Rents in the ACT have increased by the second highest amount in the country according to new census data issued by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
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The most recent census in 2011 showed the ACT had the highest median weekly rental payment of all states and territories at $380.
This was a jump of $120 from the 2006 census where the median was $260 - an increase of 46.2 per cent. The national median rate went from $191 to $235 over the same time.
The territory's increase of $120 was the second highest behind Western Australia's increase of $130 per week, jumping from $170 to $300.
The cheapest jurisdiction to rent in 2011 was South Australia with an average rent of just $200.
Queanbeyan recorded an increase in rental payments of 56.2 per cent between the two censuses with the median in 2006 $185, rising to $289 in 2011.
In 2011, the Northern Territory had the highest home rental rate of all states and territories with almost half of all homes being rented.
Tasmania and Victoria had the lowest home rental rate of 26.4 per cent and 26.5 per cent respectively.
The data issued on Tuesday said rental costs had shown huge increases between the two census dates and had grown twice as much as wages.
The median weekly household income increased 20.2 per cent from $1027 to $1234 compared to the increase in rental rates by 49.2 per cent.
The proportion of Canberrans renting also increased from 28.6 per cent in 2006 to 30.6 per cent in 2011.
The sought-after suburb of O'Malley was the most expensive place to rent in the ACT in 2011, with a median weekly rent of $900.
The suburb had a median weekly household income of $2904 and median monthly mortgage repayment of $3750.
In 2006 the median weekly rent for O'Malley was $597, the median weekly income was $2613 and the monthly mortgage repayment of $2000.
The second most expensive suburb to rent was Forrest with a median weekly rent of $580, up from $416 in 2006.
