Western Australia's Pilbara remains the most expensive region to rent a house in Australia, with median rents at $1,650 per week, according to industry analysts RP Data.
RP Data's December quarterly analysis of the national rental market revealed Pilbara median rents were more than four times more expensive than Perth median rents, which were $385 per week.
Perth ranked third-cheapest among capital cities in terms of unit rentals, with a median rental of $330 per week, trailing Adelaide and Hobart, which shared a median rental rate of $285.
Perth recorded zero in growth in unit rents over the December quarter.
RP Data analyst Cameron Kusher said the Pilbara market was tight and the higher prices were driven by strong demand from the resource sector and an insufficient supply of rental accommodation.
Rents in the Pilbara increased by 10 per cent on the previous quarter.
Nationally, weekly rental rates increased by 2.9 per cent, and by 4.2 per cent in Australia's capital cities.
Annual rental growth in both capital cities and the country is well below the five year average of 7.6 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively.
"During the past five years, growth in weekly rents for units has outpaced rental growth for houses, both nationwide and within the capital city areas," Mr Kusher said.
"This result reflects changing lifestyle patterns over recent years and also the fact that property value growth for units has been superior to that of detached houses during the last five years."
"When looking at the performance of capital city markets compared to the market nationally there are some strong correlations.
"Across the combined house and unit market, rents increased by $80 per week between March 2006 and December 2008 across the country whilst capital city rents increased by a total of $90 per week.
"Since December 2008 median weekly advertised rents across the country have increased by just $20whilst within the capital city rental growth has been slightly higher at $25per week, with a $5 per week improvement during the last quarter."
