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Australia: Short-Term vs Long-Term Rental Returns

Australia offers a wide range of rental investment opportunities across 8 states and territories. We compare short-term and long-term rental income at the state level, from affordable regional markets to high-price capital cities.

Published March 21, 2026

What Could You Earn?

Estimated gross income for a typical 3-bedroom house in Australia, based on median values. These are starting points. In the dashboard you can adjust everything to match your own property and circumstances.

Typical property price
A$1109K
Long-term rental income
A$3,188/mo
before expenses
Short-term rental income
A$6,688/mo
before expenses
Short-term earns roughly
A$3,500/mo more
before expenses and regulations

Key Takeaways

  • Short-term rental outperforms long-term across most Australian states, with the premium strongest in tourism-heavy areas like Queensland and Tasmania.
  • Sydney and Melbourne have the highest property prices but some of the lowest rental yields. Regional areas often offer better income relative to purchase price.
  • Regulation varies by state and council. NSW and Victoria have stricter controls in major cities, while Queensland and Western Australia are generally more permissive.
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How Short-Term and Long-Term Compare by Area

Estimated monthly income for a 3-bedroom house in each area, before expenses. Click any area to see the full breakdown in the dashboard.

City / area Price Long-term /month Short-term /month Short-term rules
Sydney
NSW
A$2795K A$5,822 A$11,057 Low View details →
Melbourne
VIC
A$1630K A$3,922 A$7,743 Low View details →
Gold Coast
QLD
A$1142K A$3,793 A$8,680 Low View details →
Sunshine Coast
QLD
A$1102K A$3,432 A$6,596 Low View details →
Adelaide
SA
A$1430K A$3,353 A$6,780 Low View details →
Wollongong
NSW
A$1115K A$3,217 A$5,766 Low View details →
Brisbane
QLD
A$1291K A$3,158 A$6,809 Low View details →
Newcastle
NSW
A$985K A$2,994 A$5,670 Low View details →
Hobart
TAS
A$936K A$2,897 A$5,709 Low View details →
Cairns
QLD
A$671K A$2,814 A$7,757 Low View details →
Perth
WA
A$600K A$2,308 A$3,254 Low View details →
Geelong
VIC
A$708K A$2,200 A$4,051 Low View details →

All figures are estimates based on median values for a 3-bedroom house in each area. Individual properties will vary. Use the dashboard to adjust assumptions to your own situation.

Compare Any Location

The dashboard covers 12 local government areas across Australia. Search for any area and adjust property price, rent, nightly rate, occupancy, mortgage rate, and expenses to match your investment.

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Data last updated: March 2026

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