Canberra Cost of Living 2026: Real Prices for Rent, Groceries, Transport
What it really costs to live in the national capital in 2026, from rent and power bills to bus fares and the weekly grocery shop
Finance
Latest finance from The Daily Canberra.
Canberra Household Costs: What Actually Drives Your Budget
A plain-English explainer on the main drivers of household costs in the ACT, how the city differs from the rest of Australia, and where to find the current official figures.
Entrepreneurs Launch Canberra Businesses: Five Essential Steps Explained
A plain-English walkthrough of how to set up a business in the ACT, from choosing a structure to registering an ABN, sorting licences and understanding your tax basics.
NSW tax and transport changes coming July 1 could ease Canberra commuters' costs
Toll reductions and public transport relief take effect across NSW, affecting ACT residents who cross the border regularly.
Canberra Airport welcomes back Qatar Airways as Middle East travel risk recedes
Direct flights to Doha resume after a four-month suspension, restoring a key international gateway for the capital.
Canberra investors set for 'widow's tax' relief
Federal government pledges to fix tax burden on investment property couples, offering direct relief to ACT households facing financial strain.
Canberra chef Rose Chursuwannachaia returns to national ...
The Rebel Rebel cook is back competing for a second year with her signature contemporary dishes.
Canberra property market softening creates first-home buyer opening
House and unit prices are forecast to slide up to 4 per cent next financial year, creating a rare window for first-time buyers to enter the market at reduced entry points.
Fricken restaurant relocates from Braddon with expanded menu
The popular eatery's move marks another shift in Braddon's dining landscape as venues recalibrate their footprints and offerings in response to changing customer patterns.
Unemployment drops, tightening labour market keeps rate hike risk elevated
An extra 40,000 jobs added to Australia's economy in May signals a resilient labour market that may keep the Reserve Bank focused on managing inflation through interest rates.
Road closure fees to push up building costs and housing prices, builders warn
New ACT regulations on temporary road access during construction could add thousands of dollars to building projects and inflate new home prices across the territory.
City West development pivots from hotel to student accommodation as market shifts
A major mixed-use project is being reoriented to student housing, reflecting broader market pressures on hospitality investment and changing demand dynamics in central Canberra.
Qatar Airways returns to Canberra for direct international links
The airline's December resumption of flights marks a critical reconnection for the capital's tourism and business traveller base after more than two years without direct Middle Eastern access.
Canberra's Property and Housing Market: Prices, Rents and What Drives Them
A plain-language guide to how the ACT's housing and rental market works, what shapes demand and supply, and where the affordability pressures sit.
Buying property in Canberra: stamp duty and the upfront costs explained
A plain-English guide to the upfront costs of buying in the ACT, from conveyance duty to inspections, and the concessions that may reduce the bill.
Renting in Canberra 2026: Costs, Bond Requirements and ACT Tenant Rights Explained
A plain-English guide to renting in Canberra: what weekly rents cost across suburbs, how the ACT bond and lease system works, and the tenant protections that apply under the territory's tenancy laws.
The Canberra property market, explained
A plain-English guide to how Canberra property works: the forces that shape it, the leasehold land system, the difference between houses and apartments, and where to find current median data.
ACT delays long service leave expansion for hospitality and beauty sectors
Hospitality, accommodation and beauty businesses face a six-month wait for portable leave protections due to sector pressures.