It is more expensive to own a home in WA than any other State with weekly housing costs barrelling past $500 for the first time since the start of the mining construction boom.

WA mortgage owners last year shelled out on average $514 a week in loan repayments, council and water rates and strata fees, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The figure does not take into account water usage charges nor the cost of electricity or maintenance, highlighting the steep cost of living pressures facing WA families.

New South Wales ($508 a week), Victoria ($487) and Queensland ($474) were all cheaper while Tasmania ($330) emerged as by far the cheapest place to own a home.

Only Northern Territory mortgage owners paid more on average at $547 a week. Weekly housing costs in WA peaked at $535 a week during the height of the mining boom in 2013-14 before falling to $486 two years ago.

The recent rise back to $514 comes in defiance of plunging property prices during that period with house values now down nearly 20 per cent on 2014 levels.

Real Estate Industry WA deputy president Lisa Joyce said home ownerships costs were fuelled by excessive taxation of private properties.

“Stamp duties, land tax, the emergency services levy and Perth Parking Levy (all) factor to high ownerships costs in WA,” she said.

Despite the cost, the home ownership dream remains strongest in WA where 42.5 per cent of all households are paying off a mortgage — the highest proportion in Australia.