Second-hand cars are often more affordable than brand new ones due to age and previous use, but some cities have better average prices than others for the same make and model.
Compare the Market has crunched the data, finding that Hobart has some of the cheapest average prices for popular used car models.
Hobart had the cheapest prices for three of the five models Compare the Market looked at, with an average price tag of AUD$44,990 for the Hilux, AUD$28,000 for the Ford Ranger, and AUD$20,445 for the i30. Brisbane had the best average price for the Corolla at AUD$23,664, while the Sunshine Coast had the cheapest average cost for a Mazda 3 at AUD$22,625.
On the flip side, Sydney had the most expensive prices for the i30 and Mazda 3 (AUD$26,832 and AUD$25,983 respectively). Darwin had the highest cost for a Hilux at AUD$61,332, while the Sunshine Coast had the most expensive price for a Ford Ranger at AUD$35,608 (just beating out the Gold Coast), and Newcastle had the highest price for a Corolla at AUD$26,988.
| Australia | Brisbane | Sydney | Melbourne | Canberra | Perth | Darwin | Hobart | Newcastle | Gold Coast | Sunshine Coast |
| Toyota Hilux | $52,842 | $51,114 | $51,875 | $50,561 | $49,999 | $61,332 | $44,990 | $48,376 | $48,371 | $54,500 |
| Ford Ranger | $33,840 | $32,782 | $29,609 | $32,341 | $31,312 | $29,990 | $28,000 | $31,656 | $35,152 | $35,608 |
| Toyota Corolla | $23,664 | $25,404 | $26,644 | $25,337 | $25,279 | $25,990 | $26,000 | $26,988 | $24,029 | $25,148 |
| Hyundai i30 | $25,626 | $26,832 | $24,581 | $25,677 | $22,161 | – | $20,445 | $23,364 | $24,716 | $21,637 |
| Mazda 3 | $24,675 | $25,983 | $25,400 | $25,683 | $25,367 | $24,999 | $24,990 | $23,500 | $23,859 | $22,625 |
While looking for a cheaper price on a used car can help save money on your purchase, comparing car insurance can also help you save money while covering your ‘new’ ride. Executive General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor, explains.
“Car insurance is important as it covers you against a set number of insured events, but there will be different prices for various levels of cover across insurance companies,” Mr Taylor said.
“Comparing car insurance can help you weigh up coverage and prices with ease, so you can potentially save by picking a cheaper policy. It’s also important to compare before the policy renews at the end of the year, to ensure you’re still looking for potential savings. Compare the Market’s free comparison tool makes it quick and easy to compare and buy or switch policies.”
Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for details on coverage, benefit limits and exclusions.
To learn more about the analysis and see how other cities in different parts of the world fared, visit: https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/car-insurance/features/cheapest-cities-for-used-cars/
Methodology:
We gathered prices from used car listings in major cities across the countries we examined, to a maximum of 50 listings per vehicle to facilitate research. Specific variants were used in some circumstances, and these were kept the same for each city in each country. In other instances, multiple variants of the same model were used due to the limited number of models. All cars had to be manufactured in 2019. In some instances, no models matching the parameters were found.
Prices were added to a spreadsheet and averaged for each model in each city.
Prices were sourced from www.carsales.com.au between 11/04/2025 and 28/04/2025.
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For interviews and more information, please contact:
James McCay | +61 450 930 374 | [email protected]
Compare the Market is a comparison service that takes the hard work out of shopping around. We make it Simples for Australians to quickly and easily compare and buy insurance, energy, and home loans products from a range of providers. Our easy-to-use comparison tool helps you look for a range of products that may suit your needs and benefit your back pocket.
