The cheapest suburbs within 10kms of Australia's capital cities

Buying a house within cooee of a capital city CBD is often high up on buyers’ wish lists but finding something affordable, as well as close, is no mean feat.

Despite COVID-19 and the ensuing economic recession, house prices are rising in every capital city across the country.

But analysis of Domain house prices has found the top five cheapest suburbs to buy a house within a 10-kilometre radius of the major capital city CBD’s.

The median prices varied city to city with some capitals having markedly cheaper and closer properties to central business districts.

Sydney

The cheapest suburb to buy a house within exactly 10 kilometres of the CBD was the south Sydney suburb of Arncliffe, where the median house price was a cool $1.23 million.

It was closely followed by the inner west suburb of Croydon Park, also precisely 10 kilometres from the city centre, which had a median house price of $1.248 million. 

But the best pick isn’t always just about the price when it comes to looking for a house in the suburbs, according to McCrindle social researcher Geoff Brailey.

Mr Brailey said the idea of walkable cities was already on the rise, but the need for access to a combination of amenities, including the traditional services like public transport and now green spaces was critical and, since the pandemic, more in demand than ever before.

Melbourne

For Melburnians, the data showed suburbs in Melbourne’s west, and north offered buyers the biggest bang for their buck.

In the western suburbs, leafy Maidstone, with a median house price of $723,500, offers buyers the most affordable option within 10 kilometres of the CBD.

Nearby in West Footscray, which is nine kilometres from the city, buyers can snap up a home for a median of $800,000 and for $855,000 in Footscray, seven kilometres from the city. 

Brisbane

Topping the list of Brisbane’s most affordable suburbs for houses within 10 kilometres of the CBD is Tingalpa, in the eastern suburbs.

It has easy access to local shops, Westfield Carindale, the Gateway Motorway and the M1, as well as the city centre along Wynnum Road. There are multiple parks scattered across the suburb, including the popular Minnippi Parklands, a massive green space that stretches across multiple neighbouring suburbs and features a lagoon, playgrounds and walking trails.

Canberra

Canberrans will have an easier time finding affordable properties within 10 kilometres of the city centre.

At the top of the list is the north-western suburb of Evatt, just nine kilometres from the CBD, with a median price of $632,500.

It is followed by the neighbouring suburb of Melba, also in the Belconnen district and 10 kilometres from the city. It has a median house price of $660,000 after increasing 7.2 per cent in the year ending September, on Domain data.

Both suburbs are also home to several ovals and various sports fields.

Hobart

In Hobart, the cheapest place to buy a home within 10 kilometres of the city centre takes you to the outer suburb of Risdon Vale where the suburb median is $325,000. It has recorded a 13.6 per cent increase in the past year alone.

It is followed by Rokeby, another suburb nine kilometres from Hobart, and also found along the eastern shore of the Derwent River.

It recorded a median house price of $370,000 after rising 12.1 per cent in the past year.

Perth 

It is a different story in Western Australia where buyers can snap up a property in Wembley, a mere four kilometres from the city centre for $245,000 – the cheapest suburb within 10 kilometres of Perth.

The western suburb is home to several recreational facilities catering to tennis, hockey and netball.

The inner-city suburb of Maylands, 4.5 kilometres from Perth, came in a close second where its median house price at $285,000 – recording a 4 per cent increase in the past year.