How much does pest control cost in Australia?

What’s The Damage, an Australian cost guide, gives low / typical / high prices per visit (updated October 2026):

• General pest treatment, interior and exterior: $180 / $270 / $450
• Cockroach treatment only: $120 / $230 / $320
• Rodent control (baiting and traps): $200 / $290 / $450
• Termite inspection: $250 / $300 / $500
• Pre-purchase pest inspection: $200 / $300 / $450
• Chemical termite barrier, installed: $2,000 / $3,500 / $5,500

It lists starting prices of $205 a visit in Sydney and $190 a visit in Melbourne. These are published estimates, not quotes.

1. Which pest. A general spray for spiders and cockroaches is the cheapest job. Rodents usually need bait stations and a return visit; termites are a different class of work.
2. Inspection or treatment. A termite inspection tells you whether there is activity; it doesn’t fix it. Treatment and any barrier are separate prices. Get the inspection report in writing.
3. Size and layout of the home. More rooms, a large roof void, a subfloor or a big garden all add time and product.
4. Inside, outside or both. Many quotes price these separately, so check which you are being quoted for.
5. Follow-up visits and warranty. Some treatments include a return visit or a written warranty; others don’t, which often explains the gap between two quotes.
6. Access and urgency. Steep blocks, tight subfloors and same-day call-outs take longer or cost more.

• NSW: pest management technicians are licensed by the NSW EPA. Search its public register by name or licence number, or ask to see the technician’s photo licence card. If you can’t find a licence, the EPA asks you to contact the NSW Environment Line on 131 555.
• Victoria: the Department of Health licenses pest control operators and keeps a searchable register of current licence holders.

You can ask for the name of the pesticide being used and its safety data sheet — worth doing if you have children or pets. For other trades, see our guide to checking a tradie’s licence.

• Get two or three written quotes for the same scope: same pests, inside and/or outside, same areas such as the roof void and subfloor.
• Ask whether a follow-up visit is included, and what the warranty covers and for how long.
• For termites, ask whether the price is for inspection only, treatment, or a barrier.
• Ask what you need to do before and after the visit (pets, food, staying out of rooms).