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A generational chasm is emerging in Australian property preferences: 60% of Gen Z buyers will pay extra for fibre-to-the-premises internet, compared to just 21% of Boomers. Millennials are backing this priority with their wallets, 14% would pay over $5,000 for superior connectivity. Overall, 39% of Australians would pay an average $2,000 premium for top-tier internet, with major city buyers in NSW and Victoria leading demand at 43%.
New research reveals a stark generational divide reshaping Australian property priorities, with 60% of Gen Z homebuyers willing to pay extra for top-tier fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) internet, compared to just 21% of Baby Boomers. Overall, 39% of Australians would pay a premium for superior connectivity, averaging an additional $2,000.
Millennials Lead the Premium Charge
While Gen Z demonstrates the strongest appetite for fibre internet, Millennials are putting the most money on the table. Some 14% of Millennial buyers would pay more than $5,000 for a home with top-tier internet, reflecting their peak earning years, higher likelihood of working from home, and digital-first lifestyles.
The findings suggest fast internet has evolved from a luxury amenity to essential infrastructure for younger buyers entering the market.
- 60% Gen Z buyers willing to pay a premium for fibre internet
- 21% Baby Boomers willing to pay extra
- 39% All Australians willing to pay more for superior connectivity
- $2,000 Average premium Australians would pay for FTTP
- 14% Millennials willing to pay over $5,000 for top-tier internet
- 40% vs 36% Major city dwellers willing to pay extra compared to regional buyers
Major Cities Drive Demand
Geography plays a critical role, with 43% of buyers in both NSW and Victoria willing to pay premiums for fibre internet. Major city dwellers (40%) outpace regional Australians (36%) in willingness to pay, despite rural areas often facing greater connectivity challenges.
The research suggests regional buyers may have lower expectations for superior internet, if fibre connectivity isn't readily available in an area, buyers stop looking for it, creating a self-fulfilling cycle of underinvestment.
Internet connectivity has officially joined location, schools, and transport links as a core property value driver, but only for younger generations. The three-fold gap between Gen Z (60%) and Boomers (21%) signals a fundamental shift in what makes a home desirable, with digital infrastructure now as important to young buyers as traditional amenities. For sellers, this creates a clear opportunity: homes with FTTP can command premiums averaging $2,000, and significantly more from Millennial buyers in their peak earning years. However, the research also exposes a troubling regional divide, lower demand for fibre in areas that need it most suggests buyers have simply given up expecting quality connectivity outside major cities, perpetuating a cycle of digital disadvantage. As remote work becomes permanent and Gen Z enters the market in greater numbers, properties without fibre risk becoming the new "blackspot", not for mobile coverage, but for the high-speed internet that powers modern life and work.
