As of 2026, published Australian price guides put a professionally installed audio intercom for a single house at roughly $550 to $1,200. A wired video intercom with one door station and one or two indoor monitors typically costs $900 to $2,500. Gate and driveway intercoms usually cost $1,200 to $4,000 or more, and apartment and strata systems range from a few thousand dollars for a small block to $16,000 or more for a building-wide replacement. The cable route, the number of entries and monitors, and any door or gate release hardware account for most of the difference between quotes.
Updated September 2026. This guide explains what intercoms cost in Western Sydney in 2026. It covers audio versus video, wired versus two-wire, IP and Wi-Fi systems, single houses versus duplexes and apartment blocks, and linking an intercom to access control. It also covers what drives the price and how to compare quotes. The figures are typical market ranges from published sources, not Mac-Tek Telecom’s own prices. Every property is different, so get an on-site quote before deciding.
Typical intercom installation costs in 2026
The ranges below come from Security Wholesalers’ video intercom installation cost guide and its two-wire versus IP comparison, both reviewed 1 September 2026. They also draw on The Quote Yard’s 2026 NSW intercom cost guide and Going Rate’s 2026 gate intercom calculator. Where the sources differ, the table shows both ends.
| Scenario | Typical installed range (AUD, 2026) | What is usually included |
|---|---|---|
| Wireless video doorbell, fitted | $300 to $700 | Battery or plug-in doorbell on existing Wi-Fi |
| Audio-only intercom, one entry | $550 to $1,200 | One door station and simple indoor answering |
| Wired video intercom, single house | $900 to $2,500 | One door station, one or two indoor monitors, practical cable route |
| Two-wire video retrofit (reusing existing cable) | $900 to $2,500 | Only if the existing cable tests suitable |
| New IP video intercom, single entry | $1,100 to $3,200 | New Cat6 run, PoE, one or two monitors, phone app |
| Gate or driveway intercom | $1,200 to $4,000 (some guides up to $6,000) | Gate station, indoor monitor, gate release relay |
| Multiple entries or integrated door/gate release | $3,000 to $6,500 | Extra stations and monitors, locks or gate hardware |
| Apartment building, priced per unit | $400 to $900 per unit | Entry panel shared, one monitor per unit |
| Small apartment block, single entry, replacement | $4,000 to $15,000 | Entry panel, several monitors, door release |
| Building-wide apartment replacement | $16,000 to $55,000+ | Many dwellings, riser cabling, staged installation |
Supply-only kits can look cheap. Security Wholesalers’ intercom equipment price guide lists a Wi-Fi video kit at about $313 and a two-wire video kit at about $620 (inc. GST, checked September 2026). The gap between those figures and an installed system is mostly cabling, door or gate hardware, configuration and labour.
Audio or video?
An audio intercom lets you talk to whoever is at the door or gate. It is the cheapest option and still suits some low-traffic entries. Most homeowners now choose video because they can see who is there before answering or releasing the door. Many modern video intercoms also forward calls to your phone, so you can answer when you are away from home. The price difference between audio and video is now small compared with the cost of cabling and installation. On most new installs, video is worth it.
Wired, two-wire, IP or Wi-Fi?
Traditional wired and two-wire
Two-wire systems carry power, video and audio over a single pair of wires. They are often the cheapest way to upgrade an old audio intercom to video, because the installer can sometimes reuse the existing cable. That only works if the old cable passes testing.
IP (network) intercoms
IP intercoms run over Cat6 cable with Power over Ethernet, like IP security cameras. They are easier to expand, integrate well with access control and CCTV, and suit businesses and larger homes. They usually need a new cable route back to a network switch, so the up-front labour is higher.
Wi-Fi and 4G
Wi-Fi door stations avoid a cable to the house but depend on a strong Wi-Fi signal at the door or gate. Going Rate notes that 4G gate intercoms suit long rural driveways but carry an ongoing SIM plan of roughly $10 to $25 a month. They also depend on mobile coverage at the gate. Most wireless units still need a power source at the station.
House, duplex or apartment block?
Single house. One door or gate station and one or two indoor monitors. This is where the $900 to $2,500 range for video applies. A long driveway gate costs more because of the cable run and any trenching.
Duplex or dual occupancy. We could not find a published price specific to duplexes. In practice there are two ways to set it up. You can install two independent single-house systems, which roughly doubles the single-house cost. Or you can use one two-button door station at a shared gate with a monitor in each dwelling, which falls into the multiple-entries range above. Which is cheaper depends on where the entries are and whether the gate is shared.
Strata and apartment blocks. These are infrastructure projects. They involve a lobby panel with a resident directory, cabling up risers to every unit, an electric lock on the entry door and staged installation around residents. Security Wholesalers’ apartment intercom replacement guide puts a small single-entry building at $4,000 to $15,000 and a building-wide replacement at $16,000 to $55,000 or more. Owners corporation approval is needed for work on common property. NSW also treats “wiring, cabling, power, or access points” inside a lot as a minor renovation that needs approval, so allow for the meeting cycle.
Linking your intercom to access control
An intercom becomes far more useful when it can open the door or gate. For a gate, that usually means a relay from the intercom into the gate motor controller. Going Rate prices this at about $200 to $300 when fitted during the original install and closer to $500 as a later retrofit. For a door, it means an electric strike or magnetic lock, a power supply and a way to exit. Security Wholesalers lists electric release equipment at $150 to $1,200 or more per opening.
Businesses and apartment blocks often add card, fob or PIN entry at the same door. Security Wholesalers’ access control cost per door guide puts a standalone keypad door at $1,500 to $3,000 and a managed card-access door at $2,000 to $4,500 or more. Planning the intercom and access control together avoids paying twice for the lock, cabling and power.
What drives the price
- The cable route. A short run through an accessible roof space is quick. A gate 40 metres down a concrete driveway may need trenching and conduit. Going Rate estimates trenching at $60 to $120 a metre through established landscaping or under a driveway.
- Number of entries and monitors. Each extra door station or indoor monitor adds equipment and labour. One well-placed monitor plus phone notifications covers most homes.
- Door and gate release hardware. Locks, strikes, relays and power supplies often cost more than the intercom itself.
- Power at the station. If there is no power point where it is needed, a licensed electrician must install one. The Quote Yard puts this at $250 to $600.
- Station quality and mounting. Vandal-resistant metal faceplates, rain hoods and driver-height pedestal mounts for gates all add cost but last longer.
- Ongoing fees. Some app-based and cloud-managed intercoms charge a subscription. Ask about it before you buy.
Licensing, cabling and privacy
The Security Industry Act 1997 (NSW) defines security equipment broadly, as equipment “designed or adapted to provide or enhance security”. Video intercoms and intercoms that release a door or gate generally fall within that definition. In NSW, anyone installing security equipment as part of a business must hold a Class 2C security licence. Any fixed cabling connected to your phone or internet service must be done by an ACMA-registered cabler.
Recording audio is the other trap. A video intercom that records conversations can fall under the Surveillance Devices Act. Our guide to CCTV laws in NSW explains where the line is.
How to compare intercom quotes
- Check the system type. Is it audio, video, two-wire, IP or Wi-Fi, and what brand and model is being quoted?
- Count the stations and monitors and confirm whether phone app access is included.
- Confirm the release hardware. Does the price include the lock, strike or gate relay, the power supply and the exit button?
- Ask about cabling. Is the installer reusing old cable (and testing it) or running new cable? Is trenching included?
- Check for exclusions such as electrician work, patching and painting, strata approvals and subscriptions.
- Ask for the installer’s NSW security licence and master licence numbers, and check them on the NSW register.
- Get a site visit. Cable routes and gate distances are hard to price accurately over the phone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I upgrade my old audio intercom to video without new cabling?
Often, yes. A two-wire video system can sometimes reuse the existing cable if it tests suitable. If it fails, new cable is needed.
Can my intercom call my mobile phone?
Most current video intercoms offer an app that forwards calls to your phone. They need a reliable internet connection at the indoor unit, and some brands charge for cloud features.
Can an intercom open my existing electric gate?
Usually, yes. A relay from the intercom connects to the gate controller’s input. It is cheaper to include this in the original install than to add it later.
How long does intercom installation take?
A single-house video intercom on a straightforward cable route is often completed in a day. Gate intercoms with trenching, and apartment buildings, take longer and are usually scheduled in stages.
Do I need strata approval to change the intercom in my unit?
Replacing your own monitor with a compatible model is usually straightforward. Changes to the building system, entry panels or common property cabling need owners corporation approval.
Mac-Tek Telecom designs and installs alarm and intercom systems for homes, duplexes, strata buildings and businesses across Penrith, Parramatta, Blacktown, Mount Druitt, St Marys and Western Sydney, operating under NSW Security Master Licence 100034. Book a free on-site quote or call 0411 126 995 and we will recommend a system that suits your entries, cabling and budget.
