A Sensis survey of 1000 small businesses and 800 consumers nationally found ACT residents were more likely than other Australians to shop online for a range of products including clothing, airline tickets, books, music, DVDs and to make hotel bookings.

Of the six in 10 Australians shopping online, the average yearly cost reached $4400. Men easily outspent women with an average of $6525 compared with $2410.

Technology ownership in ACT households is also higher, with 66 per cent owning a tablet computer compared with 56 per cent nationally. In Canberra, 81 per cent own smartphones compared with 72 per cent and 81 per cent own digital televisions compared with 70 per cent nationally.

The survey found 21 per cent of online purchases were from foreign markets, while sales from businesses based in the ACT were likely to go interstate or overseas.

Interstate sales account for 61 per cent of business from Canberra, higher than the national rate of 46 per cent. Overseas sales accounted for 36 per cent, compared with 27 per cent nationally.

The survey included responses from 80 ACT metropolitan businesses and 50 consumers.

Sensis director Rob Tolliday said the findings, set to be released on Thursday, showed Canberra businesses were competing with giant online retailers taking advantage of the growing Australian market.

"ACT residents really love their gadgets such as tablets, smartphones and digital TVs," he said.

"Surprisingly, on the consumer side men dominated online, spending $6500. This was more than twice as much as women who spent $2400 for the year."

Mr Tolliday said men bought more video games and takeaway food, while women purchased more groceries and cosmetics online.

"Many ACT businesses are dealing with competition from overseas retailers such as ASOS and Amazon, but a large number are now firing back with their own sales into foreign markets," he said.

"You might expect the falling Australian dollar will see even more businesses start to sell their products globally."

Airline tickets, clothing, accessories and shoes were the most popular items purchased online by Australians, with 51 per cent of consumers reporting the purchases. Hotel reservations accounted for 47 per cent, while books represented 39 per cent and music 37 per cent.

Shoppers using mobile devices to spend accounted for 17 per cent of all purchases, while 28 per cent said they had bought on tablet computers .

Participants earning more than $75,000 annually reported spending $7075 online in the past year, while 29 per cent said they increased their spending in the period.

Just 13 per cent said their spending had decreased.

Nationally, adult Australian consumers continue to embrace technology broadly, with 95 per cent using at least one computer and many using multiple devices. Nationally, 65 per cent own a desktop computer, 72 per cent own a smartphone and 53 per cent own a laptop.

The survey found navigation devices were present in 40 per cent of Australian cars while 24 per cent of drivers reported using mobiles and tablet computers for directions.