Rental Yield Calculator Australia

Work out the gross and net rental yield on an Australian investment property. Enter the price, weekly rent, and operating expenses to see the real return — plus a "true yield" figure that includes stamp duty and other acquisition costs. Every input stays in your browser.

01INPUTS

Property Details

Allow 2–4 weeks for vacancy (enter 48–50)

Typical 7–8% plus letting fee

Annual Expenses

Typical $1,500–$2,500 per year

Typical $800–$1,200

$0 for houses; $2,000–$6,000 for units

Typical $900–$1,500

Budget ~1% of property value per year

Varies by state and land value — $0 if below threshold

Stamp duty + conveyancing + inspections. Used for the "true yield" figure.

02RESULTS
Net rental yield
2.63%
Below average
Gross yield: 3.75% · True yield (incl. purchase costs): 2.49%
03BREAKDOWN

Income & Expenses (Annual)

Annual rent$30,000
Council rates-$2,000
Water rates-$1,000
Insurance-$1,200
Property management-$2,250
Maintenance-$2,000
Other-$500
Total expenses-$8,950
Net operating income$21,050
Pre-tax, pre-mortgage weekly cashflow: $405
Next step: Yield ignores loan interest, tax deductions, and capital growth. Model the full after-tax cashflow or project 10+ years with negative gearing.
Share
Edit inputs ↑

How Rental Yield Is Calculated

Gross Rental Yield = (Annual Rent ÷ Property Price) × 100

Net Rental Yield = ((Annual Rent − Operating Expenses) ÷ Property Price) × 100

True Yield = ((Annual Rent − Operating Expenses) ÷ (Property Price + Acquisition Costs)) × 100

Gross yield is a fast, rough benchmark. Net yield is what you actually earn after running costs. True yield compares the property against investments that don't carry a 4–6% acquisition cost up front.

Worked Example: $800k House, $600/week Rent

A Sydney house bought for $800,000 rents at $600/week. Stamp duty, conveyancing and inspections cost $45,000. Council rates $2,000, water $1,000, insurance $1,200, maintenance $2,000, no strata, 7.5% management. Allow 2 weeks vacancy.

  • Annual rent: $600 × 50 = $30,000
  • Gross yield: $30,000 / $800,000 = 3.75%
  • Total expenses (incl. $2,250 management): $8,450
  • Net operating income: $30,000 − $8,450 = $21,550
  • Net yield: $21,550 / $800,000 = 2.69%
  • True yield: $21,550 / $845,000 = 2.55%

At a 2.69% net yield, this property needs capital growth to justify the investment. A leveraged investor would also need to subtract loan interest, which can push the position into a tax loss — see our negative gearing calculator.

Yield vs Other Property Metrics

  • Yield — annual rent return on property value. This calculator.
  • Cash-on-cash return — cashflow after mortgage divided by deposit + purchase costs.
  • Total ROI — yield plus capital growth, adjusted for leverage.
  • After-tax cashflow — net income after tax deductions and your marginal rate. See Investment Property Calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good rental yield in Australia?
Capital-city houses typically produce gross yields of 2.5%–4%, while units sit around 4%–5%. Regional markets can exceed 5%–6%. After expenses, 'good' net yields are roughly 3.5%+ for capital cities and 4.5%+ for regional areas.
What is the difference between gross and net rental yield?
Gross yield is annual rent divided by property price — it ignores every cost. Net yield subtracts operating expenses (rates, strata, insurance, management, maintenance, vacancy) before dividing. Net yield is what actually reaches your pocket; gross is a quick benchmark.
Should I include stamp duty and acquisition costs?
Serious investors use a 'true yield' on total invested capital — property price plus stamp duty, conveyancing, building inspections, and loan establishment. This gives a more honest comparison against other investments where you don't pay a 5% acquisition cost up front.
How do I allow for vacancy?
The Australian industry standard is 2–4 weeks of vacancy per year. Set 'weeks rented' to 48–50 to model this. New builds, apartments in oversupplied markets, and properties with above-market rent tend toward the higher end of vacancy.
Does this include tax deductions or loan interest?
No — rental yield is a pre-tax, pre-mortgage measure of the property's raw earning power. To see your after-tax cashflow including loan interest, depreciation, and negative gearing benefits, use our investment property calculator or negative gearing calculator.
What expenses should I include?
Council rates, water rates (owner portion), landlord insurance, body corporate / strata (units only), property management fees (typically 7–8% plus letting fee), repairs and maintenance (rule of thumb ~1% of property value), land tax (if above your state's threshold), and any other ongoing costs like pest control or advertising.
Is rental yield the same as ROI?
No. Yield measures rental income return against the property value. ROI measures total return on your cash invested, including capital growth and mortgage leverage. A low-yield property can still have a high ROI if capital growth is strong.

Tax Accuracy & Sources

Reviewed: March 2026 · Tax year: 2025-26

This calculator uses industry-standard rental yield formulas. Expense ranges reflect typical Australian properties but vary by location, age, and condition. Yield is a pre-tax, pre-mortgage measure and does not include depreciation, loan interest, or capital gains tax.


Last updated 29 April 2026 Tax year 2025-26

Data sources: ATO (ato.gov.au), Services Australia

This tool is general information only, not financial advice.

Read our methodology →