Australians already buckling under soaring household costs are facing the prospect of yet another rate rise, with new research revealing which cities are feeling the bill shock most acutely.

Brisbane has emerged as the nation’s most bill-stressed city just as the Reserve Bank signals inflation is tracking “materially worse” than expected, fuelling fears of another hike that would heap even more pressure on households before Christmas.

Reserve Bank deputy governor Andrew Hauser this week warned the inflation outlook had deteriorated, in comments widely seen as paving the way for a possible Melbourne Cup Day increase.

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“The inflation outlook looks materially worse than we projected in the August report,” Mr Hauser told the Citi Investment Conference on Wednesday, according to the Australian Financial Review.

If the RBA lifts the cash rate by another 25 basis points on November 3, it would rise from 4.60 per cent to 4.85 per cent – the fifth increase this year and the highest level since 2008.

That would add about $16 to $17 a month in repayments for every $100,000 borrowed on a variable mortgage.

Australian cities most worried about household bills. Source: Electrolux

For a typical borrower with a loan of $731,000, monthly repayments would be about $578 higher than they were at the start of the year.

The fresh rate rise threat comes as households are already grappling with rising prices for groceries, petrol, council rates, insurance and electricity, forcing many to scrutinise every dollar.

A new study by premium appliance brand Electrolux found Brisbane residents are the most worried about household bills in the country, giving the Queensland capital a Worry Score of 78.30 out of 100 – well clear of every other city analysed.

“Brisbane is the city where residents are the most stressed about bills with a Worry Score of 78.30 out of 100 which is by far the highest of any city studied,” the report found.

Residents in Brisbane made an average of 803 bill-related searches per 100,000 people each month.

RBA

Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser this week warned the inflation outlook had deteriorated, increasing the odds of a November 3 rate hike.

Prices on everyday items have climbed 4.3 per cent since February 2025, while the average salary sits at $73,000.

“The combination of above-average inflation and high search anxiety places Brisbane residents firmly at the top of the national worry index,” the study said.

“The inflation rate is the second highest of all the cities studied, while Brisbane residents search for help with bills more than residents in any other city, contributing to its ranking at the top.”

Adelaide ranked second on the bill stress list with a Worry Score of 62.60.

The study found 722.62 bill-related searches per 100,000 residents each month, while the average salary was $70,000 – the second lowest in the study.

Adelaide’s CPI rate was 3.5 per cent.

Perth came in third with a Worry Score of 50.20. While average salaries were higher at $77,000, the city recorded the highest inflation in the study, with everyday prices up 4.9 per cent since February 2025.

REAL ESTATE

For a $731,000 mortgage, another rate rise would see monthly repayments jump by $578 since the start of the year.

It generated 555.41 searches per 100,000 residents per month for bill-related terms.

Canberra ranked fourth with a Worry Score of 44.60.

The capital recorded 575.35 searches per 100,000 residents per month, had an average salary of $71,000 and saw everyday item inflation of 3.6 per cent.

Darwin rounded out the top five with a Worry Score of 42.00.

Despite the lowest CPI rate of all cities at 3.1 per cent, Darwin still produced 625.41 bill-related searches per 100,000 residents each month.

Salaries there averaged $72,000.

Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney residents showed the least concern about household bills relative to their population, according to the study.

REAL ESTATE

Brisbane residents are the most worried about household bills, according to a new study. Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, and Darwin round out the top five most bill-anxious cities.

Electrolux Australia marketing expert Anders Lofgren said cost of living pressure was intensifying across every part of household spending, but day-to-day bills were proving especially difficult.

“This study highlights which major cities in Australia are feeling that pressure the most,” he said.

“Brisbane stands out not only for the huge volume of bill-related searches relative to its population, but also for the combination of rising inflation and mid-range wages that leaves many residents facing anxiety and pressure to meet rising costs when their income is not increasing at a similar rate.

“What surprised us most was Darwin. It has the lowest inflation rate of any city we studied, yet residents are still searching for help with their bills at a rate that puts it in the top five.

“That tells us it is not just about prices going up. It is about whether wages are keeping pace, and in Darwin, they are not.”