Rental prices rose in most Australian capital cities last year, but Canberra rents stayed flat
The start of a new year in Canberra usually marks the peak of a frenzied rental market, with crowds flooding open homes and would-be tenants offering agents more cash to secure a property.
Key points:
- Real estate agents say it is an unusually quiet January in the ACT, with open homes for rentals failing to draw crowds
- Rent prices in Canberra stayed flat in 2023, while every other capital city saw them rise
- ACT Real Estate Institute chief executive Maria Edwards says flat rental prices are unlikely to last
But it has been more than a decade since real estate

Ask ten people what “living in New York” means, and you’ll get ten very different answers. For some, it’s the nonstop pace of Manhattan. For others, it’s a borough like the Bronx, where neighborhood culture is as strong as family ties. And for many, it’s not New York City at all but a scenic upstate town like Ithaca, with its balance of nature, education, and affordability.
These three places—Ithaca, the Bronx, and Manhattan—don’t just highlight New York’s diversity; they also show how the housing market reflects lifestyle choices. The numbers tell one story, but the reasons behind them explain why…