Is it expensive to live in Port Macquarie?

On the figures, a typical local household earned about $1,282 a week at the last Census. In Port Macquarie average rents run to about $650 a week for houses and $500 a week for units, which would take roughly 51% and 39% of a typical local household's weekly income respectively; that means house rent would be a large share of local income and unit rent a sizeable share. Buying sits further above local incomes: the median house price of $880,000 is about 13.2 times a typical local annual household income and the median unit price of $633,000 is about 9.5 times. Both of those multiples are well above what a typical local household earned in a year on the Census figures, so 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.

Is Port Macquarie a good place to invest?

House values in Port Macquarie rose 8.2% over the past 12 months, while unit values were up 2.8%, and house rents increased 1.6% as unit rents rose 4.2%. Put simply, for houses the movement was stronger on the capital-growth side than on rents, whereas for units rental income grew faster than unit values. 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.

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Port Macquarie suburb profile

Port Macquarie is a regional coastal town on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, set beside the Hastings River and near the Tasman Sea. The foreshore and riverfront include a coastal walk and a historic breakwall, providing access to water-based recreation and promenades.

The town centre balances a compact shopping and cafe precinct with older timber houses and newer apartment pockets along the river. Beyond the centre there are tree-lined residential streets and semi-rural blocks, and the area acts as a service hub with health, education and transport links including a regional airport.

Port Macquarie property market performance

Current median dwelling price$756,500Past 3 months

Property growth+5.5%Past 12 months

Port Macquarie's median house price is $880,000, up 8.2% over the last 12 months, a solid rise. Units sit at $633,000, rising 2.8% over the last 12 months, a modest rise. House values rose notably faster than unit values, and houses and units sold in much the same time over the last 12 months.

In Port Macquarie, house rents edged up 1.6% over the last 12 months, a slight rise, while house values ran ahead of rents.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$880K	$633K
Change in value Past 12 months	8.2%	2.8%
Sold Past 3 months	186	73
Median days on market Past 12 months	31	37
Average rent Past 12 months	$650	$500
Change in rent Past 12 months	1.6%	4.2%

5 year median price trend for houses and units

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Port Macquarie demographics

Port Macquarie is an older community with couples without children at home and incomes below the median for NSW.

Couples without children make up 48.4% of families, the largest family group. At the 2021 Census, 47,693 people lived in Port Macquarie.

Port Macquarie and NSW

	Suburb	NSW
Median age years	48	39
Median household income weekly	$1,282	$1,829
Couples with children share of families	33.1%	44.7%
Couples without children share of families	48.4%	37.9%
One-parent families share of families	17.4%	15.8%
Homes owned outright share of homes	41.3%	32.6%
Homes with a mortgage share of homes	25.9%	33.6%
Homes rented share of homes	32.8%	33.7%

Source: ABS 2021 Census. Shares of homes exclude other and not-stated tenure.

Port Macquarie infrastructure, key developments and investment opportunities

Port Macquarie's Port Macquarie Base Hospital is the subject of a major redevelopment after a $265 million state commitment in 2025; in 2026 site plans were released and an expression of interest opened for an arts working group, and the upgrade is described as including an expanded emergency department and modern birthing services. Council has also been delivering the Ocean Drive duplication between Matthew Flinders Drive and Greenmeadows Drive, scheduled for completion in the 2025–26 financial year, which includes a shared path on the western side.

Transport for NSW and council planning for the Oxley Highway–Pacific Highway interchange, locally known as "The Donut", received a $20 million commitment in 2025 and by 2026 Stage 1A was reported fully funded with early works expected to start in 2027; project documents describe converting the roundabout to two lanes and installing traffic signals on all approaches. Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's 2025–29 Delivery Program also lists the Cowarra Water Supply Scheme, proposing a new water treatment plant to serve growth areas including Port Macquarie.

Suburbs near Port Macquarie

Some popular suburbs near Port Macquarie include:

How does Port Macquarie compare to nearby suburbs?

Median house prices: Port Macquarie’s median house price is 2.3% higher than Thrumster’s.
Median unit prices: Port Macquarie’s median unit price is 82.2% higher than Crestwood’s.
House price growth: Over the past 12 months, house prices in Port Macquarie have grown 25.2% higher than in North Shore.
Unit price growth: Over the past 12 months, unit prices in Port Macquarie have grown 2.4% higher than in Crestwood.
Selling speed for houses: Properties in Port Macquarie are selling 78.6% faster than in North Shore.
Selling speed for units: Properties in Port Macquarie are selling 26.0% faster than in Crestwood.

Common questions about Port Macquarie

Is Port Macquarie a nice place to live?
Port Macquarie is a regional coastal town beside the Hastings River and the Tasman Sea, noted for its foreshore and riverfront coastal walk and the historic breakwall.

The community is older, with couples without children at home the largest family group (48.4% of families) and household incomes below the NSW median. The town centre balances a compact shopping and cafe precinct with older timber houses and newer apartment pockets along the river, and the area serves as a hub for health, education and transport links including a regional airport; the foreshore and riverfront provide promenades and water-based recreation. The Port Macquarie Base Hospital is subject to a major redevelopment, with site plans released and an expression of interest opened for an arts working group.
Is it expensive to live in Port Macquarie?
On the figures, a typical local household earned about $1,282 a week at the last Census. In Port Macquarie average rents run to about $650 a week for houses and $500 a week for units, which would take roughly 51% and 39% of a typical local household's weekly income respectively; that means house rent would be a large share of local income and unit rent a sizeable share.

Buying sits further above local incomes: the median house price of $880,000 is about 13.2 times a typical local annual household income and the median unit price of $633,000 is about 9.5 times. Both of those multiples are well above what a typical local household earned in a year on the Census figures, so 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.
Is Port Macquarie a good place to invest?
House values in Port Macquarie rose 8.2% over the past 12 months, while unit values were up 2.8%, and house rents increased 1.6% as unit rents rose 4.2%.

Put simply, for houses the movement was stronger on the capital-growth side than on rents, whereas for units rental income grew faster than unit values.

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.

Choose the right real estate agents in Port Macquarie

There are 95 real estate agents in Port Macquarie, but they don’t all deliver the same results.

Some agents have a much stronger presence in the suburb, with just 5 agents handling around 26.6% of all sales in the past year.

Commission rates in Port Macquarie typically range from 2.63% to 3.25%. Comparing agents—including what they charge, what’s included, and how they structure their fees—is not only important when choosing an agent, the right structure can help ensure your chosen agent is motivated to achieve the best possible result.

Get a head start and compare top local agents in Port Macquarie

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