Rental Yield Summary
| Property Type | Median Price | Weekly Rent | Gross Yield | Net Yield (est) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houses | $794,725 | $613/wk | 4.0% | 2.2% |
| Units | $455,070 | $471/wk | 5.4% | 3.9% |
Gross vs Net: The Real Numbers
Gross yield is what most headlines quote. Net yield is what you actually keep after costs.
Annual costs that eat your yield:
- Council rates: $2031/year
- Insurance (landlord): $1,200-1,800/year
- Property management (7-8%): $2,390/year
- Maintenance allowance (1%): $7,947/year
- Vacancy (2-4 weeks/year): $1,839/year
Net annual income (house): $16,199 Net yield: 2.2%
Vacancy Rate
Current vacancy: 1.9%
Tight market – tenants compete for properties. Expect minimal vacancy between tenants.
How St Kilda Compares
| Suburb | House Yield | Unit Yield |
|---|---|---|
| St Kilda | 4.0% | 5.4% |
| Melbourne average | 3.2% | 4.1% |
| Toorak | 2.7% | 4.7% |
Above-average yields for an inner suburb – unusual and worth investigating.
Cash Flow Analysis
At current rates (6.2% variable), interest-only on 80% LVR:
- Annual interest: $39,418
- Annual rent: $31,876
- Cash flow position: Negative gearing of -${int(med_h * 0.8 * 0.062 - rent_h * 52 + med_h * 0.01 + 2000):,}/year (tax deductible)
For full investment analysis, see our St Kilda investment guide.
Yield calculations based on REIV median prices and Domain/realestate.com.au rental listings for Q1 2026.
