Home Loan Statistics

Average home loan interest rate in Australia

The average home loan interest rate moves with the Reserve Bank cash rate and with competition between lenders. The figures below combine live rates from the loans we compare with the official RBA benchmarks.

Live from the home loans we compare

Updated 19 Oct 2026
Average owner-occupied variable rate: 6.86%, across 379 variable loans. Live figure from CompareThat product data, as at 19 Oct 2026.
Average owner-occupied fixed rate: 6.93%, across 697 fixed loans. Live figure from CompareThat product data, as at 19 Oct 2026.
Lowest owner-occupied rate now: 5.84% (5.90% comparison rate). Summerland Bank, ECO Home Loan. Live figure from CompareThat product data, as at 19 Oct 2026.
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Average owner-occupied comparison rate: 6.98%, across 379 loans. Live figure from CompareThat product data, as at 19 Oct 2026.
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Comparison rate warning

*Warning: the comparison rate shown is calculated by the lender on its own standard example, usually a $150,000 loan over 25 years. This comparison rate is true only for the example given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate.

The headline numbers

RBA cash rate target: 4.60%. Raised 0.25 points at the 29 September 2026 Monetary Policy Board meeting. Source: Reserve Bank of Australia, as at October 2026.
Average new owner-occupier variable rate: 6.20%. RBA lenders’ interest rates, new loans. Source: RBA Housing Lending Rates (F6), as at August 2026.
Move in rates across 2026: +1.00%. Four 0.25 point cash-rate rises: February, March, May and September. Source: Reserve Bank of Australia, as at 2026 year to date.
Reserve Bank of Australia, 2026 year to date

There is no single average home loan interest rate. It depends on whether the loan is variable or fixed, whether it is for an owner-occupier or an investor, the size of your deposit and how you repay. That is why the live tiles above split the market rather than quote one number.

As a benchmark, the Reserve Bank publishes an average rate on new owner-occupier variable loans of around 6.20% p.a. in August 2026, before the cash rate rose to 4.60% on 30 September. The rates we compare update daily from official CDR data, so the average and the lowest rate you see here reflect the market as it stands today, not a monthly snapshot.

The advertised rate is only part of the picture. The comparison rate folds in most standard fees, so a loan with a low headline rate and high fees can end up costing more than a slightly higher rate with none. Compare on both, and weigh features such as an offset account against the rate itself.

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Terms on this page

Comparison rate
A single rate that folds the advertised interest rate together with most standard fees and charges, so you can compare loans on a more like-for-like basis. It is calculated on a standard example loan, so your real cost can differ.
Variable rate
An interest rate that can move up or down over the life of the loan, typically following the lender’s response to the RBA cash rate. It often comes with more flexibility, such as an offset and free extra repayments.
Fixed rate
An interest rate locked in for a set period, usually one to five years. Your repayments do not change during that time, which aids budgeting but can bring break costs if you exit early.
Cash rate
The benchmark interest rate set by the Reserve Bank of Australia. It influences the rates banks charge on home loans, though lenders set their own rates and do not always move in step with it.
Offset account
A transaction account linked to your loan. Its balance is subtracted from the loan balance before interest is charged, so $20,000 in offset on a $500,000 loan means you only pay interest on $480,000.

Every Finance Term, Explained in Plain English

Frequently asked questions

What is the average home loan interest rate in Australia right now?

The RBA reports an average new owner-occupier variable rate of about 6.20% p.a. in August 2026, before the cash rate rose to 4.60% on 30 September 2026. The live tiles on this page show the current average and lowest rates across the loans we compare, updated daily.

Why is the comparison rate higher than the advertised rate?

The comparison rate adds most standard fees and charges to the advertised interest rate and expresses the total as a single figure, so it usually sits a little above the headline rate. It is designed to make loans easier to compare on a like-for-like basis.

Is a fixed or variable rate cheaper?

It varies with the market. The live tiles above show the current average for each. Fixed rates give repayment certainty for a set period, while variable rates tend to offer more flexibility, such as free extra repayments and an offset account.

The Same Market, Measured Daily

The figures above are the headline ones, published when their source publishes them. These are the daily readings, taken across every product in the feed.

This page is general information only and does not take your personal circumstances into account. It is not credit or financial product advice and CompareThat is not a credit provider or bank. Live figures are drawn from the products we compare; authored figures cite their source and date.