We quote dozens of CCTV jobs a month across Melbourne and the same questions come up: what does it actually cost, why are some quotes half the price, and what should you avoid? This is the honest installer's answer for 2026.
Typical fitted prices
These are real, fitted prices in Melbourne for the systems we install most often: Hikvision and Dahua 6MP, professionally installed with tidy cabling, full mobile app setup and a walk-through.
- 4-camera 6MP system + 2TB NVR: from $1,800
- 6-camera 6MP system + 4TB NVR: from $2,500
- 8-camera 6MP system + 4TB NVR: from $3,200
- Hikvision Darkfighter (low-light) upgrade: +$300–$600
- Dahua WizSense AI human/vehicle detection: included on 6MP packs
What changes the price
Hardware is only half the cost. The other half is access: single-storey with roof access is a 4-hour job; double-brick double-storey with no cavity to drop cable through can take a day and a half.
- Single vs double storey
- Brick veneer vs double brick
- Existing data cabling we can reuse
- Number of penetrations and where the NVR lives
- Whether you want PoE switch separate from your home network
Where the cheap quotes cut corners
If a 4-camera install is quoted at $900, something has been cut. Usually it's one of: low-resolution 2MP cameras dressed up as '1080p HD', exposed cable runs, no battery backup on the NVR, no app set-up, or grey-import gear with no Australian warranty.
Where to spend the extra dollar
Resolution and low-light. Going from 4MP to 6MP cameras is the single biggest jump in real-world image quality, and Darkfighter or Starlight low-light cameras pay for themselves the first time someone walks down your driveway at 2 a.m.