Yes, for most Australian homes with a usable roof, solar is worth it as at November 2026, but the payback depends far more on how much of the power you use yourself than on where you live. Our calculation puts a 6.6 kW system at 5.7 to 9.4 years across the eight capitals when 20% of output is used at home, and 3.4 to 6.2 years at 40%. It does not pay quickly in a home that is empty all day.
Key facts
- Solar Cobber calculation: a 6.6 kW solar system pays back in 5.7 years in Adelaide and 9.4 years in Melbourne when 20% of its output is used at home, at the 2026-27 regulated tariffs and November 2026 Solar Choice prices.
- Solar Cobber calculation: at 40% self-use the same 6.6 kW system pays back in 3.4 years in Adelaide, 4.4 years in Sydney and 6.2 years in Melbourne, but 40% means using about 10 kWh a day of your own solar.
- At 10% self-use, a 6.6 kW system takes 8.4 to 12.7 years to pay back, so solar is slow in a home that is empty by day and has no battery.
- The Solar Choice Price Index for November 2026 puts the national average installed price at A$0.88 to A$0.95 a watt after the federal Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) discount, including GST. The Clean Energy Regulator counts 4.56 million small-scale solar installations to 30 September 2026.
- The Australian Energy Regulator’s 2026-27 Default Market Offer sets the Ausgrid flat usage rate at 33.1372 c/kWh, while IPART’s 2026-27 NSW solar export benchmark is 3.4 to 6.5 c/kWh.
- A solar system installed in 2027 earns fewer STCs than one installed in 2026: a 6.6 kW system in zone 3 earns 36 instead of 45, about A$360 less, according to the Clean Energy Regulator’s deeming rule.
How we worked out payback
Simple payback is the installed price divided by the yearly bill saving. Every input below is published and every step is shown.
Solar Cobber calculation. For each capital city:
- Price. Solar Choice’s November 2026 standard offer, after STCs and including GST. Solar Choice publishes 6 kW, 7 kW and 10 kW but not 6.6 kW, so we took 6 kW plus 60% of the step to 7 kW (Sydney: A$5,800 + 0.6 x A$710 = A$6,226).
- Output. System size x Clean Energy Regulator zone rating x 1,000 kWh. The ratings are 1.382 (Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra), 1.536 (Darwin) and 1.185 (Melbourne, Hobart), so a 6.6 kW system in Sydney makes 9,121 kWh a year.
- Benefit. Self-used kWh x the usage rate, plus exported kWh x the feed-in tariff. The daily supply charge is unchanged by solar, so it is left out.
- Payback = price / benefit. 10-year net saving = 10 x benefit - price, with no degradation, inverter replacement, tariff change or finance cost.
The worked example for Sydney, 6.6 kW, 40% self-use: 9,121 kWh x 40% = 3,648 kWh x A$0.3314 = A$1,209, plus 5,473 kWh x A$0.04 = A$219, giving A$1,428 a year. A$6,226 / A$1,428 = 4.4 years.
| City | 6.6 kW price | 10 kW price | Usage rate (c/kWh) | Feed-in (c/kWh) | 6.6 kW output (kWh/yr) | 10 kW output (kWh/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | A$6,226 | A$8,810 | 33.14 (Ausgrid DMO) | 4 (assumed) | 9,121 | 13,820 |
| Melbourne | A$6,170 | A$8,870 | 25.96 (CitiPower VDO) | 4 (assumed) | 7,821 | 11,850 |
| Brisbane | A$6,728 | A$9,350 | 27.97 (Energex DMO) | 4 (assumed) | 9,121 | 13,820 |
| Perth | A$5,494 | A$8,410 | 33.26 (Synergy A1) | 4 (assumed) | 9,121 | 13,820 |
| Adelaide | A$5,992 | A$8,610 | 41.91 (SA Power Networks DMO) | 4 (assumed) | 9,121 | 13,820 |
| Hobart | A$7,172 | A$11,080 | 24.75 (Aurora T32) | 9.276 (regulated) | 7,821 | 11,850 |
| Canberra | A$6,252 | A$8,580 | 36.95 (ActewAGL) | 4 (assumed) | 9,121 | 13,820 |
| Darwin | A$10,250 | A$14,930 | 31.68 (Jacana) | 9.33 (Jacana) | 10,138 | 15,360 |
Inputs as at November 2026: prices from Solar Choice standard offers, zone ratings from the Clean Energy Regulator, and rates from the AER 2026-27 Default Market Offer, the Essential Services Commission, WA Government, Aurora Energy, ActewAGL and Jacana Energy (all from 1 July 2026, including GST). The 4 c/kWh feed-in tariff is our assumption, inside IPART’s 3.4 to 6.5 c/kWh NSW range; we could not verify a 2026-27 regulated rate for Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia or the ACT, and the Western Australian buyback we could verify dates from 2024 (2 c/kWh off-peak), so Perth may do slightly worse. We used flat tariffs, not time-of-use or Solar Sharer plans. More rates are in our per kWh guide.
How much of your solar will you actually use?
Self-consumption is the share of your solar output that you use at home instead of exporting it, and it is the number that decides payback. We found no verified Australian average, so we model four levels.
For a 6.6 kW system in a zone 3 city, output averages 25 kWh a day, so each share means a different amount of daytime use:
| Self-use share | Your own solar used per day | Roughly what that looks like |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | 2.5 kWh | Home empty on weekdays, no timers |
| 20% | 5 kWh | Fridge, standby and some daytime use, hot water on a timer |
| 40% | 10 kWh | Home all day, or an EV or pool pump running at midday |
| 60% | 15 kWh | Home office, electric hot water diverted to solar, daytime EV charging |
The AER assumes a typical Ausgrid home uses 3,900 kWh a year, about 10.7 kWh a day in total, and an Endeavour Energy home 4,900 kWh (13.4 kWh a day). A 6.6 kW system can therefore produce more in a day than a typical home uses all day. Reaching 40% needs heavy daytime load or a battery, so treat 10% to 20% as the realistic range for an ordinary working household without one.
Is solar worth it? Payback for a 6.6 kW system by city
A 6.6 kW system pays back in 5.7 to 9.4 years at 20% self-use, and its 10-year net saving ranges from A$393 in Melbourne to A$4,572 in Adelaide. Adelaide wins because South Australia has the highest regulated usage rate (41.91 c/kWh), and Melbourne loses because CitiPower’s rate is among the lowest (25.96 c/kWh) and its output is lower.
- 6.6 kW
- 10 kW
Source: Solar Cobber calculation from Solar Choice Price Index (1 November 2026), Clean Energy Regulator zone ratings and regulated 2026-27 tariffs. Simple payback ignores degradation, inverter replacement, tariff changes and finance costs.
View the data as a table
| 6.6 kW | 10 kW | |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 6.9 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| Melbourne | 9.4 yrs | 8.9 yrs |
| Brisbane | 8.4 yrs | 7.7 yrs |
| Perth | 6.1 yrs | 6.2 yrs |
| Adelaide | 5.7 yrs | 5.4 yrs |
| Hobart | 7.4 yrs | 7.6 yrs |
| Canberra | 6.5 yrs | 5.9 yrs |
| Darwin | 7.3 yrs | 7.0 yrs |
Adelaide and Perth pay back fastest at 20% self-use, and Melbourne and Brisbane slowest.
| City | Payback at 10% | Payback at 20% | Payback at 40% | Payback at 60% | 10-year net saving at 20% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 9.9 years | 6.9 years | 4.4 years | 3.2 years | A$2,738 |
| Melbourne | 12.7 years | 9.4 years | 6.2 years | 4.6 years | A$393 |
| Brisbane | 11.5 years | 8.4 years | 5.4 years | 4.0 years | A$1,294 |
| Perth | 8.7 years | 6.1 years | 3.8 years | 2.8 years | A$3,493 |
| Adelaide | 8.4 years | 5.7 years | 3.4 years | 2.5 years | A$4,572 |
| Hobart | 8.5 years | 7.4 years | 5.9 years | 4.9 years | A$2,503 |
| Canberra | 9.4 years | 6.5 years | 4.0 years | 2.9 years | A$3,408 |
| Darwin | 8.7 years | 7.3 years | 5.5 years | 4.4 years | A$3,740 |
Table: 6.6 kW system, Solar Cobber calculation, November 2026.
- 10% used
- 20% used
- 40% used
- 60% used
View the data as a table
| 10% used | 20% used | 40% used | 60% used | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 9.9 yrs | 6.9 yrs | 4.4 yrs | 3.2 yrs |
| Melbourne | 12.7 yrs | 9.4 yrs | 6.2 yrs | 4.6 yrs |
| Brisbane | 11.5 yrs | 8.4 yrs | 5.4 yrs | 4.0 yrs |
| Perth | 8.7 yrs | 6.1 yrs | 3.8 yrs | 2.8 yrs |
| Adelaide | 8.4 yrs | 5.7 yrs | 3.4 yrs | 2.5 yrs |
| Hobart | 8.5 yrs | 7.4 yrs | 5.9 yrs | 4.9 yrs |
| Canberra | 9.4 yrs | 6.5 yrs | 4.0 yrs | 2.9 yrs |
| Darwin | 8.7 yrs | 7.3 yrs | 5.5 yrs | 4.4 yrs |
Doubling self-use from 10% to 20% shortens payback by 1.1 to 3.3 years, with the biggest gains in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney where the feed-in tariff is lowest.
- 20% used
- 40% used
Source: Solar Cobber calculation from Solar Choice (1 November 2026), Clean Energy Regulator zone ratings and 2026-27 regulated tariffs. Net saving = 10 x annual benefit minus installed price.
View the data as a table
| 20% used | 40% used | |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | A$4,572 | A$11,488 |
| Perth | A$3,493 | A$8,831 |
| Canberra | A$3,408 | A$9,420 |
| Darwin | A$3,740 | A$8,271 |
| Sydney | A$2,738 | A$8,053 |
| Hobart | A$2,503 | A$4,924 |
| Brisbane | A$1,294 | A$5,667 |
| Melbourne | A$393 | A$3,828 |
At 40% self-use a 6.6 kW system nets A$3,828 to A$11,488 over 10 years, and at 20% it nets A$393 to A$4,572.
What changes for a 10 kW system?
A 10 kW system pays back in 5.4 to 8.9 years at 20% self-use, almost the same as 6.6 kW, because the extra panels mostly add exports worth only 4 to 9 c/kWh. The larger system earns more in dollars but not faster.
| City | Payback at 20% | Payback at 40% | 10-year net saving at 20% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 6.5 years | 4.1 years | A$4,772 |
| Melbourne | 8.9 years | 5.9 years | A$1,075 |
| Brisbane | 7.7 years | 5.0 years | A$2,805 |
| Perth | 6.2 years | 3.9 years | A$5,206 |
| Adelaide | 5.4 years | 3.3 years | A$7,396 |
| Hobart | 7.6 years | 6.0 years | A$3,579 |
| Canberra | 5.9 years | 3.6 years | A$6,056 |
| Darwin | 7.0 years | 5.3 years | A$6,266 |
Table: 10 kW system, Solar Cobber calculation, November 2026. We assumed no export limit or clipping, which flatters 10 kW where networks cap exports.
Our 10kW guide reaches the same 4.1 and 6.5 years for Sydney. See also the 5kW, 13kW and 20kW guides, solar panel costs and whether 6.6 kW is the right size.
When is solar not worth it?
Solar is hard to justify when almost all output is exported, the roof is badly shaded, or you will move within a few years. Our model shows these cases.
- An empty home with no timers or battery. At 10% self-use, Melbourne (12.7 years), Brisbane (11.5 years) and Sydney (9.9 years) take about a decade, and Melbourne’s 6.6 kW system is A$1,324 behind after 10 years.
- Oversizing for export. Moving from 6.6 kW to 10 kW in Sydney costs A$2,584 more and adds 4,699 kWh a year. Exported at 4 c/kWh that earns A$188 a year, a payback of 13.7 years; used at home at 33.14 c/kWh it earns A$1,557, a payback of 1.7 years.
One more effect is not in the model. If you are on a Solar Sharer Offer plan with free electricity from 11am to 2pm in NSW and South East Queensland, or noon to 3pm in South Australia, solar you use inside those hours saves nothing extra, so its value comes from exports and the hours outside the free window.
Is solar still worth it in 2026?
Solar is still worth it in 2026, but the case now rests on self-use because export rates keep falling. IPART’s NSW benchmark fell from 4.8 to 7.3 c/kWh in 2025-26 to 3.4 to 6.5 c/kWh in 2026-27, and the Queensland Competition Authority’s regional Queensland rate fell 31%, from 8.66 to 6.006 c/kWh.
Each 1 c/kWh on the usage rate changes the Sydney 6.6 kW benefit at 40% self-use by about A$36 a year, while each 1 c/kWh on the feed-in tariff changes it by about A$55. Check the current plans in our feed-in tariff tracker.
Waiting also costs money. The STC deeming period falls from 5 years in 2026 to 4 years in 2027, so a 6.6 kW system in zone 3 earns 36 STCs instead of 45. At about A$39.85 per certificate (Demand Manager, October 2026) that is about A$360 less, and a 10 kW system earns 55 instead of 69, about A$560 less. Use our STC calculator guide for your postcode.
A kWh used at home is worth about 3 to 10 times a kWh exported (see the rates table above), which is why self-use matters more than system size.
Is solar worth it without a battery?
Yes, solar without a battery pays back faster than a battery does, because a battery adds a large cost to save the same units. In our solar battery payback guide, a Sydney battery supplying 7 kWh a day on a flat tariff has a payback of 11.6 to 15.8 years, against 4.4 to 6.9 years for 6.6 kW of solar at 40% and 20% self-use here.
A battery lifts self-use toward 60% or more, so it suits heavy evening use or blackout-prone areas. See what size battery you need, solar and battery packages and virtual power plants. Cheaper steps first: run hot water, the dishwasher and the pool pump at midday (peak and off-peak times).
ABC News In-depth’s video, titled “How solar power got so cheap”, gives background on the prices used above.
How this compares with our other guides
Our solar savings guide (May 2026) quotes a 3 to 4 year payback at 50% self-use, consistent with our 40% to 60% rows but the optimistic end for an ordinary working household. Our 5kW guide applies the Ausgrid rate to every city; this page uses each city’s own rate, so Adelaide improves and Melbourne worsens.
What to check on your quote
Check these before you sign:
- The system price after STCs and the number of STCs claimed, with the certificate price stated.
- Array size, inverter model and the export limit your network allows.
- Your own usage rate, supply charge and feed-in tariff from your bill, on Energy Made Easy or Victorian Energy Compare.
- How much you use between 9am and 3pm, from your smart meter data.
- The installer and retailer on the Clean Energy Council approved retailer list and the Solar Accreditation Australia register. Check both yourself.
Compare several quotes using our quote comparison guide and how to choose an installer, then browse solar installers near you or the state pages for New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia. State incentives are in the NSW, Victorian, Queensland and WA rebate guides.
FAQ
Are solar panels worth it in Australia in 2026?
Yes, for most homes with a suitable roof. Our calculation puts a 6.6 kW system’s payback at 5.7 to 9.4 years across the capitals at 20% self-use and 3.4 to 6.2 years at 40%, as at November 2026. The result depends on how much solar you use yourself.
How long does it take for solar panels to pay for themselves?
About 4 to 9 years for most capital city homes, using our 40% to 20% self-use scenarios. At 10% self-use it is 8.4 to 12.7 years for a 6.6 kW system. Adelaide, Perth and Canberra are quickest and Melbourne is slowest.
Is solar worth it without a battery?
Yes. Solar alone has a much shorter payback than a battery because the battery adds a large cost. Our battery guide gives 11.6 to 15.8 years for a Sydney battery on a flat tariff.
Is solar still worth it with low feed-in tariffs?
Yes, but self-use matters more. At IPART’s 2026-27 NSW benchmark of 3.4 to 6.5 c/kWh, an exported kWh earns about a tenth of what a self-used kWh saves in Sydney at 33.14 c/kWh. Moving your usage into the middle of the day lifts the return.
Which city has the best solar payback?
Adelaide in our model: 5.7 years for 6.6 kW at 20% self-use, helped by the highest regulated usage rate (41.91 c/kWh). Perth (6.1 years) and Canberra (6.5 years) follow, and Melbourne is slowest at 9.4 years.
Is a 10 kW system worth it compared with 6.6 kW?
It earns more dollars but pays back at about the same speed. At 20% self-use a 10 kW system takes 5.4 to 8.9 years against 5.7 to 9.4 years for 6.6 kW, but the extra panels mostly export, which is worth little.
Sources
- Clean Energy Regulator: small-scale installation postcode data (updated 20 October 2026)
- Clean Energy Regulator: postcode zone ratings for solar systems and STC entitlements and deeming period (updated 29 October 2026)
- Solar Choice: Solar Panel Price Index, November 2026
- Australian Energy Regulator: Default Market Offer 2026-27 final determination
- Essential Services Commission: Victorian Default Offer
- WA Government: household electricity pricing
- Tasmanian Economic Regulator: feed-in tariffs and Jacana Energy: residential pricing
- IPART: solar feed-in tariff benchmark
- Queensland Competition Authority: solar feed-in tariff 2026-27
- Demand Manager: Certificate Report, October 2026
About this guide
This guide was written by the Solar Cobber editorial team using independent desk research checked in November 2026. Solar Cobber is a free directory and may earn referral or advertising fees from installers, but commercial relationships never affect our content. This is general information, not financial advice. Spotted an error? Tell us via /contact.
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