Almost half of Australians who do not own property would choose travel over buying a home in the next 12 months.
New research of more than 1,000 Aussies by Insure&Go found 46% of non-property owners preferred spending on travel, with the figure rising to 51% among those aged 18 to 34.
Queensland recorded the strongest preference for travel at 50%, followed by NSW at 48%.
Madhvi Mishra, Insure&Go spokesperson, said travel continued to hold significant value despite cost of living pressures.
“For many, it’s more than discretionary spending; it’s an investment in personal growth, wellbeing and creating meaningful experiences,” Ms Mishra said.
However, the appetite for prioritising travel has softened considerably compared with previous research.
When the same question was asked in 2024, 60% of Australians without property said they would choose travel, 14 percentage points higher than the 2026 result.
Among 18 to 34-year-olds, the preference has fallen from 71% in 2024 to 51% this year, while the proportion among those aged 35 to 54 has dropped from 65% to 44%.
Ms Mishra said shifting perceptions around the cost and risk of travel, alongside changing property market conditions, could be influencing the result.
The findings suggest travel remains an important spending priority for many Australians, particularly younger adults, even as more non-homeowners reconsider the balance between holidays and property ownership.
