<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian mortgage holders will have to stretch their budgets further following a decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to hike interest rates for the second time in a row.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today's hike brings the official cash rate target back up to 4.10 per cent afer the RBA </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/rba-interest-rates-live-updates-february-2026-decision-latest-news-headlines/cec87747-a086-4fb9-aab2-29f5790794d1" rel="" target="_blank" title="handed down a 25-basis-point increase"><span>handed down a 25-basis-point increase</span></a><span> February, which took the cash rate up to 3.85 per cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rate tracking by Canstar found after the last hike, the vast majority of lenders passed on the hike in full within two weeks of the announcement.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/rba-interest-rates-live-updates-march-2026-decision-latest-news-headlines/350491ae-9cc3-47b0-84f2-71cef3b2a650" rel="" target="" title="Reserve Bank hikes interest rates"><strong><span>Reserve Bank hikes interest rates</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>So what will this mean for mortgage holders?</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mortgage holders with a debt of $500,000 could pay at least $151 more per month with the cumulative increase from February and March, according to data from Canstar.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For someone with a $600,000 mortgage, the total increase between February and March would be $181 a month.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/rba-interest-rates-the-reserve-bank-has-hiked-interest-rates-how-much-will-this-cost-me/230033ae-0a25-489c-bafb-7d5d7505cade" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Those with a $700,000 mortgage are expected to pay more than $211 a month after the two hikes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-march-17-donald-trump-pushes-allies-for-help-in-strait-of-hormuz/07b534e9-af93-4d00-91dc-58dba21ca969" target="_blank"><strong><span>Key Middle East airspace reopens as Israel launches fresh wave of attacks</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For someone with $800,000 left on their mortgage, the two hikes could add an additional $241 to their monthly repayments.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For those with a debt of $900,000, the culmulative increase could be an extra $271 per month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mortgage holders with $1 million of outstanding debt are likely to pay an additional $301 extra a month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Canstar data insights director Sally Tindall said while the banks were likely to pass the rise through to their variable rate customers in full, there were ways to outsmart the rise.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Banks might apply a blanket increase to their variable customer base, but still be willing to hand out cuts on a case-by-case basis," Tindall said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Often it's just a matter of stating your case."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> 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