Property prices have soared across Australia. Meanwhile wage growth remains sluggish. This means it takes the average person more and more time to save a deposit to enter the market.
And the data proves it.
Average time to save a deposit by city
Capital city median price
Deposit (20%)
Average weekly household income
Years to save deposit (saving 20% of income)
Sydney
$907,500
$181,500
$2,117
8 years, 2 months
Melbourne
$715,625
$143,125
$1,885
7 years, 4 months
Hobart
$515,000
$103,000
$1,555
6 years, 4 months
Adelaide
$452,500
$90,500
$1,600
5 years, 5 months
Canberra
$635,750
$127,150
$2,344
5 years, 2 months
Perth
$529,000
$105,800
$1,972
5 years, 1 month
Brisbane
$505,000
$101,000
$1,887
5 years, 1 month
Darwin
$440,000
$88,000
$2,410
3 years, 6 months
All cities
$591,450
$118,290
$1,971
5 years, 10 months
Data sources and methodology:
Household income data is from the 2016 ABS Census.
House price data is from CoreLogic as of June 2021.
Property prices are the average of unit and house prices in each region.
Excludes LGAs that have had less than 100 property sales in the past 12 months.
Assumes homebuyers put 20% of their annual income towards saving for a deposit.
Finder analysed property prices and incomes in each of Australia's capital cities, and in Australia's local government areas (LGAs), to determine where saving for a home is the most challenging.
Unsurprisingly, Sydney was the most expensive, with residents needing to spend just over 8 years on average to save for a home deposit.
Melbourne came in second place, with the average time to save a deposit taking 7 years and 4 months, followed by Hobart (6 years and 4 months) and Adelaide (5 years and 5 months).
Darwin came in as the most affordable capital city, with residents needing to spend only 3 years and 6 months – less than half the time it takes Sydneysiders – to save up for a home.
Sarah Megginson, senior editor of money for Finder, said Australia's property prices had grown at a faster rate than incomes over the past few decades.
"In some suburbs, this contrast is more stark than others.
"It's mind-boggling just how long it could take homebuyers to save up for a deposit in some of the country's pricier suburbs.
"But this doesn't mean first home buyers should feel discouraged. Having a realistic budget and starting to save early on – even if it's just $100 a month – will put you on the right track."
Taking a closer look at the data by suburb
Bringing together house price data and household income data, Finder's analysis reveals Sydney is home to the most expensive LGA, with residents needing on average over 18 years to save for a deposit in Woollahra.
This is followed closely by Mosman (18 years and 1 months) and Waverley (16 years and 6 months).
In fact, the top 10 LGAs where it takes the longest to save based on the average household income are in and around Sydney.
In Victoria, the LGA of Queenscliff takes the top gong – taking on average 12 years and 5 months to save for a house deposit.
The LGAs where it takes the longest to save for a deposit
State
LGA
Median house/unit price
Deposit (20%)
Average weekly household income
Years taken if saving 20% of income
NSW
Woollahra
$2,950,000
$590,000
$3,104
18 years and 2 months
NSW
Mosman
$2,885,750
$577,150
$3,063
18 years and 1 month
NSW
Waverley
$2,345,000
$469,000
$2,742
16 years and 5 months
NSW
Hunters Hill
$2,310,000
$462,000
$2,961
15 years
NSW
North Sydney
$2,152,500
$430,500
$2,776
14 years and 11 month
NSW
Randwick
$1,779,750
$355,950
$2,299
14 years and 11 month
NSW
Strathfield
$1,662,500
$332,500
$2,178
14 years and 7 months
NSW
Byron
$1,108,750
$221,750
$1,497
14 years and 2 months
NSW
Willoughby
$1,940,000
$388,000
$2,719
13 years and 9 month
NSW
Burwood
$1,335,000
$267,000
$1,941
13 years and 2 months
Source: ABS, CoreLogic, Finder
The LGAs where it takes the least amount of time to save for a deposit
State
LGA
Median house/unit price
Deposit (20%)
Average weekly household income
Years taken if saving 20% of income
NSW
Cobar
$155,000
$31,000
$1,748
1 year and 8 months
TAS
West Coast
$112,750
$22,550
$1,258
1 year and 9 months
NSW
Broken Hill
$130,000
$26,000
$1,334
1 year and 10 months
QLD
Isaac
$226,250
$45,250
$2,292
1 year and 11 months
QLD
Banana
$190,000
$38,000
$1,845
1 year and 11 months
WA
Port Hedland
$298,250
$59,650
$2,796
2 years
QLD
Central Highlands
$226,375
$45,275
$1,996
2 years and 1 month
VIC
Yarriambiack
$135,000
$27,000
$1,186
2 years and 1 month
SA
Wattle Range
$156,913
$31,383
$1,357
2 years and 2 months
WA
Kalgoorlie/ Boulder
$265,000
$53,000
$2,249
2 years and 2 months
Source: ABS, CoreLogic, Finder
Megginson said inner city suburbs – particularly in Sydney and Melbourne – can be very pricey as the demand there is high.
"If you're not willing to compromise on location, make sure you're keeping realistic expectations when it comes to size, style and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms."
On the other side of the spectrum, residents of Cobar in New South Wales need only 1 year and 8 months to save up for a deposit.
Tasmania's West Coast (1 year and 9 months) and Broken Hill in New South Wales (1 year and 10 months) round out the top 3 easiest regions to save up for a deposit.
Megginson said it was important to have an open mind and to look at all the schemes, grants and incentives that can help you buy a home.
"There are tens of thousands of dollars on offer from various government programs.
"Your first home is probably not going to be your dream home – and that's completely normal. You can always upsize to a larger home further down the track once you've built up some equity.
"In the meantime, you could consider investing in a more affordable property so you can get your foot on the property ladder sooner than later," Megginson said.
Taylor Blackburn is a multi-award winning communications specialist, focused on personal finance and insurance. Taylor regularly appears in national media including Sunrise, Today, Studio 10, ACA, SBS, ABC, Seven, Nine and Ten News as a spokesperson for Finder.
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