FAST FACTS

Cost of living*

Whether you are buying a house, parking the car or sipping a coffee, you’ll find it’s cheaper in Canberra. Here’s how some of the costs stack up ($AUD):

  • All day parking in the city: $8.00 - $12.00
  • Cappuccino: $3.50
  • Movie ticket (Dendy Cinemas): Adult $17.00; Concession $14.50; Child $12.50
  • ACTION bus tickets
    • Cash fare single: $4.00
    • MyWay single trip: $2.52
    • MyWay concession: $1.26
    • MyWay school: $0.95
  • Entry to Australian War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia, National Museum of Australia, Canberra Glassworks: Free
  • Olympic Pool (Civic): Adult $6:00; Concession $4.00; under 3yo free
  • Ice Skating (Phillip): Two hour session $14.00
  • Canberra Raiders (National Rugby League): Adults $34.00; Children $17.00
  • Brumbies (Super Rugby): Adults $33.00; Children $12.00
  • Entry to the National Zoo and Aquarium: Adults $35.50; Children up to three years $2; Children 4 to 15 years $20.00; Family (two adults and 3 children) $99.00
  • Floriade entry (spring flower festival): Free
  • 18 holes of golf (Gungahlin Lakes): Weekday $25.00; Weekend $37.00

Housing^

  • Median three bedroom house rent: $450 per week
  • Median three bedroom house price: $505,000
  • Median two bedroom unit / town house rent: $430 per week
  • Median two bedroom unit / town house price: $420,000

Climate

Someone once said, ‘Canberra is just full of hot air’ – and it is! Watching our colourful balloons dancing across Lake Burley Griffin in autumn truly is one of life’s magic moments. And speaking of autumn, Canberra is one of the few places in Australia where you really can enjoy four distinct seasons with buckets of sunshine all year round.

You can expect warm to hot summers, clear, crisp winters, spectacular springs and balmy colourful autumns.

Fact: Canberra enjoys more hours of sunshine than Sydney or the Gold Coast.

Average temperatures

  • Summer (December-February)

12 to 27 (degrees Celsius)

54 to 81 (degrees Fahrenheit)

  • Autumn (March-May)

7 to 20 (degrees Celsius)

45 to 68 (degrees Fahrenheit)

  • Winter (June-August)

1 to 12 (degrees Celsius)

34 to 54 (degrees Fahrenheit)

  • Spring (September-November)

6 to 19 (degrees Celsius)

40 to 66 (degrees Fahrenheit)

ACT school holidays

In Australia, the school year begins in late January - early February, with short breaks in April, July and September. The school year finishes just before Christmas, with the long school holidays over the Australian summer in December and January.

Fast facts*

  • ACT Population: 365,000 (Australia: 22,546,000)
  • Median age: 34 years
  • Average full time weekly income: $1,525 (Australia $1,322)
  • Average commute time to work: 15-25 minutes
  • Driving time to Sydney: 3 hours
  • Driving time to NSW south coast beaches: 2 hours
  • Driving time to NSW ski fields: 2.5 hours
  • Unemployment rate: 3.8% (Australia 5.3%)
  • Language: English
  • Currency: Australian Dollar
  • Telephone area code: 02 within Australia; +61 2 from overseas

 

* All statistics are approximate and current at December 2011.

^ Housing statistics obtained from REIA Market Facts - September 2011 quarter