Home buying costs in Australia
In Australia the biggest upfront cost by far is stamp duty (transfer duty) — set by each state on price bands, it can run tens of thousands of dollars. On top of it you'll pay a conveyancer or solicitor, a building & pest inspection, titles-office registration fees and, if your deposit is under 20%, Lenders Mortgage Insurance. First-home buyers often get a stamp-duty exemption or concession.
8 of 8 states & territories source-verified as of June 2026.
Australia buying-cost calculator
Pick your state or territory, then adjust the price and deposit.
Estimated upfront costs
$33,413
≈ 4.18% of the price · excludes your deposit
stamp duty alone
$30,413
the biggest single line
Line-by-line breakdown
Stamp duty by state or territory
What the stamp duty costs at three common Australia home prices, highest to lowest at $800,000. Open a state or territory for its full bands, first-home relief and a preset calculator.
| State or territory | $600,000 | $800,000 | $1,000,000 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | $31,070 | $43,070 | $54,870 | Verified |
| Northern Territory | $29,700 | $39,600 | $49,500 | Verified |
| South Australia | $26,830 | $37,830 | $48,830 | Verified |
| Western Australia | $22,515 | $32,315 | $42,615 | Verified |
| Tasmania | $22,498 | $31,185 | $40,185 | Verified |
| New South Wales | $21,413 | $30,413 | $39,413 | Verified |
| Australian Capital Territory | $12,728 | $22,158 | $33,958 | Verified |
| Queensland | $12,850 | $21,850 | $30,850 | Verified |
Owner-occupier standard rates, before first-home relief.
What you'll pay to buy in Australia
Beyond the stamp duty, budget for these on top of your deposit. Each is built into the calculator above.
- Conveyancer / solicitor — Legal fee to handle the transfer and searches. Queensland and the ACT require a solicitor (no licensed conveyancers), so fees there sit at the higher end.
- Building & pest inspection — A combined building and pest report before you commit — strongly advised on established homes.
- Title transfer & mortgage registration — Land titles office fees to register the transfer and your mortgage. Set per state and often scaled by value — confirm with your state titles office.
- Loan application / establishment fee — Lender set-up fee — typically $0–$600, and many lenders waive it. (only if you take a mortgage)
- Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) — Charged by lenders (not government-set) when your deposit is under 20%. Premiums vary widely by lender and loan size and are usually added to the loan — treat this as a rough mid-range estimate.
Official sources
Australia guides
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to buy a home in Australia?
In Australia, expect total upfront buying costs of roughly 4%–6% of the price, on top of your deposit. The largest piece is usually the stamp duty. The rest is your conveyancer or solicitor, an inspection, registration fees, and mortgage insurance if your down payment is under 20%. Use the calculator above for an itemised estimate.
What is the stamp duty in Australia?
It depends on your state or territory — stamp duty is set by each state. Victoria is at the higher end (about $43,070 on a $800,000 home) and Queensland the lower. See the table below or open your state or territory.
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