Short answer: yes, solar is worth it in almost every part of Australia. But the degree to which it's worth it — and how quickly it pays back — varies a lot depending on where you live.
The Two Things That Drive Solar Value
Solar savings come from two sources: electricity you generate and use yourself (self-consumption), and electricity you export to the grid (feed-in tariff). In 2026, the self-consumption side is what matters. Feed-in tariffs have dropped to 3–10 cents per kWh in most states — well below the 25–35 cents you're paying to buy electricity from the grid.
That means the key variables are: (1) how much sun hits your panels, and (2) how expensive your grid electricity is. Put those two together and you get your savings rate.
State by State: The Honest Picture
Western Australia and South Australia
The strongest markets. Perth and Adelaide get the most sunlight of any capital city, and South Australia has some of the highest electricity prices in the country. A 6.6kW system in Adelaide or Perth will generate more electricity per year than the same system in Melbourne or Hobart, and save more per unit generated. Payback periods of 3–4 years are common.
Queensland
Excellent sunshine year-round, especially north of Brisbane. QLD has strong solar uptake and competitive installer pricing due to market maturity. Brisbane generates 28–30 kWh/day from a 6.6kW system on average. Payback: typically 3–5 years.
New South Wales
Good solar irradiance, competitive market, high electricity prices. Sydney systems perform well. Inland NSW — places like Orange, Dubbo, Wagga — often outperform coastal areas in solar generation. Payback: 4–5 years for most households.
Victoria
The trickiest market. Melbourne has more overcast days than any other capital, especially in winter. A 6.6kW system in Melbourne generates roughly 20–22% less energy per year than the same system in Perth. However, Victorian electricity prices are high, and the state government's Solar Homes rebate (where still available) meaningfully cuts upfront costs. Payback: 5–7 years in Melbourne, faster in regional Victoria.
ACT, Tasmania, Northern Territory
ACT has high electricity prices and good incentives. Tasmania has the lowest solar yield in Australia (and the lowest electricity prices), making solar less compelling but still viable for the right household. Darwin has spectacular solar irradiance — among the best in the world — but household electricity prices are lower, which tempers the savings.
Regional vs Metro: Does It Matter?
Generally, regional areas outperform capital cities for solar generation, because there's less urban haze and air pollution, and you're often at a slightly different latitude. The installer market in regional areas can be thinner, which means less competition and sometimes higher prices — but this varies by region.
Network tariff structures (time-of-use vs flat rate) also affect your solar value. If your retailer has time-of-use pricing where peak periods are 4–9pm, a battery becomes more valuable, because you can avoid buying expensive peak electricity.
The Only Number That Matters: Yours
State averages are a starting point, but your actual savings depend on your specific electricity usage pattern, your roof, your tariff, and your postcode. The best way to know is to model it against your real bill.
Upload your electricity bill to GridBeater and we'll calculate your estimated annual savings, payback period, and ROI based on your actual usage and state — not a generic average.
See what solar saves at your address → Free analysis at GridBeater