Know the True Cost of Buying a Home in Australia
A free Australian mortgage calculator for first home buyers and investors — with stamp duty, strata, insurance, maintenance, and every other cost your repayments leave out.
Every effort is made to give you accurate information. Your property is unique — treat these as informed estimates, not financial advice.
Australian mortgage calculator
Enter your property details to see your repayments, home loan affordability, and the full cost of ownership.
True Cost
$4,504/ month
Monthly costs
- Mortgage
- $3,837
- Maintenance
- $667
- Total / month
- $4,504
Ongoing costs are estimates based on state averages and property value. Actual costs vary by council, building amenities, and individual circumstances.
Scenarios
- Best case
- $4,167
- Worst case
- $5,018
Upfront costs
- Deposit
- $160,000
- Stamp duty
- $0
- Transfer fees
- $0
- Mortgage registration
- $0
- Conveyancing
- $0
- Loan fees
- $600
- Building inspection
- $0
- Pest inspection
- $0
- Total upfront
- $160,600
- Loan amount
- $640,000
Upfront costs are estimates based on state averages and standard rates. Actual costs depend on your lender, solicitor, and eligibility for concessions. Verify with your service providers before making financial decisions.
What's included in your true cost
Most calculators stop at mortgage repayments. We include every cost you'll face as a property owner — upfront and ongoing — so there are no surprises.
Upfront costs
The one-off costs you pay before or at settlement.
- Stamp duty
- A state government tax on property purchases. Rates vary by state, property value, and buyer type. First home buyers may be eligible for concessions or exemptions.
- Transfer & registration fees
- Government fees to register the change of ownership and your mortgage on the land title. Fees vary by state — some are fixed, others scale with property value.
- Conveyancing
- Legal fees for a solicitor or conveyancer to handle the property transfer, including searches, contracts, and settlement.
- Lenders mortgage insurance
- Required if your deposit is less than 20% of the property value. Protects the lender if you default — the cost depends on your loan-to-value ratio. Eligible first home buyers can waive LMI entirely via the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme.
- Building & pest inspection
- A pre-purchase inspection to identify structural issues and timber pests before you commit. Essential for houses and townhouses.
- Loan establishment fees
- Fees charged by your lender for setting up the mortgage — including application, valuation, settlement, and documentation fees.
Ongoing costs
The recurring costs of owning a property, month after month.
- Council rates
- An annual charge from your local council for local services and infrastructure. We pre-fill estimates for over 400 councils across Australia.
- Building insurance
- Covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home. For apartments and townhouses, this is typically included in strata levies.
- Strata levies
- Quarterly or monthly fees for apartments and townhouses covering shared facilities, building insurance, and common area maintenance.
- Water rates
- Annual charges from your state water authority for water supply and sewerage. For apartments, this is usually included in strata levies.
- Maintenance
- The ongoing cost of keeping your property in good condition — repairs, painting, appliance replacement, and general upkeep.
- Land tax
- An annual state tax on land owned as an investment property. Owner-occupiers are generally exempt. Rates and thresholds vary by state.
Investment analysis
For investment properties, we go further.
- Rental yield
- Estimated weekly rent based on your property type, location, and price — derived from real market data to give you a realistic income estimate.
- Property management
- Fees charged by a property manager to find tenants, collect rent, and handle maintenance — typically 5–10% of rental income.
- Lease renewal fee
- Charged by your property manager each time an existing tenant renews their lease — typically around a week’s rent plus GST. Often negotiable.
- Smoke alarm compliance
- Annual testing, battery replacement, and compliance certification — legally required for rental properties in every state and territory. Typical cost $80–$150 per year depending on state.
- Negative gearing
- When your property costs exceed rental income, the loss may be tax deductible. We split the loss by each owner’s legal interest in the property and calculate the actual tax saved using each owner’s income — correctly handling tax-bracket crossing and Medicare levy shade-in (not a flat marginal-rate approximation). By default the benefit is a year-end refund; toggle on PAYG Withholding Variation if you’ve lodged one with the ATO and the benefit will be amortised into your monthly figure instead.
- Depreciation
- A non-cash deduction (ITAA 1997 Div 43 capital works + Div 40 plant & equipment for new builds) that can turn a cash-positive property into a tax-negative one — the new-build sweet spot. We estimate Year-1 depreciation from property type, condition, and construction year, and itemise it alongside cash deductions in the tax-benefit panel. Override with the figure from a quantity-surveyor schedule if you have one.
- Medicare Levy Surcharge
- Households above $202,000 combined income (couples) or $101,000 (singles) without eligible private hospital cover pay an additional 1–1.5% surcharge. We calculate it at the household level and show what private hospital cover would save you.