Add CategoryThe median house price was less than $1 million in 107 regional coastal suburbs where prices had recorded annual growth of 5% or more, the analysis of PropTrack data from October 2024 showed.
About a third of those suburbs had median house prices of $500,000 or less – and some even recorded prices below $300,000.
![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 800 450"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Townsville has seen a flurry of development in recent years. Picture: Getty
Queensland's 10 cheapest regional beach 'burbs
| Suburb | Median house price | Annual increase |
| Forrest Beach | $332,500 | 14.7% |
| Balgal Beach | $395,000 | 14.5% |
| Maryborough | $409,500 | 13.7% |
| Bowen | $420,500 | 9.2% |
| South Mackay | $440,000 | 12.1% |
| Slade Point | $464,000 | 22.1% |
| Blacks Beach | $480,000 | 14.3% |
| Bucasia | $510,000 | 16.1% |
| East Mackay | $527,500 | 18.5% |
| South Townsville | $535,000 | 33.7% |
“I would say that’s largely due to that relative affordability advantage, but also population growth, jobs growth and the like.”
It's something Belle Property agent Josie Howard has seen first hand.
She said though it had seen extensive development in recent years, it was still not as built-up as other Queensland towns such as Cairns.
Geraldton in WA had eight suburbs on the list. Picture: Getty
Seven other suburbs in greater Geraldton also made the list, and local agent Joel Winkly from The Agency said the area gave buyers bang for their buck.
Top 10 WA regional beach 'burbs for price growth
| Suburb | Median house price | Annual increase |
| Tarcoola Beach | $645,000 | 50.0% |
| Port Denison | $500,000 | 47.1% |
| South Bunbury | $620,000 | 37.6% |
| Binningup | $628,000 | 34.3% |
| Geographe | $810,000 | 32.8% |
| Bunbury | $837,000 | 26.8% |
| Withers | $430,000 | 26.5% |
| Dalyellup | $611,000 | 25.8% |
| Mount Melville | $625,000 | 25.5% |
| Broome | $750,000 | 25.0% |
What’s more, two of those – Yamba and Iluka – were about an hour down the coast from Byron Bay, and some have touted the area as ‘the next Byron’.
“The only reason Byron isn't in there is because the median is above a million,” Ms Creagh said.
In fact, the median unit price in Byron Bay was $1.18 million in October 2024, and the median house price was nearly triple that – $3.4 million.
NSW regional beach suburbs under $1 million
| Suburb | Median house price | Annual increase |
| Sussex Inlet | $722,500 | 6.6% |
| Harrington | $780,000 | 6.8% |
| Warilla | $800,000 | 11.1% |
| Iluka | $820,000 | 7.9% |
| Lake Illawarra | $866,000 | 15.5% |
| Forster | $885,000 | 7.4% |
| Culburra Beach | $965,000 | 7.2% |
| Yamba | $990,000 | 16.5% |
The town of Yamba on the NSW north coast has seen new homes built in the past year. Picture: Getty
SA regional beach suburbs under $1 million
| Suburb | Median house price | Annual increase |
| Port Augusta | $225,000 | 7.1% |
| Ceduna | $272,500 | 5.8% |
| Port Augusta West | $280,500 | 11.1% |
| Cowell | $310,000 | 17.0% |
| Whyalla | $385,000 | 20.3% |
| Kingston Se | $415,000 | 22.1% |
| Kingscote | $430,000 | 8.9% |
| Streaky Bay | $440,000 | 17.3% |
| Port Lincoln | $465,000 | 14.0% |
| Hayborough | $615,000 | 8.8% |
| McCracken | $675,000 | 6.2% |
| Robe | $675,000 | 12.5% |
| Encounter Bay | $687,500 | 17.5% |
| Normanville | $770,000 | 22.2% |
| Port Elliot | $845,000 | 20.7% |
Full list of regional beach 'burbs under $1 million
| Suburb | State | Median house price | Annual increase |
| Port Augusta | SA | $225,000 | 7.1% |
| Ceduna | SA | $272,500 | 5.8% |
| Port Augusta West | SA | $280,500 | 11.1% |
| Dundee Beach | NT | $290,000 | 11.5% |
| Cowell | SA | $310,000 | 17.0% |
| Forrest Beach | QLD | $332,500 | 14.7% |
| Beachlands | WA | $370,000 | 10.4% |
| Whyalla | SA | $385,000 | 20.3% |
| Smithton | TAS | $385,000 | 5.5% |
| Geraldton | WA | $390,000 | 20.0% |
| Balgal Beach | QLD | $395,000 | 14.5% |
| Maryborough | QLD | $409,500 | 13.7% |
| Mahomets Flats | WA | $415,000 | 23.9% |
| Kingston Se | SA | $415,000 | 22.1% |
| Bowen | QLD | $420,500 | 9.2% |
| Withers | WA | $430,000 | 26.5% |
| Kingscote | SA | $430,000 | 8.9% |
| South Mackay | QLD | $440,000 | 12.1% |
| Streaky Bay | SA | $440,000 | 17.3% |
| Beresford | WA | $445,000 | 18.7% |
| Usher | WA | $455,000 | 19.7% |
| Sunset Beach | WA | $460,000 | 15.7% |
| Esperance | WA | $462,500 | 5.1% |
| Slade Point | QLD | $464,000 | 22.1% |
| Port Lincoln | SA | $465,000 | 14.0% |
| Blacks Beach | QLD | $480,000 | 14.3% |
| Kalbarri | WA | $485,000 | 7.9% |
| Castletown | WA | $490,900 | 14.8% |
| Port Denison | WA | $500,000 | 47.1% |
| Glenfield | WA | $507,500 | 20.8% |
| Bucasia | QLD | $510,000 | 16.1% |
| Preston Beach | WA | $512,500 | 19.2% |
| Dongara | WA | $525,000 | 11.7% |
| East Mackay | QLD | $527,500 | 18.5% |
| South Townsville | QLD | $535,000 | 33.7% |
| Lower King | WA | $540,000 | 5.9% |
| Bakers Creek | QLD | $545,000 | 12.4% |
| Lakes Entrance | VIC | $545,000 | 12.4% |
| Mission Beach | QLD | $550,000 | 7.8% |
| Lancelin | WA | $550,000 | 10.0% |
| Drummond Cove | WA | $559,000 | 20.5% |
| Scarness | QLD | $559,000 | 5.5% |
| Eimeo | QLD | $565,000 | 18.9% |
| Bayonet Head | WA | $570,000 | 15.2% |
| Bushland Beach | QLD | $570,000 | 15.2% |
| Poona | QLD | $580,000 | 20.0% |
| Penguin | TAS | $580,000 | 11.5% |
| Tin Can Bay | QLD | $600,000 | 8.1% |
| Burnett Heads | QLD | $609,500 | 8.8% |
| Dalyellup | WA | $611,000 | 25.8% |
| Hayborough | SA | $615,000 | 8.8% |
| Dennington | VIC | $615,000 | 5.1% |
| Wongaling Beach | QLD | $617,500 | 13.3% |
| South Bunbury | WA | $620,000 | 37.6% |
| Point Vernon | QLD | $620,000 | 8.8% |
| Glenella | QLD | $620,000 | 7.1% |
| West Beach | WA | $620,000 | 10.2% |
| Guilderton | WA | $620,000 | 7.4% |
| Mount Melville | WA | $625,000 | 25.5% |
| Denmark | WA | $625,000 | 14.7% |
| Binningup | WA | $628,000 | 34.3% |
| Jurien Bay | WA | $630,000 | 14.5% |
| Eli Waters | QLD | $630,000 | 10.7% |
| River Heads | QLD | $637,500 | 9.9% |
| Tarcoola Beach | WA | $645,000 | 50.0% |
| Pialba | QLD | $649,000 | 16.4% |
| Jubilee Pocket | QLD | $650,000 | 9.2% |
| Cable Beach | WA | $670,000 | 8.5% |
| Robe | SA | $675,000 | 12.5% |
| McCracken | SA | $675,000 | 6.2% |
| Moore Park Beach | QLD | $685,000 | 24.1% |
| Encounter Bay | SA | $687,500 | 17.5% |
| Belgian Gardens | QLD | $690,000 | 7.8% |
| Bicheno | TAS | $690,000 | 7.1% |
| Shearwater | TAS | $690,000 | 5.3% |