What are rents like in Wollongong right now? (2026)

Looking for the latest rental prices in Wollongong? You're in the right place.

We cover current rents for studios, 1-beds, and 2-beds, plus which neighborhoods are in demand and what landlords actually pay in costs.

We update this article regularly to keep the numbers fresh.

And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Wollongong.

Who is the author of this content?

BAMBOOROUTES

A team specialized in real estate investing in APAC countries (Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, etc.).

We are a team of financial experts, legal professionals, developers, and local real estate specialists dedicated to helping people like you avoid mistakes when investing in real estate in a foreign place, particularly in Wollongong. If you’d like to learn more about us, you can check our presentation page.

What are typical rents in Wollongong as of 2026?

What's the average monthly rent for a studio in Wollongong as of 2026?

As of early 2026, a typical studio in Wollongong rents for around A$1,730 per month (about A$400/week), which works out to roughly US$1,160 or €985.

Studios range from about A$1,520/month in suburbs like Figtree up to A$2,125/month for beachfront locations in North Wollongong, so the realistic range is US$1,020 to US$1,425 or €865 to €1,210.

What drives these differences comes down to beach proximity, building age and finishes, and distance to the train line or university.

What's the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom in Wollongong as of 2026?

As of early 2026, a typical 1-bedroom in Wollongong rents for around A$2,080 per month (about A$480/week), equaling roughly US$1,395 or €1,185.

Expect 1-bedroom rents to range from A$1,820/month in West Wollongong or Unanderra up to A$2,380/month in North Wollongong or Thirroul, translating to US$1,220 to US$1,595 or €1,035 to €1,355.

For the cheapest 1-beds, look at Figtree and Berkeley; the most expensive are along the northern beaches and in the CBD where walkability pushes prices higher.

What's the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom in Wollongong as of 2026?

As of early 2026, the average 2-bedroom in Wollongong rents for around A$2,405 per month (about A$555/week), equaling roughly US$1,610 or €1,370.

Across Wollongong, 2-bedroom rents range from A$2,080/month in Warrawong or Dapto up to A$2,820/month in coastal suburbs, giving you US$1,395 to US$1,890 or €1,185 to €1,605.

The cheapest 2-beds are in southern suburbs like Warrawong and Berkeley, while Thirroul, Austinmer, and North Wollongong command premium pricing.

By the way, you will find much more detailed rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Wollongong.

What's the average rent per square meter in Wollongong as of 2026?

As of early 2026, average rent per square meter in Wollongong for apartments sits around A$40/month (roughly US$27 or €23/m²/month).

This ranges from about A$32/m²/month for larger 2-beds in southern suburbs up to A$50/m²/month for compact studios near the beach, meaning US$21 to US$34 or €18 to €28 per square meter.

Compared to Sydney, where inner-suburb rents can exceed A$60/m²/month, Wollongong offers a more affordable alternative while still being under 90 minutes from the city by train.

Properties that push rent per square meter above average are typically newer builds, units with ocean views, and anything with secure parking and air conditioning in the CBD or northern beaches.

How much have rents changed year-over-year in Wollongong in 2026?

As of early 2026, Wollongong rents have increased by about 6.5% for houses and roughly 10% for units compared to last year, with 2-bedroom units specifically up around 5%.

The main drivers are persistently low vacancy rates (around 1%), strong demand from students and young professionals, and "Sydney spillover" renters seeking more affordable coastal options.

This year's growth is slightly cooler than the explosive 2021-2023 period when double-digit annual jumps were common, suggesting the market is stabilizing while remaining tight.

What's the outlook for rent growth in Wollongong in 2026?

As of early 2026, we expect Wollongong rents to grow by roughly 4% to 8% for units and 3% to 6% for houses over the coming year.

Key factors include continued university student demand, ongoing Sydney migration, and whether the apartment construction pipeline delivers meaningful new supply.

Suburbs likely to see the strongest growth are Keiraville and Gwynneville (university demand), North Wollongong (lifestyle appeal), and areas close to train stations.

Risks that could shift projections include interest rate changes, delays in apartment completions, or shifts in international student arrivals.

We have made this infographic to give you a quick and clear snapshot of the property market in Australia. It highlights key facts like rental prices, yields, and property costs both in city centers and outside, so you can easily compare opportunities. We’ve done some research and also included useful insights about the country’s economy, like GDP, population, and interest rates, to help you understand the bigger picture.

Which neighborhoods rent best in Wollongong as of 2026?

Which neighborhoods have the highest rents in Wollongong as of 2026?

As of early 2026, the three highest-rent neighborhoods in Wollongong are Thirroul, Austinmer, and North Wollongong, where typical 2-bedroom rents reach A$2,600 to A$3,000/month (US$1,740 to US$2,010 or €1,480 to €1,710).

These suburbs command premium rents due to stunning coastline access, limited housing stock, and a lifestyle atmosphere with cafes, restaurants, and scenic walking tracks.

Tenants in these high-end Wollongong neighborhoods are typically professional couples, senior executives commuting to Sydney, and established families prioritizing lifestyle.

By the way, we've written a blog article detailing what are the current best areas to invest in property in Wollongong.

Where do young professionals prefer to rent in Wollongong right now?

The three most popular neighborhoods for young professionals in Wollongong are Wollongong CBD, North Wollongong, and Fairy Meadow, thanks to walkability, nightlife, and train access to Sydney.

Typical monthly rents in these areas range from A$2,000 to A$2,300 for a 1-bedroom (US$1,340 to US$1,540 or €1,140 to €1,310), while shared 2-bedrooms cost A$2,300 to A$2,600.

What draws young professionals includes the beach lifestyle, growing cafe and bar scene, proximity to coworking spaces, and the ability to commute to Sydney for hybrid work.

By the way, you will find a detailed tenant analysis in our property pack covering the real estate market in Wollongong.

Where do families prefer to rent in Wollongong right now?

The three most popular suburbs for families renting in Wollongong are Figtree, Keiraville, and West Wollongong, offering more space, quieter streets, and good school access.

A 2 to 3 bedroom house in these family-friendly suburbs typically rents for A$2,600 to A$3,250/month (US$1,740 to US$2,180 or €1,480 to €1,850).

Families are drawn by the leafy residential feel, proximity to Wollongong Botanic Garden, and established community atmosphere.

For education, families have access to Figtree High School, Mount Keira Public School, The Illawarra Grammar School, and St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Primary.

Which areas near transit or universities rent faster in Wollongong in 2026?

As of early 2026, the three areas that rent fastest in Wollongong are Keiraville (next to UOW), Gwynneville, and North Wollongong near the main train station.

Well-priced units in these high-demand areas typically stay listed for just 10 to 14 days, compared to 14 to 21 days for houses elsewhere.

Properties within walking distance of the university or North Wollongong station command a premium of roughly A$40 to A$80/week (A$175 to A$345/month, or US$115 to US$230).

Which neighborhoods are most popular with expats in Wollongong right now?

The three neighborhoods most popular with expats in Wollongong are North Wollongong, Wollongong CBD, and Thirroul, offering lifestyle, convenience, and amenities newcomers prioritize.

Typical monthly rents for expats range from A$2,200 to A$2,800 for a 1-bedroom (US$1,475 to US$1,875 or €1,255 to €1,595) and A$2,600 to A$3,200 for a 2-bedroom.

What attracts expats includes beach lifestyle, easy train connections to Sydney, more furnished options, and a welcoming atmosphere.

The most represented expat communities include professionals from the UK, India, China, and various European countries, many connected to the university or local hospitals.

And if you are also an expat, you may want to read our exhaustive guide for expats in Wollongong.

Who rents, and what do tenants want in Wollongong right now?

What tenant profiles dominate rentals in Wollongong?

The three dominant tenant profiles in Wollongong are students (drawn by UOW), young professionals (attracted to coastal lifestyle), and established families (seeking suburban space).

Students and young professionals together make up roughly 50% to 55% of rental demand, while families account for about 25% to 30%, with longer-term renters and retirees making up the rest.

Each group seeks different properties: students want shared houses or studios near Keiraville, young professionals prefer 1-2 bed apartments in the CBD, and families look for 3-4 bed houses in Figtree or West Wollongong.

If you want to optimize your cashflow, you can read our complete guide on how to buy and rent out in Wollongong.

Do tenants prefer furnished or unfurnished in Wollongong?

In Wollongong, roughly 85% to 90% of tenants prefer unfurnished rentals (standard across Australia), while 10% to 15% seek furnished options.

Furnished apartments command a premium of about A$50 to A$100/week (A$215 to A$435/month, or US$145 to US$290) compared to unfurnished equivalents.

Tenants preferring furnished rentals include international students, corporate relocators, new arrivals, and professionals on short-term contracts.

Which amenities increase rent the most in Wollongong?

The five amenities that increase Wollongong rents most are: secure car parking, air conditioning, ocean views or walk-to-beach location, pet-friendly policies, and modern kitchen/bathroom finishes.

Typical premiums: secure parking adds A$30-50/week, air conditioning A$20-40/week, ocean views A$50-100/week, pet-friendly A$30-60/week due to scarcity, and modern renovations A$40-80/week.

In our property pack covering the real estate market in Wollongong, we cover what are the best investments a landlord can make.

What renovations get the best ROI for rentals in Wollongong?

The five best-ROI renovations for Wollongong rentals are: kitchen refresh, bathroom update, adding/upgrading air conditioning, durable flooring, and water efficiency improvements.

Typical costs and returns: kitchen refresh costs A$8,000-15,000 and adds A$30-50/week; bathroom A$5,000-12,000 adds A$20-40/week; air conditioning A$2,000-5,000 adds A$20-35/week; flooring A$3,000-8,000 adds A$15-30/week; water efficiency A$500-2,000 allows usage charges to pass through.

Poor-ROI renovations include high-end luxury finishes exceeding what tenants will pay for, swimming pools adding maintenance without proportional rent increases, and over-customized designs.

We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Australia versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.

How strong is rental demand in Wollongong as of 2026?

What's the vacancy rate for rentals in Wollongong as of 2026?

As of early 2026, Wollongong's vacancy rate sits at around 1.0%, which is extremely tight and indicates strong landlord pricing power.

Across neighborhoods, vacancy ranges from 0.5%-0.8% in high-demand areas like Keiraville and North Wollongong up to around 1.5% in southern suburbs like Warrawong.

The current 1% vacancy is well below the healthy 3% equilibrium and tighter than the historical average of 1.5%-2.5% over the past decade.

Finally please note that you will have all the indicators you need in our property pack covering the real estate market in Wollongong.

How many days do rentals stay listed in Wollongong as of 2026?

As of early 2026, Wollongong rentals typically stay listed for 10-14 days for well-priced units and 14-21 days for houses.

Days on market ranges from 7-10 days for desirable 1-beds near the beach or university up to 25-30 days for higher-priced houses in less connected suburbs.

Compared to a year ago, days on market has remained stable or slightly improved for landlords as low vacancy continues driving fast leasing times.

Which months have peak tenant demand in Wollongong?

Peak tenant demand in Wollongong occurs January through March, when university preparations and new year relocations create a surge of renters.

The main drivers are UOW's academic calendar (large February intake), the traditional Australian moving season after summer holidays, and families settling before school starts.

The lowest demand months are typically May through July after the first-semester rush, and November through early December during the Christmas lead-up.

What will my monthly costs be in Wollongong as of 2026?

What property taxes should landlords expect in Wollongong as of 2026?

As of early 2026, Wollongong landlords should expect around A$2,500-4,500/year in council rates (roughly US$1,675-3,015 or €1,425-2,565).

Depending on property value and location, rates range from A$1,800/year for a modest unit in southern suburbs up to A$6,000+ for a high-value house in Thirroul or Austinmer.

Council rates are calculated based on land value (set by NSW Valuer General) and council revenue requirements, with different categories for residential, business, and other properties.

Please note that, in our property pack covering the real estate market in Wollongong, we cover what exemptions or deductions may be available to reduce property taxes for landlords.

What maintenance budget per year is realistic in Wollongong right now?

For a typical Wollongong rental, budget around A$2,500-5,500/year for maintenance (roughly US$1,675-3,685 or €1,425-3,135), with houses at the higher end.

Costs range from A$1,500/year for a newer, well-maintained unit up to A$8,000+ for an older house with coastal exposure needing regular repairs.

Most Wollongong landlords set aside 5%-10% of annual rental income for maintenance, translating to A$1,500-3,000 for units and A$2,500-5,000 for houses.

What utilities do landlords often pay in Wollongong right now?

In Wollongong, landlords most commonly pay water service charges (fixed quarterly fee) and strata levies for apartments, while tenants pay electricity, gas, and internet.

Water service charges run about A$25-35/month (US$17-23 or €14-20), while strata levies range from A$400-1,200/quarter depending on building size and facilities.

NSW law allows landlords to pass water usage costs to tenants only if the property is individually metered and meets water efficiency standards.

How is rental income taxed in Wollongong as of 2026?

As of early 2026, rental income in Wollongong is taxed at your marginal rate, ranging from 0% (under A$18,200) to 45% (above A$190,000), plus 2% Medicare levy.

Main deductions include mortgage interest, council rates, property management fees, repairs, insurance, and depreciation on fixtures and fittings.

Common mistakes Wollongong landlords should avoid: claiming capital improvements as immediate deductions instead of depreciating them, failing to apportion expenses for partial-year rentals, and misunderstanding how negative gearing works.

We cover these mistakes, among others, in our list of risks and pitfalls people face when buying property in Wollongong.

We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Australia compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.

What sources have we used to write this blog article?

Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Wollongong, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can and we don't throw out numbers at random.

We aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used and explained how we used them.

Source	Why we trust it	How we used it
SQM Research Weekly Rents	One of Australia's most respected housing data providers with transparent methodology.	We used it as our main benchmark for current Wollongong rents and year-over-year growth tracking.
SQM Research Vacancy Rates	Primary source explaining how vacancy rates are calculated from deduplicated listings.	We used it to explain vacancy methodology and confirm Wollongong's tight market conditions.
realestate.com.au	Major national listings platform with large sample sizes and live market data.	We used it to cross-check rent medians and see what tenants actually encounter when searching.
Wollongong Council Housing Monitor	Official local government portal sourcing data from PropTrack.	We used it to triangulate rents and frame affordability context for Wollongong versus NSW.
NSW Rental Bond Data	NSW Fair Trading is the regulator and bond data is a direct administrative record.	We used it to understand tenant churn and demand patterns from new bonds lodged.
Australian Gov Data Catalogue	Documents the structure and fields of the NSW bond dataset in official terms.	We used it to support our methodology notes and explain dataset limitations.
ABS Census QuickStats Wollongong	Australia's official statistics agency with core national housing and demographic data.	We used it to anchor tenant mix and keep demographic sections realistic for Wollongong.
Wollongong Community Profile	Council-endorsed profile citing ABS Census as underlying data.	We used it to quantify the share of private renters and explain structurally strong demand.
University of Wollongong Statistics	The university's official facts-and-figures page for student numbers.	We used it to explain why student-adjacent suburbs rent quickly and to map seasonality.
ATO Rental Properties Guide	Australia's tax authority and official guidance for landlords.	We used it to explain how rental income is taxed and what costs are deductible.
Revenue NSW Land Tax	The state revenue office and source of truth for land tax thresholds.	We used it to explain when landlords pay NSW land tax and avoid guesswork on rates.
Wollongong Council Rates Explained	The local authority that levies council rates and explains billing.	We used it to describe property taxes in plain English and explain how land values affect bills.
Wollongong Revenue Policy 2025-26	Official council document adopted for the 2025-26 financial year.	We used it to ground the rates discussion in current schedule and terminology.
NSW Fair Trading Water Rules	Official NSW tenancy guidance reflecting the Residential Tenancies framework.	We used it to explain which utilities landlords pay versus pass to tenants.
Colliers 2025 Wollongong Apartment Report	Major global real estate consultancy publishing formal market research.	We used it to discuss supply-side forces and the apartment pipeline affecting 2026 rents.
PropTrack Rental Report	Data arm of REA Group publishing regular rental market analysis.	We used it for national benchmarks on days-on-market and vacancy trends.
Domain Rental Listings	One of Australia's two major property listing platforms with deep coverage.	We used it to identify premium-suburb asking rents and validate high-end pricing.