How Much Does an Apartment Intercom System Cost in Australia?
There is no single price for an apartment-building intercom. The cost depends on what the building already has, what needs to be replaced, the number of apartments and entrances, and whether the project includes physical access control. Here is a practical way to think about the budget before asking for quotes.
The short answer
For a strata building, an intercom upgrade can range from a focused software-led change to a larger hardware and access-control project. That is why two buildings with the same number of apartments can receive very different quotes.
What determines the cost of an apartment intercom?
1. Number of apartments
Traditional systems may require equipment inside individual apartments, so the number of residences can materially affect hardware and installation. A system that uses residents' existing mobile devices can change that cost structure.
2. Number of entrances
A single front entrance is a different project from a building with multiple pedestrian entries, gates or other controlled doors. Each entry may require its own visitor interface, cabling, power or access integration.
3. Existing cabling and infrastructure
One of the biggest questions in a retrofit is what can stay. Existing cabling, door hardware and network infrastructure may be reusable, partially reusable or unsuitable for the proposed system. A site assessment is often needed before an installer can price this accurately.
4. Resident hardware
Some systems use a handset or video monitor in every apartment. Others use a dedicated resident app. JAXIAN takes a different approach by contacting residents through WhatsApp, reducing the need for a dedicated JAXIAN resident intercom device inside each apartment.
5. Door release and access control
Talking to a visitor and physically unlocking a controlled common door are separate functions. If the project includes door release, the quote needs to account for compatible locks, controllers, power, cabling and integration. JAXIAN Access uses compatible Inner Range Inception hardware and is quoted according to the building.
6. Installation complexity
Building construction, cable pathways, equipment locations and the condition of existing infrastructure can all affect labour. A straightforward entrance can be very different from retrofitting a large established building.
7. Ongoing software and support
Upfront installation is only part of the comparison. Ask whether a system also has software subscriptions, per-apartment fees, support charges or other recurring costs. Compare the ongoing cost as well as the initial quote.
Why a price per apartment can be misleading
A simple per-apartment figure sounds convenient, but it can hide the parts of a project that are shared across the whole building. Entrance equipment, access hardware, cabling and installation do not necessarily scale evenly with apartment count.
For a strata committee, it is usually more useful to compare the complete scope: what residents receive, what is installed at each entrance, what existing equipment remains, what door-control work is included and what the ongoing fees will be.
Can you modernise the intercom without replacing everything?
Sometimes. The first step should be to separate the visitor-to-resident experience from the physical access infrastructure. If the immediate problem is that residents can only answer from a wall station, a focused intercom change may be possible without turning the project into a complete building-access replacement.
JAXIAN Intercom is designed for this kind of focused starting point. It can operate with a QR code or compatible tablet and does not require Inner Range Inception when no integrated door control is needed.
What should be included when comparing intercom quotes?
- Entrance hardware and the number of entry points included.
- Resident hardware, apps or other resident requirements.
- Installation, cabling and commissioning.
- Whether existing cabling or hardware will be retained.
- Door-release or access-control hardware, if required.
- Software subscriptions and other ongoing charges.
- Resident onboarding and building administration.
- Support, maintenance and responsibilities after installation.
What does JAXIAN Intercom cost?
JAXIAN Intercom is $49.50 per month per building for the self-service service. Visitors can start an intercom call from a QR code or compatible entrance tablet, and residents are contacted through WhatsApp.
That price is for the JAXIAN Intercom service. Any tablet, mounting, connectivity, electrical work or other physical installation required by a particular building is separate. Where a building also needs integrated controlled-door access, JAXIAN Access or JAXIAN Complete is assessed and quoted for the project.
How should a strata committee budget for an upgrade?
Start by defining the problem before selecting the hardware. Is the priority replacing failed equipment, allowing residents to answer remotely, improving visitor entry, handling deliveries, integrating access control, or several of these together?
Once the required outcome is clear, ask suppliers to quote against the same scope. That makes the comparison far more meaningful than comparing headline hardware prices.
The next step
If your building only needs a modern resident intercom experience, JAXIAN Intercom may be the simplest place to start. If the project includes controlled doors or a broader building upgrade, JAXIAN can discuss Access or the Complete platform with the building team.