Rental properties overpriced compared to New South Wales

NEW South Wales woman Suzzie Schibrowski has got the blues over the living costs in Rockhampton.

TOO HIGH: Skye Saunders, with Charlie and Suzzie Schibrowski, says the cost of living in Rockhampton is expensive. Picture: Amy Haydock

NEW South Wales woman Suzzie Schibrowski has got the blues over the living costs in Rockhampton.

The mother of two said rental properties in CQ were overpriced compared to those in her home state.

"I used to pay $230 a week for a four-bedroom home there and I pay $350 for the same thing in Yeppoon," she said, during a shopping trip to City Centre Plaza yesterday.

Her comments come as the latest index of retail prices published by the Queensland government statistician's office found general necessities like milk and bread were much more expensive in regional areas compared to greater Brisbane.

All up, the cost of living varies by about 33% across the state.

Overall Rockhampton was cheaper compared to Brisbane and much cheaper than other parts of Central Queensland.

Suzzie said she wasn't able to save due to constant bills and cost of living pressures, like school fees and groceries.

"Just books to even start school and Prep are really expensive and a school shirt is $30, which is what we pay for a nice top to wear out," she said.

"Things like medical costs add up too. I don't save, I live off lay-by."

But it was a mixed response from shoppers in Rockhampton yesterday, with some finding rent and fuel costs to be better than in places like Mackay and Gladstone.

Housing costs accounted for about 22% of the average Queensland household expenditure.

Mining towns suffered badly in the area of housing costs, with Moranbah's index of 186.9% the highest, meaning living at Moranbah is 86.9% more expensive than living in the greater Brisbane area.

Originally published as Rental properties overpriced compared to New South Wales