Cheapest suburbs to buy in Sydney
Looking for a cheap house or unit to buy in Sydney?
In the context of Sydney when we say ‘cheap’, but we really mean affordable, and less than the eye-watering $1,087,376 median property price (CoreLogic, Aug 2022) - which is the harsh reality across Australia’s most expensive property market. It's also useful to benchmark what the current median house and unit prices are. According to CoreLogic’s Home Value Index (August, 2022) the current median house price in Sydney is $1,346,193, while units are at a median of $806,310.
Even though the market is currently in a cooling phase you have to bear in mind that national dwelling values jumped +28.6 per cent over the two years of the pandemic. This growth phase saw property prices hit record highs. Even with the recent drop in values, Sydney property is still +9.2 percent above the previous five-year average for this time of the year.
But there are opportunities to be found if you know where to look.
Top 10 cheapest suburbs to buy in Sydney
Our picks of the top 10 cheapest suburbs in Sydney are below.
Note: some suburbs did not have enough sales data to produce an accurate median unit price.
| Suburbs | Median house price | Median house unit |
|---|---|---|
| Ambarvale, 2560 | $763,500 | $490,000 |
| Blacktown, 2148 | $913,500 | $510,000 |
| Emerton, 2770 | $695,000 | Data unavailable |
| Fairfield, 2165 | $940,000 | $430,000 |
| Minto, 2566 | $872,500 | $507,500 |
| Ashcroft, 2168 | $812,000 | Data unavailable |
| Carramar, 2163 | $872,500 | $345,000 |
| Leumeah, 2560 | $779,000 | $470,000 |
| Blackett, 2770 | $680,000 | Data unavailable |
| Bidwill, 2770 | $668,000 | Data unavailable |
Our pick is Ambervale
Ambervale, is a suburb of Campbelltown in south-western Sydney, 53 kilometres from the Sydney’s CBD. With a relatively affordable median house price of $763,500, values have advanced +17.5 percent over the past 12 month. In a sign this has been an in-demand suburb, data from Domain indicates houses spend an average of 12 - 18 days on the market. Units, with a median price of $490,000, have outperformed houses, advancing a whopping +50.8 per cent over the past year.
Let’s now look at the cheapest suburbs to buy a house in Sydney.
Top 5 cheapest suburbs to buy a house in Sydney
If you are looking for a Sydney suburb with the cheapest house prices, these are 5 to shortlist - all in western Sydney:
| Suburbs | Median house price |
|---|---|
| Blackett, 2770 | $680,000 |
| Bidwill, 2770 | $668,000 |
| Tregear, 2770 | $677,500 |
| Emerton, 2770 | $695,000 |
| Willmot, 2770 | $670,000 |
Our pick is Emerton
Emerton is a suburb in the local government area of the City of Blacktown which is part of the Greater Western Sydney region. It is 46 kilometres Sydney’s CBD, with excellent transport links and a local economy that is increasingly diverse and self-contained. With a median house price of $695,000, Emerton properties are nearly half the metro average, and are up +22.4 per cent over the past year.
Let’s now look at units and discover the cheapest suburbs to buy an apartment in Sydney metro.
Helpful resource: Get a suburb profile for any suburb in Australia
Top 5 cheapest suburbs to buy a unit in Sydney
| Suburbs | Median unit price |
|---|---|
| Carramar, 2163 | $345,000 |
| Bidwill, 2770 | $668,000 |
| Fairfield, 2165 | $430,000 |
| Campsie, 2194 | $627,500 |
| Engadine, 2233 | $720,000 |
Our pick is Engadine
If you want to live in or invest in a unit that is close to a rail line, but also in a leafy suburb that’s close to the bush and the wonders of the Royal National Park - then Engadine ticks all those boxes and more! Unit prices (median unit $720,000) have actually dropped here over the past year, down -9.4 per cent, so they could be a prime buying opportunity.
Let’s now look at the most affordable suburbs to buy within 10km of Sydney CBD.
Most affordable suburbs to buy within 10km of Sydney CBD
Want to be a little closer to the action? Then shortlist these Sydney suburbs within 10km of the CBD, all in the south or inner west:
| Suburbs | Median house price |
|---|---|
| Tempe, 2770 | $1,598,000 |
| Botany, 2019 | $1,852,500 |
| Mascot, 2020 | $1,810,750 |
| Arncliffe, 2205 | $1,492,500 |
| Dulwich Hill, 2203 | $1,945,000 |
Our pick is Tempe
With a median house price of $1,589,000, which is up +21.8 per cent over the past 12 months, Tempe is definitely a suburb to watch. Once home to warehouses and heavy industry, it is rapidly gentrifying and now attracts a diverse demographic including professionals, singles, families, hipsters and the LGBTQ+ community. Another plus is having IKEA right on your doorstep, as well as access to regular buses and good local schools.
Let’s now look at what suburbs are affordable in Sydney’s prime real estate, the eastern suburbs.
Most affordable suburbs in Sydney’s eastern suburbs
With some of the most expensive and exclusive suburbs in the country, ‘affordable’ is not a term that is associated with the cities east - and for good reason. But, if you know where to look, these three suburbs have property prices that are within reach of mere mortals - as opposed to billionaires.
| Suburbs | Median house price |
|---|---|
| Rosebery, 2018 | $2,200,000 |
| Maroubra, 2035 | $2,900,000 |
| Malabar, 2036 | $3,450,000 |
Our pick is Rosebery
Rosebery can feel like a suburb from a bygone era, with wide avenues, lawn-fronted homes set back from the street - and dominated by houses. This together with the relative proximity to the city - 6km - makes it an ‘affordable’ entry point to the eastern suburbs. It also has a thriving foodie scene, and is popular with families and young professionals. House prices have risen +18.9 per cent over the last year.
Frequently asked questions about the cheapest suburbs to buy in Sydney
Where is the cheapest place to buy land in Sydney?
Where are the cheapest houses in Sydney?
Where can you buy a house under $1 million in Sydney?
What is the fastest growing suburb in Sydney?
