The home ta 43 Vernier Cct, Woodroffe, is listed for rent for $690 per week. Picture: realestate.com.au
Darwin rent prices shot up more than 8 per cent in 2025 to a record high despite remaining flat across the final quarter of the year, while regional NT saw the strongest rental price growth in the country last year.
The latest realestate.com.au Market Insight report revealed the median advertised rent in Darwin remained the same across the December quarter but increased 8.3 per cent year-on-year.
This pushed Darwin’s median weekly rent price up to a record high of $650.
REA Group senior economist, Anne Flaherty said unit rent price growth in Darwin outstripped that of houses over the year to December.
The median unit rent lifted 1.7 per cent last quarter and 9.1 per cent across 2025.
The median house rent didn’t shift in the last three months of 2025, but was up 5.9 per cent year-on-year.
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REA Group senior economist, Anne Flaherty. Picture: Supplied
Regional NT recorded the strongest quarterly and annual growth of all capital city and regional markets in December, with the median rent up 7.7 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 9.8 per cent year-on-year.
“The median weekly rent in regional NT also hit a record high, sitting at $560 in December 2025,” Ms Flaherty said.
The unit market saw particularly strong growth, with rents up 14.3 per cent in the December quarter and 14.8 per cent since December 2024 to a median of $480.
The median house rent in regional NT increased 3.2 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 8.9 per cent year-on-year last month to $490.
Nationally, rents remained unchanged in the December quarter and were up 3.2 per cent in 2025 to a median of $650.
The median rent across the capital cities was sitting at $670 in December, up 3.1 per cent year-on-year, while in regional areas, the median rent was $600 last month, up 5.3 per cent for the year.
The property at 22 Matthews Rd, Malak, is for rent for $700 per week. Picture: realestate.com.au
“The speed at which rents are rising in Australia’s capital cities has slowed from a year ago, though remains elevated in regional areas,” Ms Flaherty said.
“While a slowdown in the pace of rent growth is good news for renters, costs remain a significant challenge for many, with the annual median rent sitting $11,960 higher compared to five years ago.
“Over the December quarter, Melbourne was the second-cheapest capital to rent in, behind only Hobart, though the city is on track to become the cheapest due to strong growth in Tasmania.
“Sydney remains the most expensive city for renters, with a median rent of $760 per week.”
Ms Flaherty said rents were sitting at record highs in every market in December and were expected to reach new records in 2026.
“While rent growth is expected to continue moderating in 2026, vacancy rates remain low and population growth will fuel demand for more rentals,” she said.
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