Question 1

Is Byron Bay a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Byron Bay is a coastal town centred on its beaches and the Cape Byron Lighthouse with an outdoors-oriented lifestyle. The town centre mixes beachside cafés, boutique shops and regular markets, while housing ranges from renovated weatherboard and fibro cottages near the esplanade to low-rise apartments and rural properties in the rainforest-fringed hinterland. Popular with surfers, creatives and people seeking a sea-change, Byron provides easy access to well-known surf breaks, coastal walking tracks and national parks, and is connected by regional road and coach links plus a nearby airport.

Home to 6,330 people with a median age of 39 and a typical household income of $1,561 a week, Byron Bay is weighted towards couples, who account for 83.5% of families. Most dwellings are owner-occupied (57.9%) while 42.1% are rented. The town centre is covered by a masterplan with drainage, foreshore and Sandhills Wetlands works; the former hospital site has been redeveloped as Byron CoLab on Arakwal Country, and Byron Central Hospital at Ewingsdale provides emergency, maternity and allied health services. State funding includes $30 million to plan M1 upgrades and council is advancing pedestrian and cycle connections.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Byron Bay?

Accepted Answer

On the figures, housing in Byron Bay sits well above what a typical local household earned at the last Census. Average house rent of $1,350 a week would have taken about 86.5% of a typical local household's weekly income of $1,561 at the last Census, and unit rent of $850 a week would have taken about 54.5% of that income, both a large share. The median house price of $1,802,250 is roughly 22.2 times a typical local household's annual income at the last Census, while the median unit price of $1,240,000 is about 15.3 times annual income, so buying sits well above local incomes. If you are renting rather than buying, the rent share is the number that matters; if buying, the price multiple shows how stretched purchasing is against local incomes at the last Census.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is Byron Bay a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

Over the past 12 months rents in Byron Bay have risen faster than prices. House rents jumped 14.4% while house values increased 7.4%. On the unit side, rents climbed 7.2% and values rose 5.5%.

If you're weighing Byron Bay up as an investment, these figures mean rental income has been the stronger performer this year, particularly for houses. Capital growth has also occurred but at a more modest pace than rents. Which of those outcomes matters to you depends on whether you prioritise rental income or price growth and on your own circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$1.80M	$1.24M
Change in value Past 12 months	7.4%	5.5%
Sold Past 3 months	22	11
Median days on market Past 12 months	77	66
Average rent Past 12 months	$1350	$850
Change in rent Past 12 months	14.4%	7.2%

Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Byron Bay

Byron Bay suburb profile

Byron Bay property market performance

5 year median price trend for houses and units

Byron Bay demographics

Suburbs near Byron Bay

How does Byron Bay compare to nearby suburbs?

Choose the right real estate agents in Byron Bay

Get a head start and compare top local agents in Byron Bay

Not quite ready to sell?

Suburb and property report

Digital estimate for your property

Navigate the market