2025 Cost of living report

The 2025 ACT Cost of Living Report tracks changes in the cost of living for low-income households in the Australian Capital Territory over the past 12 months and five years.

This ACTCOSS report confirms financial stress for low-income families remains severe. Easing inflation and recent interest rate cuts have done little to relieve acute financial stress faced by Canberra’s lowest-income households. Over the past five years, the prices of many essential goods and services have risen faster than overall inflation, with a significant increase to the costs of education, housing and food.

To alleviate cost of living pressures in the ACT:

ACTCOSS calls on the ACT Government to:

• expand social and affordable housing
• continue investment in cost of living supports for those on the lowest incomes; and
• sustainably fund our vital community services.

ACTCOSS joins ACOSS and calls on the Federal Government to:

• Increase JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance and related income support payments to at least $82 a day – on par with pension payments.