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| $ per m² | Basic | Mid | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | 1,200–1,800 | 1,800–2,500 | 2,500–3,500 |
| Shop | 1,000–1,500 | 1,500–2,200 | 2,200–3,200 |
| Cafe, restaurant | 2,500–3,200 | 3,200–4,000 | 4,000–5,500 |
| Medical, dental | 2,200–2,800 | 2,800–3,500 | 3,500–4,500 |
Small tenancies under 80 m² run about 15% higher — fixed costs over less floor.
Between about $1,200 and $3,500 per m² in 2026. A basic refresh of an existing office — paint, carpet, some joinery — sits at the low end; a full design with new partitions, lighting, mechanical and feature joinery sits at the top. A 150 m² office lands between roughly $180,000 and $525,000 depending on finish.
Retail runs $1,000–$3,200 per m². Shopfront glazing, display joinery and lighting drive it; a shop that keeps its existing services and changes finishes is cheapest.
Hospitality is the dearest per square metre — $2,500–$5,500 per m² — because of the kitchen, exhaust, grease trap, hydraulics and the council food-premises requirements that come with them.
Medical and dental fitouts run $2,200–$4,500 per m². Infection control, accessibility, specialised plumbing and electrical, and the approvals that go with a health use push it above office rates.
Often not. Internal, non-structural work in a commercial building is usually exempt development under the NSW Codes SEPP. A change of use, a new shopfront or a food premises can go through a private certifier as complying development in a few weeks. Heritage buildings and some changes of use need a development application.