Property Buying Cost Calculator
The cost of purchasing a property in Australia includes a deposit and monthly loan repayments, as well as other expenses such as stamp duty, legal and conveyancing fees, building inspection, pest inspection, and mortgage registration fee.
Prices may vary depending on the state or territory and other factors. For Australian citizens or permanent residents, there are no additional costs.
Still, foreign nationals require applying for permission from the Foreign Investment Review Board and pay a foreign stamp duty surcharge, typically around 7% to 8% of the property value, in addition to standard stamp duty.
Our Property Purchase Costs Calculator provides a comprehensive list of all costs associated with buying property in Australia.

How much does it cost to buy a house - calculator?
When buying a home, several costs need your attention. You can find a list of these costs below:
- Deposit
- Mortgage Registration
- Stamp Duty
- Valuer Fee
- Conveyancing Fee
- Lender Fees
- Building Inspection Fee
- Pest Inspection Fee
- Legal Fees
- Lender’s Mortgage Insurance
- Foreign Stamp Duty Surcharge
- FIRB Application Fee
For Australian expats returning to the country, there will also be additional expenses, such as flight costs and the cost of transporting belongings. It is better to factor these into the overall cost of relocating.
What is the estimated budget for costs associated with purchasing a property?
The costs can quickly add up to thousands of dollars when purchasing a property in Australia. To help you understand what expenses you will need to pay, here are the top five property-buying costs to consider:
Deposit
This is the highest cost associated with buying a property. Generally, you must put down a 20% deposit to secure a home loan. However, a larger deposit can get you better interest rates. If you’re buying a $600,000 property, your 20% deposit will be $120,000. Remember that saving this amount may take several years when property prices rise. Suppose you can’t afford a 20% deposit. You may need to pay for Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI), an additional monthly fee to cover the lender’s risk.
Stamp Duty
This is the second highest cost when buying a property in Australia. The stamp duty you must pay varies by state or territory, property value, and whether you are a first-home buyer or investor. For example, suppose you’re a first-home buyer purchasing a primary residence in Victoria. In that case, you don’t need to pay any stamp duty, but if you’re not, you may need to pay $21,970. Foreign buyers need to pay a foreign stamp duty surcharge, typically 7-8% of the property value, in addition to the standard stamp duty.
Lender's Mortgage Insurance
If you put down less than 20% of the property value, you may need to pay LMI. This insurance covers the lender’s interests if you default on your repayments. Our team can help you negotiate with lenders to avoid paying this extra cost.
Foreign Buyers
If you’re not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, buying a property in Australia can be more expensive. In addition to the standard and foreign stamp duty surcharge, you will also need to pay an application fee to the Foreign Investment Review Board. Not obtaining permission to buy a property may result in a fine of $3,300,000 and up to ten years in prison.
Other Costs
When buying a property, you will also need to pay for conveyancing, legal fees, lender fees, registration fees, and a building and pest inspection. Your lender may also ask you to pay a valuer fee to determine the property’s worth. Expats need to budget for moving expenses and relocating to Australia.
Additionally, you will need to consider ongoing costs such as mortgage repayments and home and contents insurance.

How to calculate total cost of buying a house
Find out the complete expense of buying your property using Odin Tax’s Property Buying Cost Calculator. To get an accurate result, make sure to include the following information in the calculator:
- Stamp duty
- Mortgage registration fee
- Transfer fee
- Loan application fee
- Legal fees
- Lender’s mortgage insurance
- Any other costs
With this calculator, you will be able to understand the total cost of purchasing your property and securing your Australian home loan.
Contact Odin Tax now!
As a leader in securing home loans and lodging tax returns for expats in Australia, Odin Tax understands the challenges of verifying overseas income and securing favourable loan terms.
Holding an Australian Credit License, we offer a free service to match clients with the best home loans for their needs.
Browse our online calculators and then contact us today to find out how we can help you!
Frequently asked questions
Will my property buying costs be higher with a low credit score?
Can I purchase an investment property in Australia?
Odin Mortgage can assist you in buying an investment property. Use our investment property calculator to determine your purchase’s expenses.
What is my borrowing power?
Can I refinance an existing property?
What are the ongoing costs of buying a property in Australia?
When buying a house, you are responsible for paying mortgage payments and covering the cost of building insurance, council rates, and other expenses.
Want to know your tax obligations after buying property?
Odin Tax helps you understand and lodge your Australian tax returns from overseas.
