It’s the same story for Brisbane tenants — another year, another rent rise. While other parts of Australia are finally seeing prices steady, the city’s rents just keep heading in one direction: up.
Brisbane Rents Defy the National Slowdown
New data from CoreLogic’s rental market report shows that Brisbane’s rents rose another 0.8% in December, bringing the city’s annual increase to more than 10%, reports ABC News. That means Brisbane remains one of the toughest capitals in the country for tenants, even as rental growth elsewhere begins to ease.
Across Australia, the national rental market slowed to its weakest pace in almost two years. Cities like Sydney and Melbourne are seeing modest declines in demand, while regional areas are stabilising after years of sharp increases.
But Brisbane’s story is different. Despite the broader cooling trend, vacancy rates in the Queensland capital remain tight, with more people competing for fewer homes. The result is that rents are still rising faster than wages — and faster than many tenants can keep up with.
Why Brisbane Rents Are Still Rising
Experts say a combination of population growth, migration, and limited housing construction is keeping pressure on rents in Brisbane. The city’s popularity has surged since the pandemic, driven by lifestyle changes and relative affordability compared to Sydney.
But as more people move north, supply simply hasn’t kept up. Building approvals are down, and rising construction costs have delayed many new housing projects. Even investors are struggling to add stock to the market amid higher interest rates and stricter lending conditions.
Economists say this mismatch between demand and supply means the city’s rental market could stay under strain for much of 2026, even if national conditions continue to cool.
Tenants Feeling the Squeeze
For renters, the numbers translate to tough choices. Many are being forced to downsize, move further from the city, or take on housemates to make ends meet. Real estate agencies report that open inspections are still drawing dozens of hopeful applicants, sometimes for properties that would have sat vacant years ago.
Brisbane’s median rent for a house has now climbed to around $720 per week, while units sit near $600. For many households, that’s well beyond what they can comfortably afford.
A Market Out of Balance
CoreLogic analysts expect that while rental growth will keep slowing nationally, Brisbane could remain an outlier until more housing is built. Government initiatives to boost supply — including incentives for build-to-rent projects — may help over time, but relief for tenants still feels a long way off.
For now, Brisbane’s rental market shows no sign of letting up. And for tenants across the city, “steady” would sound like a luxury.
