Across the 41 trades we price, Australian trade costs rose 4.1% over the past year. Tree removal, removalists and skip bin hire led at 6%; flooring and tiling moved least at 3.5–3.7%; and solar was the one trade that got cheaper, down 1.5%. By city, Adelaide moved most at 4.7% and Perth least at 3.6%. These are our own index figures, re-verified against 90+ sources, updated October 2026.
Why the labour-and-transport trades led
The three trades at the top share a cost base: a truck, fuel, tip fees and a crew. Tree removal, removals and skip bin hire all carry those costs directly, and all three have risen faster than the trades that are mostly materials and labour on site. Concreting at 5.4% is the same story with a concrete truck in it. Roofing at 5.0% reflects demand after a run of storm seasons and steel pricing.
Why solar fell
Panel and inverter prices kept dropping through 2025 and 2026 while installer competition stayed fierce, so a standard 6.6 kW system now costs $4,000–$8,500 installed, about the same as a year ago or slightly less. Batteries are a separate market: the federal rebate took around 30% off, and the rebate itself steps down again on 1 January 2027.
City by city
| City | Change | Price level vs national |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | +4.7% | Among the most affordable |
| Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Townsville | +4.3% | Around the middle |
| Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong | +4.2% | Sydney 10–15% above |
| Canberra, Hobart, Darwin | +4.1% | Canberra high, Hobart low |
| Melbourne, Geelong | +4.0% | Around the middle |
| Perth | +3.6% | Around the middle |
Adelaide rising fastest from a low base is the pattern of a cheap city catching up, not a dear one getting dearer. Sydney and Canberra remain the most expensive markets to hire in; Hobart and Adelaide the most affordable, even after this year's move.
What it means for a quote you have in hand
A quote from early 2026 is roughly 4% stale; one from 2025 nearer 8%. If a tradie re-quotes a job higher than that, ask what changed. If you are comparing a fresh quote against our guides, remember the guides were re-verified in October 2026, so they already carry this year's movement.
Sam's tipThe two biggest risers, tree removal and skip bins, are also the two where a quote changes most with access. Tell the tradie up front if a truck can't get within 20 metres of the job.
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