Last week we looked at how much it will cost to buy a house in Sydney in 2026. This week, we focus on apartments.
As buyers’ agents based in Leichhardt, Inner West Sydney, we constantly analyse the property market to guide discerning property buyers.
Understanding Median Apartment Prices
The median apartment price denotes the middle value among transacted units, and signifies the typical sale price in any given market. In most suburbs, two-bedroom units align closer to medians, while luxury one- or three-bedroom options deviate higher or lower.
Greater Sydney’s median unit price hit a record of $844,390 by end 2025 reflecting broad urban and investor appeal. This contrasts to the median house price of $1,759,909 (as per Domain, December, 2025).
Regional Median Apartment Prices
Sydney’s market segments into distinct regions, each with unique characteristics influencing prices. At Buyer’s Domain, we focus mainly on key areas relevant to our Inner West expertise: Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, Lower North Shore and St George.
Inner West medians hit around $1,000,000, with Leichhardt at $950,000, Marrickville at $960,000 and Balmain at $1,395,000 which is a premium due to increased desirability and low supply (figures as per realestate.com.au on 3 February, 2026).
Eastern Suburbs feature high-end units exceeding $2 million with Double Bay at $2,030,000 whilst broader medians reach just over $1 million in suburbs like Randwick ($1,280,000) and Maroubra ($1,155,000).
The Lower North Shore records medians roughly between $1 million – $1.25 million with Neutral Bay at $1,260,000 and Mosman at $1,377,000
St George sees $715,000 in Rockdale, $780,000 Hurstville, and $810,000 Ramsgate, balancing proximity to Botany Bay and value.
Cheapest Sydney Region for Apartments
The Western Suburbs provide the most affordability with $535,000 in Blacktown, $582,000 in Westmead, and $591,500 in Bankstown.
Ancillary Costs for Apartments
Like houses, apartment purchases incur stamp duty which dominates the additional costs adding about another 4% of the total outlay. On a $1 million apartment, stamp duty is $39,412.
Legal fees for conveyancing typically range from $1,500 to $2,500, covering contract reviews and title transfers. Strata reports cost around $200 – $400 each, essential for uncovering any special levies, defects, any structural issues and other strata matters. (These are often provided free of charge or at a discounted fee if arranged by the selling agent but you should question whether there may be a conflict of interests in relying on reports organized or paid for by the vendor. On the other hand, if you miss out on the first property and pay for reports on several properties, the cost of reports can escalate.) Consider also obtaining an independent building inspection report because strata reports only cover known issues to strata and there can be gaps. A building report is likely to cost around $400 – $600 for a standard unit.
Other expenses can include mortgage registration fees ($175.70), transfer registration fees ($175.70), and potential lender’s mortgage insurance if the deposit is below 20%. We advise property buyers to budget comprehensively, as these costs materialise upfront.
Total Cost Breakdown Table
We have compiled median house prices for each region with estimated ancillary costs (stamp duty calculated per NSW rates for owner-occupiers, plus $2,000 legal fees and $1,000 strata and building inspections). Totals provide a realistic purchase indication.
| Region | Median Apartment Price | Stamp Duty (approx.) | Ancillary Costs | Total Estimated Cost |
| Inner West | $1,000,000 | $39,412 | $3,000 | $1,042,412 |
| Eastern Suburbs | $1,300,000 | $53,512 | $3,000 | $1,356,512 |
| Lower North Shore | $1,250,000 | $50,762 | $3,000 | $1,303,762 |
| St George | $800,000 | $30,412 | $3,000 | $833,412 |
| Western Suburbs | $550,000 | $20,512 | $3,000 | $573,512 |
Note: Stamp duty uses general rates; first-home concessions may reduce figures for eligible buyers
Market Sustainability Assessment
Sydney’s median unit price of approximately $844,390 reflects its position as one of the world’s most desirable and supply-constrained global cities rather than an outlier driven by excess. When compared with international peers such as London (median unit prices around AUD $845,000 – $880), New York (approximately AUD $1.125 million), and Singapore (approximately AUD $2.1 million), Sydney stands apart for its combination of strong population growth, limited developable land, political stability, and exceptional lifestyle appeal. Unlike many global cities, Sydney offers high-amenity apartment living within close proximity to beaches, a temperate climate, and a major CBD. These are attributes that are increasingly scarce worldwide. Ongoing demand from both domestic and international buyers, coupled with chronic housing undersupply—particularly in well-located apartment markets—continues to underpin price resilience. While affordability remains a challenge, Sydney’s unit market is best viewed as structurally supported by long-term fundamentals rather than short-term speculation, reinforcing its reputation as a highly sought-after and enduring residential market.
2026 Apartment Price Predictions
Unit prices are forecast to rise in 2026 with KPMG predicting a 5.3% uplift in the median unit price by the end of the year. Domain even anticipates the growth rate will be 7% in their most recent Domain Forecast Report. Engaging buyers’ agents like us secures competitive edges now and avoids paying higher property prices down the track.
Impact of Waiting 12 Months
A modest 5% increase on current medians would add substantial sums, underscoring the urgency for decisive action. We illustrate this in the table below, using regional medians and applying a conservative forecast.
| Region | Current Median | Projected Median (End 2026) | 5% Increase Amount |
| Inner West | $1,000,000 | $1,050,000 | $50,000 |
| Eastern Suburbs | $1,300,000 | $1,365,000 | $65,000 |
| Lower North Shore | $1,250,000 | $1,312,500 | $62,500 |
| St George | $800,000 | $840,000 | $40,000 |
| Western Suburbs | $550,000 | $577,500 | $27,500 |
These projections highlight potential savings: in the Inner West, waiting until the end of the year is likely to cost you $50,000 extra. Buyers’ agents at Buyer’s Domain negotiate superior outcomes faster, mitigating these escalating rises—contact us to act swiftly. Our buyer’s agent fees are very modest compared to the likely escalating costs.
Why Choose Buyer’s Domain for Apartments
Delay can cost you money. Inexperience organising due diligence and paying for multiple strata reports can cost you money. As specialist buyers’ agents in Leichhardt serving Inner West and greater Sydney, we leverage market intelligence to identify sound strata buildings and negotiate aggressively. Our service saves clients thousands, navigating complexities from inspections to contracts. In a rising market, our expertise delivers results—contact us for personalised guidance.
We target off-market opportunities and highly vendor motivated vendors with our network uncovering listings before public exposure. This maximises value.
Act early to avoid higher costs.
