JUNE quarter data from the Residential Tenancies Authority indicates high rental costs are still a hard reality for the Roma region.

Despite some small decreases, resources regions remain the most expensive places to live in Queensland with Roma, Gladstone and Mount Isa sharing the most expensive rents for four-bedroom houses at $600, which is $110 more than Brisbane. In Roma, two-bed units are $320 (up $70) and four-bedroom houses $600 (up $50).

Over the past three years median rents in Roma have increased by 73% for two-bed units and 58% for four-bedroom houses.

In Gladstone, two-bed units are at $420 a week (up $20) and four-bed houses at $600 a week (down by $30).

Despite the slight decrease, over the past three years median rents in Gladstone have increased by 83% for two-bed units and 67% for four-bedroom houses.

In Emerald, despite a decrease of $80 for 4 bedroom houses, median rents for 4 bedroom houses have increased by 44% over the last year.

Meanwhile in Brisbane, the cost of renting a two-bed unit is $390 a week (down $5 since the last quarter) and four-bed houses is $490.

This is an increase of 8% for two-bed units and 9% for four-bedroom houses. 

The lowest rents in Queensland are Kingaroy, Gympie and Maryborough with two-bed units from $180-$200 and four-bed houses around $300 a week, about half the price of Roma.

Executive officer of Queensland Shelter Adrian Pisarski said unaffordable rental costs continued to play a huge part in Queenslanders' inability to make ends meet.

"With inflated rental costs, crucial workers in these regions such as teachers, childcare workers and nurses are forced to move to more affordable areas and their roles in their communities are essential for economic productivity," Mr Pisarski said.