Canberra Cost of Living
What it costs to live in Canberra: consumer prices, wages, jobs, earnings and property, from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Prices in Canberra rose 4.7% in the year to Sep 2026, against 4.3% nationally: the 4th fastest rise of 8 capital cities. The all-groups index stood at 104.7.
Valid: Sep 2026 · Source: ABS Consumer Price Index (6401.0) · Index base: September 2025 = 100
Canberra CPI over time
All-groups CPI index for Canberra against the national index. A higher index means prices have risen more since September 2025. Hover for detail.
Price change by category in Canberra
Annual change for each CPI category, year to Sep 2026.
- Automotive fuel +26.9%
- Electricity +19.4%
- Utilities +10.7%
- Private motoring +10.5%
- Transport +10.4%
- Water and sewerage +6.3%
- Beef and veal +5.7%
- Milk +5.4%
- Housing +5.1%
- Medical and hospital services +4.9%
- Alcohol and tobacco +4.5%
- Motor vehicles +4.3%
- Take away and fast foods +3.4%
- Insurance +2.9%
- Food and non-alcoholic beverages +2.7%
- Meals out and take away foods +2.6%
- Communication +2.5%
- Restaurant meals +2.1%
- Bread +1.9%
- Cheese +1.7%
- Rents +1.4%
- Poultry +1.2%
- Gas and other household fuels −0.9%
- Coffee, tea and cocoa −1.3%
- Pharmaceutical products −1.8%
- Eggs −2.7%
Inflation in each capital city
Annual change in the all-groups CPI for each capital city, fastest rise first.
| Rank | City | Annual change | Change, to scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hobart | +5.3% | |
| #2 | Darwin | +5.2% | |
| #3 | Adelaide | +5.0% | |
| #4 | Canberra (this city) | +4.7% | |
| #5 | Perth | +4.5% | |
| #6 | Brisbane | +4.4% | |
| #7 | Sydney | +4.3% | |
| #8 | Melbourne | +4.0% |
Wages in ACT
The Wage Price Index measures the change in hourly rates of pay. ACT against the national index, and wage growth less Canberra inflation.
Employment in ACT
Unemployment rate and labour force participation for Australian Capital Territory.
What ACT earns
Full-time adult average weekly earnings for Australian Capital Territory. ABS Cat. 6302.0.
Housing in ACT
Mean dwelling price and affordability for Australian Capital Territory. ABS Cat. 6432.0.
Mean dwelling price by state
- New South Wales $1,304,900
- Queensland $1,130,600
- Western Australia $1,123,700
- Australian Capital Territory $981,700
- South Australia $979,600
- Victoria $918,400
- Tasmania $733,200
- Northern Territory $614,400
Other capital cities
Prices, wages, jobs and property for each of the other capitals.