REVEALED: Brisbane’s Most Expensive Suburbs To Rent
As Brisbane’s rental market continues to surge, new data reveals the city’s most expensive suburbs to rent a house — and six of them now command over $1,000 a week.
5 min
The Brisbane rental market has surged in recent years, and the city’s most prestigious postcodes are now commanding eye-watering prices for houses.
Data commissioned by Kanebridge News from property data analytics firm Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) reveals that renters are forking out more than $1,000 a week in six of Brisbane’s most expensive suburbs — a threshold that reflects the strength of the city’s prestige housing market and growing interstate demand.
Below, we reveal the most expensive suburbs in Brisbane right now for renting a house, with a breakdown of median house prices, weekly rents, and what makes each neighbourhood so desirable.
*Cotality only includes suburbs where there have been 20 or more houses for rent over a single year. Prices are accurate as of May 2025.
Hawthorne
Median house value: $2.16m
Median weekly house rent: $1,083
The Neighbourhood
Hawthorne is one of Brisbane’s premier riverfront suburbs. On the southern side of the Brisbane River, around six kilometres from the CBD, Hawthorne is characterised by its wide, tree-lined streets, a mix of heritage and restored Queenslanders, and new architect-designed modern homes. Residents enjoy proximity to the Brisbane River, boutique cafes, the historic Hawthorne Cinema, and excellent ferry links. The area’s village-style atmosphere and strong school zoning make it a magnet for high-income families and professionals.
The Homes
The priciest home for lease in Hawthorne is a fully renovated Queenslander on Mullens Street, one of the best streets in the suburb. The $1,400 a week rental has four bedrooms and last sold for $2.6 million late last year.
Bulimba
Median house value: $2.05m
Median weekly house rent: $1,079
The Neighbourhood
Next door to Hawthorne, Bulimba is also one of Brisbane’s most sought-after lifestyle suburbs. Its Oxford Street precinct is a major drawcard, filled with cafés, restaurants, boutiques, and a vibrant community atmosphere. The houses are also very similar to those of its neighbouring suburb, classic Queenslanders and contemporary builds.
The Homes
The most expensive rental on the market in Bulimba is a five-bedroom renovated Queenslander on over 1,000 sqm. It has an outdoor lounge area, a swimming pool, and a gym. It is seeking a tenant at $2,250 a week.
Brookfield
Median house value: $2.02m
Median weekly house rent: $1,064
The Neighbourhood
Brookfield in Brisbane’s western suburbs is the answer for those seeking space, privacy, and a touch of country living within city limits. Located around 13km from the CBD, Brookfield is renowned for its large homes on expansive blocks, leafy surrounds, and strong community feel.
The area’s semi-rural charm is paired with proximity to excellent private schools and natural attractions like Mount Coot-tha. High demand for acreage homes in a prestige setting has pushed median weekly rents to $1,064 — making it one of the most exclusive outer suburbs for renting a house in Brisbane.
The Homes
There are just two homes for rent in Brookfield currently, one a five-bedroom home asking $1,300 a week.
Chelmer
Median house value: $1.91m
Median weekly house rent: $1,053
The Neighbourhood
Situated on a bend of the Brisbane River, Chelmer offers peaceful, upmarket living less than 10km from the CBD. The suburb is known for its character homes, riverside views, and wide, leafy streets lined with jacarandas.
Chelmer has long attracted well-heeled families drawn to its excellent school catchments, village charm, and easy train access to the city.
The Homes
A four-bedroom Queenslander with a pool on Jarrot Street is the priciest in Chelmer. It is seeking a $1,425 a week tenant.
Ascot
Median house value: $2.47m
Median weekly house rent: $1,025
The Neighbourhood
An icon of Brisbane’s prestige property market, Ascot is synonymous with elegance, history, and high-end living. The suburb is famous for its heritage-listed homes, proximity to the racecourses at Eagle Farm and Doomben, and the elite private schools that attract families from across the city.
Ascot is just 7km from the CBD and offers a refined, well-connected lifestyle with some of Brisbane’s most prestigious real estate. With a median weekly rent of $1,025 and the highest median house value on the list, it remains a flagship suburb in Brisbane’s luxury rental market.
The Homes
A four-bedroom Queenslander with a pool on Jarrot Street is the priciest in Chelmer. It is seeking a $1,425 a week tenant.
Pullenvale
Median house value: $2.02m
Median weekly house rent: $1,020
The Neighbourhood
Set against a backdrop of rolling hills and native bushland, Pullenvale offers an acreage lifestyle just 20km from the city. The suburb is known for its spacious estates, peaceful atmosphere, and strong appeal to families who want both luxury and seclusion.
Despite its tranquil setting, Pullenvale is still within reach of top private schools and shopping hubs like Indooroopilly. With demand for large homes on generous land rising, the suburb has hit a median rent of $1,020 — placing it firmly within Brisbane’s most exclusive rental enclaves.
The Homes
One of the most expensive homes in Pullenvale on the rental market is Lynwood, a $1,200 a week rental. Set on 10,000 sqm, the 1940s-built home features a fireplace, 12ft ceilings, timber floor and VJ walls. It has four bedrooms and is wrapped in verandahs that overlook the surrounding manicured gardens.
Brisbane’s Cheapest Suburb: Russell Island
Median purchase: $454,000
Median rent: $461
Russell Island is the most affordable suburb within Greater Brisbane. Deemed as East Brisbane, Russell Island is in the City of Redland, 20 minutes by passenger ferry from Redland Bay.
The large 1,700-hectare island has a permanent population of 4,000 people and has everything from a medical centre and supermarket to an RSL, library, and museum.
Brisbane’s Best Suburb: Kangaroo Point
Kangaroo Point is the most consistently expensive suburb in Brisbane due to its tight supply of houses. According to the last census, just 10 percent of dwellings in the suburb are houses, given its proximity to the CBD.
The riverfront suburb is the closest to the Story Bridge on the south side, and has set records for the most expensive houses in the capital, which hug the cliff face. The suburb is home to Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park, The Cliffs Boardwalk, and popular Italian restaurant Joey’s that serves morning coffees all the way through to fine dining at night, with a terrace that takes in the best views in Brisbane.
The Holman Street Ferry Terminal connects Kangaroo Point to the city in minutes.
What is Brisbane’s most expensive suburb to rent a house?
As of May 2025, Hawthorne is Brisbane’s most expensive suburb to rent a house.
What is Brisbane’s cheapest suburb to rent a unit?
As of May 2025, Russell Island is Brisbane’s most expensive suburb to rent a house.
What is Brisbane’s most expensive suburb to buy a house?
As of May 2025, New Farm is Brisbane’s most expensive suburb to buy a house.
What is Brisbane’s most expensive suburb to buy a unit?
As of May 2025, Point Lookout is Brisbane’s most expensive suburb to buy a unit.
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Australia’s wealthy class is expanding fast, and Knight Frank says that a surge in billionaires is reshaping the nation’s luxury property market.
3 min
Australia’s luxury property market is being quietly reshaped by one of the most significant wealth expansions in the world.
According to Knight Frank’s latest Wealth Report, the country’s billionaire population is set to grow by 77 per cent over the next five years, rising from 48 to 85 individuals.
That surge sits within a broader wave of wealth creation. Ultra-high-net-worth individuals, those with more than US$30 million, are forecast to increase by nearly 60 per cent to over 26,000 Australians by 2031.
Globally, the pace is accelerating. The report reveals that 89 new ultra-wealthy individuals are created every day, a figure that underscores a structural shift in capital formation rather than a cyclical upswing.
For luxury property markets, this is not just a headline number. It is a demand driver.
Australia’s wealth story is increasingly underpinned by diversification across resources, finance, technology and services, creating a depth of private capital that is both mobile and strategic.
And mobility is key. The ultra-wealthy are no longer tied to a single market. Instead, they are operating across multiple global hubs, maintaining footholds in cities like London, New York and Singapore, while using Australia as a stable base.
In this environment, real estate becomes less about shelter and more about positioning. Trophy assets remain desirable, but capital is increasingly being deployed across the full risk spectrum, from long-term holds to value-add opportunities. For Australia, the implications are clear. As wealth expands, so too does the expectation of product, and the locations that can attract it.
The billionaire effect
While property remains central to wealth preservation, the latest data shows that capital is increasingly spreading across luxury asset classes, albeit with a more disciplined approach.
Knight Frank’s Luxury Investment Index recorded a modest 0.4 per cent decline in 2025, signalling a stabilisation phase after several years of correction.
But beneath that headline number is a more telling shift. Collectors are moving away from speculative buying and toward assets defined by rarity, provenance and cultural significance.
Impressionist art led the market, rising 13.6 per cent, buoyed by landmark sales including a US$236 million Klimt painting. Watches also performed strongly, up 5.1 per cent, driven by continued demand for brands like Patek Philippe and Rolex.
At the same time, more volatile categories have corrected. Whisky values fell 10.9 per cent, while parts of the fine wine market have softened following pandemic-era highs.
Perhaps the most notable trend is behavioural. Younger investors are entering the market through fractional ownership platforms, gaining exposure to high-value assets that were once out of reach.
For property, the parallels are clear. The same focus on scarcity, narrative and long-term value is increasingly shaping buying decisions at the top end of the residential market.
Global wealth
The growth in billionaires is not just increasing demand, it is changing where that demand is directed.
In Australia, Brisbane has emerged as one of a handful of global cities experiencing rapid change in its luxury positioning. The city’s transformation is being driven by infrastructure investment and the 2032 Olympics, with top-end apartment prices rising from around US$6 million to more than US$10 million in just 12 months.
Luxury price growth has remained steady, with Brisbane rising 2.1 per cent in 2025, while the Gold Coast recorded 2.8 per cent.
At the same time, buying power is tightening. US$1 million now buys 5 per cent less in Brisbane than it did five years ago, reflecting the upward pressure on prime markets.
The trend is not confined to capital cities. Regional lifestyle markets are also capturing attention. Geelong’s waterfront has been identified as one of the world’s hottest luxury residential markets, driven by a combination of coastal amenity, infrastructure and relative value.
In these markets, pricing is no longer the sole driver. Lifestyle, accessibility and long-term growth are increasingly shaping buyer decisions, particularly among globally mobile wealth.
Alternative luxury assets
Beyond residential property, high-net-worth individuals are continuing to diversify into alternative assets that combine lifestyle and investment potential.
One of the most compelling examples is vineyard investment. Knight Frank’s Global Vineyard Index highlights the Barossa Valley as one of the best-value wine regions globally, where US$1 million can secure more than 18 hectares of land.
Despite a 10 per cent decline in land values over the past year, the broader outlook remains positive, particularly as the global wine industry shifts toward premiumisation.
This “trading up” trend is seeing consumers favour higher-quality, provenance-driven wines over mass-market products, reinforcing the long-term appeal of established regions like the Barossa and Eden Valleys.
For investors, the appeal lies in the intersection of lifestyle and capital preservation. Vineyard assets offer not only production potential, but also a narrative — something increasingly valued in a market where experience and authenticity carry weight.
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