Every homeowner asks the same question after getting a quote: "Is this normal, or am I getting ripped off?" These are real price ranges based on what Melbourne tradies are charging right now. Not wishful thinking, not outdated 2019 numbers.
Every figure here accounts for the labour cost increases, materials inflation, and supply chain changes that have hit the trades since 2023.
| Service | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Callout fee | $80 to $120 |
| Hourly rate | $90 to $150 |
| Blocked drain (standard) | $150 to $350 |
| Hot water system replacement | $1,200 to $3,000 |
| Bathroom renovation (full) | $15,000 to $35,000 |
| Emergency after-hours | $180 to $300/hr |
Plumber callout fees cover the first 30 to 60 minutes. After that, the hourly rate kicks in. Emergency rates (after 5pm, weekends, public holidays) run roughly double the standard hourly.
Hot water system prices swing wildly depending on the unit. A basic electric storage system costs less to install than a continuous flow gas or heat pump unit, but runs up higher energy bills long-term.
| Service | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $80 to $130 |
| Powerpoint installation | $150 to $250 each |
| Switchboard upgrade | $1,800 to $3,500 |
| Ceiling fan installation | $200 to $400 |
| Full house rewire (3-bed) | $8,000 to $15,000 |
| EV charger installation | $1,500 to $3,000 |
Switchboard upgrades are one of the most common electrical jobs. If your house still has ceramic fuses or a board from the 1970s, this is not optional. Modern safety switches are required under current regulations, and insurers are increasingly asking about switchboard age.
| Service | Price Range |
|---|---|
| 3-bed house interior | $3,000 to $6,000 |
| 3-bed house exterior | $4,000 to $8,000 |
| Single room | $400 to $900 |
| Fence (per metre) | $25 to $50 |
| Deck staining/oiling | $800 to $2,000 |
The gap between cheap and expensive painters usually comes down to preparation. A budget painter slaps two coats over old paint. A good painter fills holes, sands, primes, cuts clean lines, and uses quality paint that lasts 10 years instead of 3.
| Service | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Roof restoration (re-point, seal, paint) | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Tile replacement (per tile) | $40 to $80 |
| Gutter replacement (per metre) | $50 to $100 |
| Full re-roof (Colorbond) | $15,000 to $35,000 |
| Leak repair | $250 to $800 |
Roof restorations vary enormously based on roof size, pitch (steepness), and condition. A single-storey home with easy access costs far less than a two-storey with a steep pitch that requires scaffolding.
| Service | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Split system supply and install | $600 to $1,200 |
| Multi-split system (2-3 heads) | $3,000 to $6,000 |
| Ducted system (whole house) | $8,000 to $18,000 |
| Service / clean | $100 to $200 |
Split system prices depend on the unit size (kW), brand, and how far the outdoor unit sits from the indoor head. Back-to-back installs (outdoor unit directly behind the indoor unit on the other side of the wall) cost the least. Long pipe runs push the price up.
| Project | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Bathroom renovation | $15,000 to $35,000 |
| Kitchen renovation | $20,000 to $50,000 |
| Granny flat (60sqm) | $120,000 to $200,000 |
| Deck (timber, 25sqm) | $8,000 to $18,000 |
| Carport (single) | $5,000 to $12,000 |
Kitchen and bathroom renovations are where budgets blow out fastest. The cabinets, benchtop material, and fixtures you choose matter more than the labour cost. A stone benchtop costs three times what laminate does. Freestanding vanities cost half what custom ones do.
Inner-city and bayside suburbs (Toorak, Brighton, South Yarra) cost 15% to 30% more than outer suburbs. Parking is harder, access is tighter, and the cost of doing business in those areas is higher.
A plumber working under a house with 400mm of crawl space takes twice as long as one working in an open subfloor. Electricians rewiring through brick walls charge more than through timber-frame walls. Tight access means slow work.
A $15,000 bathroom uses builder-grade tiles, a basic vanity, and chrome tapware. A $35,000 bathroom uses large-format porcelain, a custom vanity, and matte black or brushed nickel fixtures. Same room, same tradie, vastly different materials bill.
Summer is peak season for air conditioning installs. Winter is peak for plumbing (burst pipes, hot water failures). Spring and autumn are the best times to get competitive quotes because tradies have more gaps in their schedules.
Pro tip: When comparing quotes, check they are quoting the same scope. A $15,000 bathroom quote that excludes tiling and a $22,000 quote that includes everything are not comparable. Ask each tradie to itemise labour, materials, and any exclusions.
Before hiring anyone, make sure they are properly licenced and insured. Our guide to vetting tradies in Victoria walks you through the VBA licence checker, insurance certificates, and the red flags that should make you walk away.
And if the job goes wrong, know your rights. Read our Australian Consumer Law guide for bad tradie experiences to understand the complaint and VCAT claim process.