RENTERS in Queanbeyan are paying thousands of dollars more this year to keep a roof over their head, says Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain.

In Queanbeyan west, residents are paying $2600 a year more in rent than they did last year, according to data from Domain.

Median asking rents for houses in Queanbeyan west were up 10.8 per cent year-on-year to $518 a month.

While rent has skyrocketed across most of the country, Ms McBain says parts of Eden-Monaro have been hit the hardest.

“In places like Yass and Cooma rent has gone up around 20 per cent, and yet ABS data has shown once again that real wages across the country are going backwards,” Ms McBain said.

“This means families are having to choose between paying rent and putting petrol in the car or food on the table.”

Residents in Yass are paying over $4400 a year more in rent this year compared to last year, according to the data.

Median asking rents for houses in Bungendore were up over seven per cent to $593 a month.