling month for both segments is positive (+0.8% houses, +0.6% units). Perth houses have now closed to within $8.33 of Brisbane houses — a gap that was far wider twelve months ago.
Brisbane gives back ground
Brisbane recorded the softest mainland reading of the week. Combined rents fell $4.75 to $766.07, with units down $6.50 to $721.19 and houses off $2.89 to $792.99. The rolling month for Brisbane units is now -1.3%, the weakest unit trend on the mainland. Context matters, though: Brisbane houses remain 8.3% higher than a year ago — still the strongest annual house growth of any mainland capital — so this reads as consolidation after a strong run rather than a change in trend.
Sydney consolidates, Melbourne steady
Sydney houses eased $7.74 to $1,054.19 per week, the largest single-week fall in the dataset, while units firmed $1.17 to $940.14. The combined Sydney median of $984.30 remains 7.1% above a year ago, with houses up 7.5% annually. Melbourne houses eased $1.39 to $693.64 and units $4.29 to $669.66, with the combined median at $683.51 — still the most affordable mainland capital, now $109.35 per week below Brisbane houses on the house segment. Melbourne's annual combined growth of 6.9% remains solid.
Adelaide mixed, Canberra firms, small capitals volatile
Adelaide houses added $2.63 to $706.98 (up 7.9% annually) while units fell $2.13 to $584.72, with the unit rolling month at -1.9%. Canberra firmed across the board — houses up $0.58 to $820.21, units up $2.79 to $630.64, combined up $2.44 to $695.18 — though annual growth of 3.9% remains the softest of any capital. Darwin units jumped $8.35 to $675.18 while houses fell $5.41 to $855.56; at 13.0% annual growth, Darwin houses hold the strongest twelve-month gain of any capital city segment by a wide margin. Hobart units gave back $18.82 to $531.43 — a reminder that small listing counts (274 houses, 91 units in Hobart; 153 and 171 in Darwin) make these the most volatile series we publish.
What this means
Weekly moves were mixed, but the annual picture is uniform: combined rents in every capital are between 3.9% and 10.2% higher than a year ago, and the national rolling month of +0.4% says momentum is holding. For investors, the structural story hasn't changed — Perth is the standout unit market at 8.7% annual growth, Brisbane and Sydney houses are compounding at 8.3% and 7.5% respectively, and Darwin houses at 13.0% remain the strongest segment in the country. For tenants, affordability pressure remains most acute in Sydney, where the combined median of $984.30 keeps the $1,000 mark in sight.
Data drawn from the Ripehouse Advisory rental listings database, covering 43,710 house and 30,238 unit listings nationally in the week ending 23 August 2026.
The full data — week ending 23 August 2026
| City | Dwelling | Avg Weekly Rent | Chg on Prev Wk | Rolling Mth | Chg 12 Mth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | All Houses | $1054.19 | -$7.74 | -0.5% | +7.5% |
| Sydney | All Units | $940.14 | +$1.17 | +0.9% | +6.8% |
| Sydney | All Combined | $984.30 | -$1.76 | +0.4% | +7.1% |
| Melbourne | All Houses | $693.64 | -$1.39 | +0.3% | +6.7% |
| Melbourne | All Units | $669.66 | -$4.29 | 0.0% | +7.2% |
| Melbourne | All Combined | $683.51 | -$2.61 | +0.2% | +6.9% |
| Brisbane | All Houses | $792.99 | -$2.89 | +0.2% | +8.3% |
| Brisbane | All Units | $721.19 | -$6.50 | -1.3% | +4.9% |
| Brisbane | All Combined | $766.07 | -$4.75 | -0.3% | +6.9% |
| Perth | All Houses | $784.66 | +$1.82 | +0.8% | +6.2% |
| Perth | All Units | $756.48 | +$1.36 | +0.6% | +8.7% |
| Perth | All Combined | $777.95 | +$1.95 | +0.8% | +6.8% |
| Adelaide | All Houses | $706.98 | +$2.63 | +0.4% | +7.9% |
| Adelaide | All Units | $584.72 | -$2.13 | -1.9% | +5.4% |
| Adelaide | All Combined | $676.30 | +$0.83 | -0.4% | +6.9% |
| Canberra | All Houses | $820.21 | +$0.58 | +0.8% | +2.4% |
| Canberra | All Units | $630.64 | +$2.79 | -1.0% | +4.1% |
| Canberra | All Combined | $695.18 | +$2.44 | -0.5% | +3.9% |
| Darwin | All Houses | $855.56 | -$5.41 | +1.1% | +13.0% |
| Darwin | All Units | $675.18 | +$8.35 | -2.6% | +9.6% |
| Darwin | All Combined | $760.35 | +$3.30 | -1.3% | +10.2% |
| Hobart | All Houses | $660.26 | -$0.51 | +0.2% | +8.0% |
| Hobart | All Units | $531.43 | -$18.82 | -1.6% | +0.8% |
| Hobart | All Combined | $628.14 | -$2.65 | +0.2% | +7.5% |
| National | All Houses | $775.79 | -$1.96 | +0.4% | +6.8% |
| National | All Units | $778.07 | -$2.40 | +0.4% | +7.9% |
| National | All Combined | $776.72 | -$2.15 | +0.4% | +7.2% |
| Cap City Average | All Houses | $796.06 | -$1.62 | +0.4% | +7.5% |
| Cap City Average | All Units | $688.68 | -$2.26 | -0.7% | +6.1% |
| Cap City Average | All Combined | $746.48 | -$0.40 | -0.1% | +7.0% |
Average advertised weekly rent across all listings available during the week, Ripehouse Advisory rental listings database. Week runs Monday to Sunday; capital cities defined by GCCSA boundaries.
General information only. It does not take your objectives, financial situation or needs into account, and nothing here is legal, financial, taxation or investment advice specific to your circumstances.
