AI got the ‘average’ Aussie home so wrong

Over recent years, artificial intelligence has come in leaps and bounds – but when it comes to understanding the Aussie housing crisis, it’s clear the technology still has limitations. 

Money.com.au recently used the AI program Midjourney to generate images of ‘typical homes’ in different Australian cities, using median house price data. 

The results were a tad depressing. 

In Sydney, AI believes that the median dwelling price of $1.095 million could buy you a lavish harbourfront mansion with a large sandstone-tiled pool. In reality, a home like that would cost well over $20 million. 

Instead, a median budget of $1.095 million could buy you a two-bedroom apartment in Pyrmont, like this one listed for $1 million – $1.1 million.

SOLD - $1,180,000

S103/233 Harris Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009

2

2

1

View property

Down in Melbourne, AI think that the median home price of $797,000 could buy a historic waterfront mansion on the Yarra River. 

In reality, you would need ten times that budget to afford a luxury riverfront property like the one generated. Instead, $797,000 is just enough to snag a three-bedroom townhouse in Essendon, 8 kilometres from the CBD. 

SOLD - $830,000

2/133 Lincoln Road, Essendon VIC 3040

3

1

2

View property

We’d all love to be able to buy a gorgeous old Queenslander for just $854,000, but a home like that in a posh Brisbane suburb would realistically fetch multi-million dollar prices. 

Instead, a median budget will get you this split-level weatherboard property in Brighton, 28 kilometres out of the Brisbane CBD. 

SOLD - $860,000

89 Craig Street, Brighton QLD 4017

3

1

2

View property

For a median price of $768,000, AI thinks an Adelaide buyer could afford a well-preserved Federation house in a premium suburb like Tusmore. 

Instead, a buyer would be lucky to buy this three-bedroom family home in Flagstaff Hill, priced at $749,000 – $779,000. 

SOLD - Price Withheld

30 Abberton Street, Flagstaff Hill SA 5159

3

1

1

View property

Perth property prices might have gone berserk in recent years, but a median budget of $751,000 still won’t buy you a bespoke Tudor-style property in the inner city like AI thinks. 

Instead, that budget could buy you a five-bedroom brick house in Seville Grove, 30 kilometres away from the CBD. 

Offers from $749k

2 Mandarin Way, Seville Grove WA 6112

5

3

4

View property