First published 23 Oct 2026, 5:00am
A break-up can smash your heart – and your bank account – but if you’re forced to start over, Tasmania is the cheapest place in Australia to do it.
Fresh research from iSelect reveals the Apple Isle is the nation’s most affordable state or territory for newly single Australians setting up a new home, with the average post-split move costing $3922.
That might sound manageable next to the eye-watering figures in bigger markets, but it still amounts to 5.59 weeks of average income in Tasmania, based on a typical monthly wage of $3038.
South Australia ranked as the country’s second-cheapest place to rebuild after a split, with average moving costs of $4005, or 5.46 weeks of pay.
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The Northern Territory came in third, with a fresh start setting residents back $4213.
Because average monthly earnings are higher there at $4056, Territorians need about 4.50 weeks of wages to cover the cost.
That comes as Darwin holds its title as Australia’s cheapest capital city to buy into, with dwellings selling for a median $638,000.
Regional NT is cheaper again, with homes at a median $367,000.
Hobart also remains one of the country’s more affordable housing markets, with the average capital city dwelling priced at $729,000, while regional Tasmania sits at $594,000.
In South Australia, Adelaide homes average $915,000, while regional properties come in at $531,000.
But while Tasmania is the cheapest in raw dollars, the ACT has been crowned the most expensive place in Australia to start again after a break-up.
Newly single Canberrans face upfront costs of $5255 to establish a new home.
With average monthly earnings of $5213, that equates to 4.37 weeks of income.
NSW, though, is where the financial hit bites hardest.
Newly single Australians are being hit with a fresh bill of thousands, but one state offers a cheaper escape.
A break-up-fuelled move in NSW costs an estimated $5005, equal to 6.16 weeks of average gross personal income – the biggest income burden of any state or territory in the country.
Queensland wasn’t far behind, with residents needing 5.78 weeks of income to cover a $4547 fresh start, while Victorians need 5.71 weeks of income to meet average costs of $4588.
Australians are already staring down the possibility of another rate rise after Reserve Bank deputy governor Andrew Hauser warned this week that the inflation outlook had deteriorated – comments widely seen as laying the groundwork for a possible Melbourne Cup Day increase.
If the Reserve Bank hikes the cash rate by another 25 basis points on November 3, it would jump from 4.60 per cent to 4.85 per cent – the fifth increase this year and the highest level since 2008.
That would mean an extra $16 to $17 a month in repayments for every $100,000 borrowed on a variable mortgage.
For a typical borrower with a $731,000 loan, monthly repayments would be about $578 higher than they were at the start of the year.
So while social media might sell the post-break-up glow-up as a glamorous new chapter, the reality for many Australians is far less polished.
Walking away from a shared home can mean finding a rental, paying a bond, covering moving costs and replacing essential household items – all while adjusting to the brutal economics of life on one income.
And in a cost-of-living crisis, that fresh start can feel more like a financial ambush.
“The cost of moving out after a break-up can cause your finances to take a heavy hit. It’s important to have some money saved for unexpected situations if possible, so you can rebound and find your feet quickly,” iSelect’s Adrian Bennett said.
“It’s also important to review your home and contents insurance, to assess what the value of your items is and to ensure they’re adequately insured following a break-up.”
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