Question 1

Is Kiama a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Kiama is a seaside town built around a small working harbour and a volcanic coastline, known for the Kiama Blowhole and coastal walking routes that thread headlands, beaches and rock platforms. The town centre has a compact village feel with cafés, galleries and seaside pubs clustered near the harbour, while longer sandy stretches and national parkland frame the coast. Housing ranges from weatherboard and stone cottages near the shops to newer homes and holiday apartments along the waterfront, and the suburb is served by the South Coast rail line and the Princes Highway.

With a population of 7,904 and a median age of 52, the community is weighted towards couple households and a high rate of owner-occupation (about 76.0% owned outright or with a mortgage). That mix helps explain why Kiama attracts families, retirees and sea-changers. Council projects are shaping local infrastructure, including a sports complex masterplan, reserve improvements, a planned South Kiama release area with new residential lots and parks, and town-centre and visitor-economy planning for the Blowhole Point/Pilot’s Cottage precinct. Whether Kiama suits you depends on the seaside lifestyle and housing mix you’re after.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Kiama?

Accepted Answer

A median house price of $1,460,000 in Kiama works out to about 17.9 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, while the median unit price of $940,000 is about 11.5 times that income. Rents are also a sizeable part of local incomes: $800 a week for a house would take roughly 50.9% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census (a large share), and $620 a week for a unit would take about 39.5% (a sizeable share). On these figures, both buying and renting sit well above what a typical local household earned at the last Census, with buying particularly far above local incomes; whether that feels expensive will depend on your own income and circumstances.

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 Kiama a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

The past 12 months in Kiama show a clear split between houses and units. House values fell modestly, down 3.4%, while house rents climbed a solid 6.7% over the year, so rental income has been the stronger performer on the house side. Units moved more quietly: unit values rose 3.5% and unit rents edged up 3.3%, meaning unit values and rents changed at similar, modest rates. For someone weighing Kiama as an investment, the figures show whether the year favoured rental income or modest capital movement; which matters will depend on your own goals and 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	$1.46M	$940K
Change in value Past 12 months	-3.4%	3.5%
Sold Past 3 months	31	13
Median days on market Past 12 months	63	49
Average rent Past 12 months	$800	$620
Change in rent Past 12 months	6.7%	3.3%

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